THIN SPACE
This week, Prayer Hour is all about justice, focusing in on a whole bunch of Manchester-based, Jesus-loving, Social Justice movements, aiming to punch holes in the darkness of our world to allow God’s love, God’s justice, God’s Kingdom to come pouring through.
Today we are going to be talking about the work of Hope for Justice.
Hope for Justice
Hope for Justice is an international charity based in Manchester. Its mission is to bring an end to modern slavery by preventing exploitation, rescuing victims, restoring lives, and reforming society. Many people still think of ‘slavery’ as something from the history books, but there are more people trapped in slavery today than at any point in human history.
Modern Slavery Worldwide
Modern slavery is thought to be the world’s third-largest criminal enterprise. It is a hidden crime, but the best estimates suggest there are 40.3 million people in forced labour, forced marriage, sexual exploitation and domestic servitude (Source: International Labor Organization, Sept 2017).
Modern Slavery in the UK
The most recent UK government estimate is about 10,000 to 13,000 victims in the UK (Home Office, 2013). But in summer 2017, the National Crime Agency suggested this estimate was too low, and in fact there are ‘tens of thousands’ of UK victims. Hope for Justice agrees.
In the UK, Hope for Justice provides training to frontline professionals (including police, NHS, homeless shelter staff, community groups etc.) to spot the signs of modern slavery and respond effectively. HfJ trained investigators work with police and other agencies to identify victims of modern slavery, build bridges of trust with them and remove them from exploitation. HfJ Independent Modern Slavery Advocates (IMSAs) provide long term victim-centred support including help to access housing, benefits, employment, mental health support and legal assistance. And Hope for Justice uses all its experience of frontline work to seek legislative and police reform.
Hope for Justice is currently supporting over 100 survivors (and their dependants) in the UK. During the pandemic, the team have continued to operate remotely, communicating with survivors over the phone and online. This has provided a vital lifeline for many survivors to express their concerns and needs and be able to understand (through using interpreters in their own language) all the guidance relating to Covid-19. Hope for Justice has also assisted with the provision of food parcels for those who were unable to access basic necessities and helped with resourcing technological equipment to reduce isolation and allow continued access to important services such as counselling and education (which moved online).
To find out more, please visit - CLICK HERE
Pray
Please pray for those people still trapped in modern slavery, that they will be liberated. Pray for survivors who are recovering from their experiences, especially for those who are experiencing poor mental health as a result of increased isolation and uncertainty in lockdown. Pray protection over Hope for Justice staff and volunteers.