MANILA, Philippines - Human trafficking exists in countries all over the world, not just the poorest. According to the United Nations, it is the third-largest and fastest-growing criminal industry in the world, with more than 1.2 million children and young people trafficked every year. In the Philippines, we rank fourth in the world in terms of countries with the highest number of prostituted children.
In response to these disturbing facts, The Body Shop launched a global campaign to Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People in 2009. Working alongside ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) the campaign aims to raise awareness and vital funds for victims or those at risk of trafficking.
Year 2009 also saw the launch of The Body Shop’s Soft Hands Kind Heart Hand Cream. Proceeds from each hand cream sold are donated to ECPAT to fund prevention programs.
With one sold globally every 30 seconds, Soft Hands Kind Heart Hand Cream has already raised more than a whopping P70 million for charity!
Since the launch of the Campaign, Stop Sex Trafficking of Children and Young People has gathered support in more than 40 countries worldwide. In the Philippines alone, more than 400,000 Filipinos signed the petition to support the cause.
So what’s next? This coming August, The Body Shop and ECPAT will be formally calling upon our government to implement strict anti-trafficking policies and legislation, and dedicate more resources to help victims of trafficking. It doesn’t end there. Because this is a global campaign, our objective is to join hands with thousands of other signatories around the world by taking our petitions to the United Nations in 2011.
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The Soft Hands Kind Heart Hand Cream is now available at The Body Shop, in-store and online. To know more about the campaign, visit www.thebodyshop.com/stop.