Beauty for Freedom “Illuminate” Photography Book PSA

Beauty for Freedom is trying to be a leading voice in the fight against child trafficking.

“Raising awareness” is a slippery phrase. It can connote empty shows of solidarity rather than actual work, like performatively changing a profile pic after a tragedy. There’s a good amount of reasonable critique to the effect that, say, breast cancer does not benefit from all this extra awareness, at least in the absence of any accompanying action. People know about breast cancer. But slavery, for those fortunate enough to have no experience of it, is often something people associate with the past.

There are an estimated 45.8 million slaves in the world today. Human trafficking earns profits of roughly $150 billion a year for traffickers, according to the ILO. The following is a breakdown of profits, by sector:

$99 billion from commercial sexual exploitation

$34 billion in construction, manufacturing, mining and utilities

$9 billion in agriculture, including forestry and fishing

$8 billion dollars is saved annually by private households that employ domestic workers under conditions of forced labor

Remarks made by President Obama during the Clinton Global Initiative in 2012 presented a call-to-action that was undeniable and this inspired our team to take action!

“It ought to concern every person, because it is a debasement of our common humanity. It ought to concern every community, because it tears at our social fabric. It ought to concern every business, because it distorts markets. It ought to concern every nation, because it endangers public health and fuels violence and organized crime. I’m talking about the injustice, the outrage, of human trafficking, which must be called by its true name – – modern slavery.”- President Barack Obama, September 25, 2012

A the core of our @beautyforfreedom mission and vision is a great desire to empower survivors through art, cultivation of hopes and dreams and promoting the concept that we are more than the sum of our past experiences and pain. Each one of us—as creators—can transcend our hardships and pain through the creative process. We can support one another and acknowledge every aspect of who we are and celebrate the freedom in that! Art heals. Our BFF workshops in Mumbai, India this month for Rescue Foundation inspired us all and we hope that they brought comfort and healing to the youth we serve.

Please support our efforts to continue empowering young survivors through creativity and art therapy by donating to our cause at www.beautyforfreedom.org .