Each month the Social Justice Challenge has a different theme. The theme for September is modern slavery.
Just in the past few months I have read a few books about modern slavery. Over the past year I've also read 2 books about Iqbal (child slave in the carpet industry in India),
This book is an intense version of Patricia McCormick's Sold
This one covers much more than modern slavery/trafficking 
This book is a great YA book about childhood prostitutionBut, I didn't read any of these books in the month of September. I wasn't sure what to read and then I came upon a CNN article and video by Siddharth Kara (Human Trafficking Expert). The Editor's note states that Siddharth is taking a research trip around South Asia to look at the issues of forced labor, trafficking, and child bondage. His features are going to run over the next ten weeks.
He begins his trip in Nepal, looking at caste-based forced labor in the Badi group. In this group when a girl reaches puberty she is automatically put into the sex trade. Over the past 15 years the group has worked with NGOs to try to change this, but it is difficult since most people see the Badi as low-caste.
Another problem the author discovered is health problems, which means the girls borrow money for medicine, putting them further in debt to their "owner." The girls also work in hotels and restaurants from 2:00am to 10:00pm for $20 a year!
Here's the video of you'd like to watch it:
3 comments
This is a really great challenge, and it's one I've never seen around before. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
I'm your newest follower, and your blog is just lovely! I love the blue :)
What a great challenge!
I recently read a book that deals with some of the issues that you presented here. It's called Free?: Stories about Human Rights from Amnesty International. I loved it. There are several short stories in this collection that fit with the theme of this challenge.
Thanks for sharing this great reading challenge!
Melissa--Thank you for following! I went over to your blog and joined yours as well.
Mrs. DeRaps--Thank you for the recommendation of Free. I'll add it to my list of books to check out!
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