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OUR STORY

STOP THE TRAFFIK's story started in India when Phil worked at a day centre for vulnerable children in Mumbai, India.

Despite an economic boom and thriving garment industry, absolute poverty affects huge numbers of people living in India. In Mumbai, the Thane train station acts as housing for hundreds of families and the day centre offers refuge to children and young people living on the station and in neighboring slums.

Back in 2000, a 7 and 9 year old brother and sister who lived with their parents on Thane station started visiting the centre – they played, the laughed, they fought – they were children. After a few months they stopped attending.

Becoming concerned Phil went to the station to ask their father if the children were all right. The children had been sold. Sold to a nice man offering work for the equivalent of $20.

The children have never been seen since.

What happened to this brother and sister? Nobody knows. In that area of Mumbai children often disappeared. They are kidnapped or sold into prostitution, forced labour, adoption or even child sacrifice.

But this was once too often. Phil was so deeply affected by what had happened that he knew he had to do all he could to prevent it happening to others.

At the same time a number of UK organisations wanted to work together to commemorate the 2007 Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade.

Stories and passions from around the world merged together and STOP THE TRAFFIK was born.

Initially STOP THE TRAFFIK was set up as a 2 year campaign to

  • Host "Freedom Day"
    on March 25th 2007 to mark the bicentenary of the abolition of transatlantic slavery. Thousands of people of all ages brought awareness to the streets of their communities all around the world.
  • Petition
    and hand a million signatures to the United Nations in 2007. By the time 2007 came around, over 1.5 million people had signed the declaration and got involved.

Instead of ending, with a following of 1.5 million activists STOP THE TRAFFIK became an independent international charity and Steve Chalke, Chair of STOP THE TRAFFIK, was appointed UN Special Advisor On Community Action Against Trafficking.

With your help STOP THE TRAFFIK will continue to grow and reach those at risk as well as inspire people to become voices against trafficking.

We will not stop until the trafficking and exploitation stops.