Teen Organizes Global Week Of Action Against Modern Slavery

To raise awareness of modern slavery, which effects 8.4 million children, a California Bay Area high school junior, Lela Tolajian, has launched the International Week of Action Against Modern Slavery–which kicks off today. The six-day action week ends on May 6.

A social justice activist, Tolajian founded the Youth Action Campaign club two years ago at her Campolindo High School, and first learned about modern slavery while researching about child labor. Sex trade is a $99 billion business–and of the 4.8 million enduring sexual exploitation worldwide, 99% are women and children. Tolajian hopes the Week of Action will raise awareness and galvanize activists worldwide to work together and demand change from their “local and national governments, the UN, and the unethical companies.”

In our virtual interview, Tolajian discussed how she hopes to build a globally localized, sustainable movement to combat modern slavery, forced labor, and human trafficking.

Jackie Abramian: When did you come up with the idea to galvanize a global movement with a Week of Action Against Modern Slavery?

Lela Tolajian: I came up with the idea in late March. I was trying to plan something that goes beyond just raising awareness but pushes for concrete change. I wanted it to be something almost anyone could participate in, regardless of their age, where they lived, or whether they were already knowledgeable about the issue.

Abramian: How many signatories and countries have you reached?

Tolajian: As of now, we have over 100+ participants from such organizations as Made in a Free World, ASYARFS Youth, Youth Igniting Change, OneChild, Cease Now, Het Overweeghuis, Coalition Against Trafficking in Women Australia, Change Action Nepal, and ASYARF. We have interest from 20 countries including the U.S., Congo, Canada, England, the Netherlands, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong/China, Cambodia, Nepal, Gabon, Albania, Honduras, India, Nigeria, Turkey, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mexico and Kyrgyzstan. 

Abramian: Are the signatories mostly teens like yourself?

Tolajian: It’s definitely a mix. There are many young activists as well as adults. I’m really excited about the mix of people who are both anti-modern day slavery activists, and those who haven’t done anything about it previously. The Week of Action will be a collective mobilization of current efforts against forced labor, and additional people getting involved for the first time. I’ve received responses from people who’ve said my outreach was the first time they’d heard about modern slavery–and after looking into it, they signed up. 

Abramian: How did you reach and find these signatories?

Tolajian: I spent a lot of time Googling different activist groups and individuals around the world, sent out emails with an overview of the Week of Action and invited them to participate. The Global Modern Slavery Directory was super helpful in finding groups already fighting forced labor and human trafficking. I used social media to find student-run activist clubs and researched advocacy, human rights, climate justice, activist groups and coalitions worldwide. I also reached out to people I knew personally who might be interested and encouraged them to pass it onto others in their network.

Abramian: How did you plan the daily actions?

Tolajian: My intention for the first day was to spread awareness, teach people about the issue, and generate conversation, since many people aren’t aware of modern slavery. There’s not just one policy that can solve modern slavery, but the need for a collaborative effort from companies, the UN, national and local governments. I divided up the event to put pressure on individual stakeholder. Since the problem exists in practically every country, it’s important that people worldwide demand their own governments to take action. 

Abramian: What do you hope to gain by launching this Week of Action, beyond raising awareness of modern slavery?

Tolajian: First and foremost, I hope we can push companies and legislative bodies to create concrete reforms to address modern slavery. We demand companies to examine their supply chain and cease using forced labor or similar unethical practices. From governing bodies, we ask for more support of at-risk populations–migrants and impoverished communities–by providing education, healthcare, housing, rehabilitation and aid to survivors to reduce the risk of re-trafficking through counseling, education, check-ins, and legal protection. Basically, make greater efforts to help those being exploited. And holding large businesses accountable for forced or unethical labor in their supply chains.

We have different demands from different stakeholders, which is why it’s important to divide up the days and have participants worldwide demand their own local companies and governments to take action. I hope those who aren’t involved with this issue become human rights activists who, after this week, continue to fight for change.

Abramian: How will you amplify the message and activism across various countries–beyond your social sites?

Tolajian: All the participants will share the information with their own communities to get their network to join the Week of Action. Participants will share photos of themselves holding a sign that says International Week of Action Against Modern Slavery, and in their outreach to elected officials and corporations–all social media posts will have #weekofaction and #standuptomodernslavery hashtags.

Abramian: How will week-long, action-packed activities be different from what major organizations have done to raise awareness, galvanize governments, and corporations to put an end to modern slavery?

Tolajian: With the influence of youth activism on our world today, I think a Week of Action organized by a teenager will raise interest–and especially help young people to join the movement. What’s unique is the combination of current activists involved with the cause and first-time participants. The Week of Action is not only building off of current efforts but getting more people involved, helping to grow and move the global human rights movement forward. It’s important that the Week of Action isn’t just one or two groups working together, but a coalition of worldwide activists and organizations big and small. The Week of Action does not exist in a vacuum–my activism is possible because of other human rights activists reporting on this issue and organizing groups that I was able to reach out to and push for policy change.   

Abramian: How will all this culminate at the end of the week?

Tolajian: I have two goals for the last day. First, to review the week of action and determine where we go from here. I plan on sharing a video of everyone with their Week of Action sign, thanking everyone for participating, and providing a summary of what happened. Then remind participants that we’re just getting started, that they should follow up with the politicians and companies they contacted, keep learning, sharing information about the issue, and continue to share the petition. And I hope to reach out to the participants with future events that I plan to organize.

Abramian: Will this be an annual event?

Tolajian: I’m not sure if this exact program will become an annual event per se. What I do know is this will not be the end. I absolutely plan on organizing future events and mobilizations. Just doing one week of action won’t end modern slavery. It’s important to continue calling for change–this is only the beginning.