Exhibit: Invisble: Slavery Today

Invisible: Slavery Today

Earlier this month, the Freedom Center in Cincinnati, OH opened an exhibit examining modern-day slavery. "What we hope to do, at very least, is raise awareness that this exists," said Paul Bernish, the Freedom Center executive in charge of its contemporary slavery exhibit and programs, believed to be the first such position in the American museum field said in an article by Mark Curnutte. "Secondly, we want to offer people things they can do to become engaging to ending these forms of slavery."

According to their website,the "design and "feel" of Invisible is that of a dingy warehouse in an unfamiliar city, filled with wood, metal and plastic containers -- shipping cartons for human beings. Through a variety of techinques and media, including videos, sounds and touch-screen prsentations, Invisible offers a comprehensive examination of slavery in the modern world through the life experiences of five individuals who were caught up in one of the five most common forms of exploitation: forced labor, bonded indenture, child slavery, sex trafficking and domestic servitude. The exhibition explores the causes of slavery, the economic forces that have contributed to its growth, and the response of government, the justice system and the general public to this scourge. . .

"But Invisible is not just a grim walk through degradation and mistreatment. A major concluding section is devoted to antislavery activities underway around the world, especially by the Freedom Center's partners in the exhibition: Free the Slaves, Goodweave, International Justice Mission and Polaris Project. Visitors are also asked to make a personal commitment to be 21st Century Abolitionists in the cause of freedom."

Click here to learn more about the Freedom Center and for information about the Invisible exhibit. Click here to view photos from the exhibit.

Ohio State University- Parade Of Tears

Approximately 500 people marched through Ohio State University's campus on Sunday, April 25th, 2010, to draw attention to the victims of human trafficking and sex slavery.

Public Meeting Called to Discuss Sex Slavery in Ohio

Cleveland, Ohio

From NBC4i:

Central Ohioans may feel removed from the practice of human trafficking, but Ohio isn't immune to sex slavery. Ohio ranks fifth in the nation for the underground crime, most notably due to the state's highway system.
An estimated 17,000 men, women and children are trafficked into the U.S. each year.

Congresswoman Deb Pryce and other Ohio lawmakers are leading the charge to stop it and now, a safe house is becoming a home to help teens who were forced into prostitution. Between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Thursday, there is a free public meeting at the Xenos Christian Fellowship to talk about some of the plans being made to help what is known as human trafficking.

One of the items on the agenda will be the in-depth description of Gracehaven -- a home planned for some land just north of Columbus that will serve as a home for juvenile prostitutes. Police statistics are almost impossible to determine, but from people who work with human trafficking, it is estimated that on any given day, there may be between 40 and 50 prostitutes working in Columbus who are under the age of 18.

"Slavery is unfortunately still very much alive and well here in the United States," said Dr. Jeffrey Barrows, Gracehaven president. That is why there is such a push for Gracehaven -- a planned home and hope to be built for young victims of human trafficking.

Read the full article