Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is Don't Trade Lives?

Don't Trade Lives is a new campaign by World Vision which aims to unite Australians against human trafficking, the modern day slave trade. The buying and selling of people for exploitative labour is the third biggest crime in the world today behind drugs and arms. Everyone in Australia can play a part in fighting trafficking in our region, so join us in spreading the word "Don't Trade Lives!" Together we will:

Prevent people being trafficked
Advocate for trafficked victims
Tackle the causes of trafficking and slavery

Q. What is human trafficking?

Human trafficking is nothing less than modern day slavery. It happens when people are recruited, transported or received through deception, threat or force. Once trapped, they are exploited using threats, physical force, emotional abuse, or told they must pay off a large 'debt' to their captors. They may be enslaved for years, even for life.

Q. How many people are trafficked?

There are no universally accepted estimates on the number of people trafficked. Difficulties in identifying victims, the illegal nature of trafficking, and differences in applying the definition of trafficking, make it virtually impossible.

We do know that the scale of the problem is enormous. An estimated 27 million people worldwide are in forced labour, bonded labour, forced child labour, and sexual servitude.

Q. Where does it occur?

Virtually every country, including Australia, is implicated in this shocking trade in human lives, either as a place of recruitment, transit or the destination for trafficked individuals. The UN office on drugs and Crime estimates that human trafficking generates $7 billion a year and is the third biggest crime in the world behind drugs and arms.

Q. How does it happen ?

Human trafficking is driven by the rules of supply and demand. Poverty, lack of access to employment and education, domestic violence and cultural practices create a ready supply of children and adults who are vulnerable and can be easily manipulated and tricked by traffickers.

On the demand side, the need for cheap labour and growth in the global sex industry, as well as weak enforcement of labour standards in the workplace make trafficking a high-profit, low-risk business for criminal networks.

Q. How many people are trafficked into Australia ?

It's hard to say exactly how many people are trafficked, because it's so difficult to identify the victims or pin down the traffickers. Also, trafficking is a complex issue and often defined in different ways (see Definitions for more information). According to the 2007 US Government Report less than 100 persons were identified as being trafficked into Australia. Local sources suggest this figure is much higher. At Don't Trade Lives, we believe one person trafficked is one person too many.

Q. I know someone who has been trafficked what should I do?

We recommend you call The Australian Federal Police (AFP) on 1800 813 784 or email the Transnational Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking Team at the AFP on TCCC-OMC@afp.gov.au.

For Visa Advice:

Immigration Advice & Rights Centre 02 92818355

You can also call the Anti-Slavery Project in Sydney which supports victims of trafficking in Australia on:

Tel: +61-2-9514 9662 Fax: +61-2-9514 9685.

Q. What types of activities are people trafficked into?

Trafficking victims can be found working on farms, in mines, in factories serving as domestic workers in private homes or as sex objects in a number of venues or in forced marriage.

Q. What is World Vision doing to stop trafficking ?

There are many things we are doing. In particular, World Vision Australia works with communities in Asia to increase knowledge about how to prevent exploitation of children among community leaders, teachers, tourism operators, local governments and children themselves. We are also working to improve prevention and protection measures at tourism hubs in Asia.

A significant part of our work is with victims of trafficking to help them rehabilitate and reintegrate back into the community. This may include helping with shelter, food, counselling and developing community and youth services to provide social networks of care and support. Here in Australia, World Vision works closely with local agencies such as The Salvation Army to raise awareness of trafficking issues in the region.

Q. How can I get involved in the Don't Trade Lives campaign ?

To get involved and learn about trafficking and slavery, download resources that give you practical actions to make a real difference.

We encourage you to keep us up to date with what you're doing, tell us your stories and send in your photos.

Chocolate Questions

Q. Are Australians eating chocolate produced using forced child labour?

Yes they are. In 2007, Australia's chocolate manufacturers spent just over $15 million to import cocoa from Ivory Coast and Ghana. West Africa accounts for almost 70% of the global cocoa supply chain, with the Ivory Coast (38%) and Ghana (21%) the world's two biggest producers. In these two countries, child labour and trafficked children are significant in the production of cocoa.

In Australia, Ghana provides 1.3% of our total cocoa and chocolate imports. Nevertheless, Ghana is our number one source of cocoa beans (31.6% of total imports) and number 5 for cocoa paste (9.2% - value $5.1 million).

Cote d'Ivoire is Australia's 12th largest source of cocoa and chocolate representing 2.6% of the total. It ranks second as a source of cocoa paste and 12th as a source of cocoa powder.

Q. What is World Vision doing to hold chocolate manufacturers accountable?

Through the Don't Trade Lives campaign, World Vision are calling on Chocolate Manufacturers to:

Reassess their supply chains so that the products we buy are child labour and human trafficking-free and guarantee farmers a fair price for their cocoa
Publicly outline a time-bound plan of action to ensure their products are free of human exploitation. We call on them to do this by Christmas 2008 and to engage a wide group of stakeholders in the development of this plan.

Q. What is "ethical chocolate"?

Ethical Chocolate is made from cocoa that is picked without the involvement of child labour or human trafficking. It also guarantees a fair price for the farmer. "Fairtrade" certified chocolate is required to meet this criteria.

Q. Why aren't we calling for boycotts?

Don't Trade Lives isn't calling for a boycott of chocolate, since this would only hurt poor farming families more. Boycotting chocolate would mean less demand for cocoa from the region, which would only put more pressure on farmers and in turn put the children at risk, without addressing the underlying problems.

Instead, we should use our voices to demand ethical chocolate from manufacturers, and our purchasing power to support ethical chocolate.