An international charity tackling modern day slavery across all corners of the globe has backed The Royal Gazette’s Break The Chains campaign.

The Red Cross is running a number of programmes to help children and adults whose lives have been ripped apart by human trafficking, child labour, bonded labour, human captivity or forced marriage.

And the charity’s branch in Bermuda says our campaign can work hand-in-hand with its efforts to spread the word about the tragic lives millions of people are forced to lead nearly two centuries after it was hoped slavery would be abolished for good.

We are urging our readers to sign an on-line petition demanding action from Governments to help free at least 12 million modern day slaves.

The petition was launched by human rights charity Anti-Slavery International in the run-up to the official bicentenary of the abolition of the Transatlantic slave trade in Britain and its territories in March 1807.

Petra Spencer-Arscott, health, safety and disaster services co-ordinator at Bermuda Red Cross, said campaigning could make a big difference.

She said: “We are trying to educate people in under-developed countries to stop them from taking jobs in other countries which might not be what they expect them to be.

“This anti-slavery campaign falls right into line with the work The Red Cross is doing internationally. It’s something we give our support to.

“Lots of people don’t know how serious the situation is across the world, so hopefully things like this can bring it to their attention.

“I will definitely sign the petition, and I will forward the message to lots of people I know so that they can do the same.”

The Red Cross’s international wing is carrying out valuable work tackling slavery in places such as Denmark, Bulgaria, Belarus and Kosovo to name just a few.

One of their main efforts surrounds educating people in poverty-stricken areas so they are not duped into accepting phoney job adverts placed by traffickers and their agents.

They say many people in developing countries take jobs abroad believing they are a ticket to a more comfortable life - only to find themselves ending up as slaves.

Aid workers have also been working in partnership with specialists to assist young women and men who have been sexually exploited or forced into slavery by gangsters.

They say Bermudians can do their bit by making donations which can be sent to parts of the world to aid their campaign.* To sign the Anti-Slavery International petition, go to www.antislavery.org/2007/actionsign and fill in your details. To comment on The Royal Gazette Break The Chains campaign, call 278-0153 or email tsmith[AT]royalgazette.bm