- 22/06/2013
- Posted by: Joyce Watson MS
- Categories: Feature, Media
By Robert James Owen
A DINAS Powys human rights protestor has presented a petition to the Welsh Government calling on them to enforce anti-trafficking regulations.
PETITION: Gary Smith (back, centre) and fellow members of charity, Ignite, at the Senedd
Gary Smith is the campaign director of Christian charity, Ignite, which urged representatives at the Senedd to make Wales a ‘traffic-free zone’.
The #NotOnMyWatch campaign was launched to raise awareness of the issues amongst young people.
The charity has organized events, alongside Facebook and twitter campaigns over the past few months. It also took the message into churches, schools and community groups.
Campaigner Ruth Probert said: “So many of us thought that slavery was abolished by William Wilberforce. When you find out that today there are over 27 million people in slavery it forces you to become active.
Nineteen-year-old Luc Dexter said research showed it was a becoming an increasing problem in Wales. “The sex industry, domestic servitude and the drugs trade are fuelling the demand for trafficked people,” he added. “I could not know this and keep quiet.”
A youth group from Barry joined the charity group at the Senedd.
“It has been remarkable to see the uptake,” said campaign director Gary. “The word soon spread outside of Wales and we began to get interest from all over the world. Even well known figures including Cerys Matthews, Paul Daniels, Peter Hain MP, and Eluned Parrott AM encouraged their followers to engage with the issue.”
“Wales is doing a great deal to tackle this problem with the campaigning work of Joyce Watson AM and that of the anti-trafficking czar, Steven Chapman; but we need to do more. “Human trafficking is the fastest growing and second biggest organized crime in the world. Criminals need to know that Wales is the hardest place on earth to conduct their activities. Wales must become traffic-free.”
The charity said the Welsh Assembly Government was considering the petition.
For more see www.notonmywatch.mobi
