Slavery Continues Still Today

Francis Bok was captured at the age of seven from his village in Southern Sudan. He worked as a slave for ten years, attempting to escape two times before finally succeeding on the third time. At the age of nineteen he came to America and sat in a classroom for his first time. He now works for the American Anti-Slavery Group,and he has testified before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, met with former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and wrote an autobiography Escape From Slavery. He dedicates his life to help those who have been unable to escape, as over 8000 people are still living as slaves in Sudan. Following the peace agreement between the North and the South, there was hope that the abductions and enslavement of children would cease, yet the practice continues unabated. Most abductions take place in southern Sudan and they are brought to the North as documented in an article in the BBC. While the genocide rages on in Darfur, the western part of Sudan, the Southern half still struggles with the enslavement of thousands of their children. Although 200 years have passed since Britain banned the Atlantic slave trade, slavery is still a reality. Yet, so few people are aware that these practices continue today. Awareness must be raised about this issue and change must be implemented. Slavery and genocide are two of the most horrific and evil crimes that can possibly be committed and they should be responded to with international indignation and more importantly, with action.