Psalm 82:3,4

As we read this, there is an urgent need for a prophetic voice crying out to our government, our media and our world reminding them that God requires them to "defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed; rescue the weak and the needy and deliver them from the hand of the wicked." We as Godly men and woman need to use our gifts and abilities to stand up and be counted, to influence those in power and goverment to bring these Godly principals to fruition!

‘I remember being horrified to learn at an event that there was an estimated 12,000 trafficked children working in the cocoa producing nations of West Africa, many as slaves.

Afterwards when I opened the cupboard at home, I saw my part in the outrage – drinking chocolate, cocoa and chocolate bars. How could I give my children chocolate buttons knowing that other youngsters just as innocent might have been used as slave labour to produce the raw ingredients?

I sent the chocolate back to the company concerned with a letter explaining my stance. They sent a cheque to reimburse me for the chocolate but their response was defensive, inaccurate and superficial. I wrote back, and received a further reply, which was better, but still not good enough. This company, one of the UK’s major chocolate manufacturers were unable to reassure me that no trafficked children or slaves had been involved in producing the cocoa used to make their products.

With a bit or perseverance, I managed to open a genuine dialogue with the company’s corporate social responsibility management team. Two meetings and several letters later, they announced the establishment of a new Cocoa Partnership, a charity dedicated to ploughing one per cent of their pre-tax profits (that's £5m a year once the foundation is up and running), back into the communities that produce their raw ingredients such as cocoa. The money will be used to support, educate, and monitor the communities which produce their products. This will provide perhaps the best assurance we can hope for in the short-term that no slaves will be involved in producing their chocolate.’

James Ewins

James was willing to SPEAK UP for the rights of TRAFFICKED CHILDREN. He did something YOU can do. He wrote a letter and challenged a company to CHANGE. He DEFENDED the RIGHTS of children who could not speak for themselves. We all have a responsibility to ACT, and to do ALL WE CAN!

ADVOCACY is when someone who SPEAKS OUT on behalf of another, to make sure their VIEWPOINT and RIGHTS are represented.

To start making a real difference we need to become ADVOCATES for the cause like James. We need to start taking the issues to DECISION MAKERS, POLITICANS and those who can PUBLICISE them.

Join us in RAISING THE PROFILE of the fight against human trafficking in your country and community by writing to the editor of your local newspaper.

1. Research recent news stories in your local area to see if there have been any recent stories about trafficking.
2. Ask them if they are aware of the issue or highlight the problem and your concerns.
3. Inform them about what you are hoping to do through your ACT FOR JUSTICE group and ask if they would be interested running a story on it to help raise awareness of human trafficking.
4. Many local newspapers have a letters page. Write a letter for that page as a member of the local community about your concerns and why you feel people should take action.

We need to keep praying for God to move, PRAYER and ACTION are a powerful combination.

• Pray that you become and advocate for the cause and speak out on behalf of trafficked people.
• Pray that advocates for justice will be heard and have influence in government, in new legislation being formed and the media.
• Pray for the continued success and growth of frontline projects around the world who are rescuing people from traffickers.

Our heart at Hope for Justice is to bring real and lasting change to the lives of TRAFFICKED and ENSLAVED people. Sometimes it is not as difficult as we think because when we ACT FOR JUSTICE and do something God works with us. I believe there are many other stories like James’s waiting to happen. We want to see a generation ACT FOR JUSTICE, and this why we have chosen it as the new name for all our Act Groups that are meeting around the world.

I look forward to hearing what happens as you start to speak out and become advocates for the cause. Please email Hope For Justice and update us on your progress. It is so exciting to hear what we are achieving together through our ACT FOR JUSTICE groups.

Thank you for your support as we continue the fights against the injustice of human trafficking and slavery. I truly believe this generation will be used to rescue many people and restore their hope for the future.

Yours in Him,

Ben Cooley