Students from the Cambridge SPEAK group have made the biggest paper chain Cambridge has ever seen to draw attention to the fact that slavery still exists, and it’s going on here. Today one man, woman or child is trafficked across international borders every minute, for forced labour in agriculture, domestic service or prostitution and human trafficking is the second biggest form of international crime after drug smuggling. So hundreds of people across Cambridge have been asked to write their feelings about this situation as they make links in the chain, and sign the STOP THE TRAFFIK petition calling for change that will prevent the sale of people, prosecute the traffickers and protect the trafficked.

The chain will be wrapped around the railing of Great St Mary’s church in the city centre on Monday 18th June, and then handed in to David Howarth MP with the petition asking for the UK Government to take more action on trafficking.

Jenny Auton, leader of the group said “I was heartbroken when I heard about the number of people who come here trying to make a better life for themselves, and end up having their passports stolen by their captors, beaten and forced to work without pay. When I heard that traffickers hardly ever get caught because victims of trafficking are usually just deported if they report the situation to the police, I knew I had to do something.”

Event details: Monday 18th June, 10am – 1pm with photo opportunity at 11am with David Howarth MP.
Location: Paper chain will be wrapped around the railings of Great St Mary’s church, with stall in front of the tower opposite Senate House.