The Royal Gazette’s Break The Chains campaign has got off to a flying start — now we are urging our readers to help a worldwide anti-slavery petition smash the 15,000 mark.

Our campaign — which demands world leaders take action to help free at least 12 million modern day slaves — has received an “excellent” response so far, according to the human rights charity behind it.

We are backing Anti-Slavery International’s Fight For Freedom Declaration petition, which calls for Governments to end all forms of human captivity, including human trafficking, child labour, bonded labour and forced marriage.

It was launched in the run-up to the official bicentenary of the slave trade in Britain and its territories in 1807.

Officials say since we came on board in mid-December the impressive response from our readers has helped the total number of signatures soar to more than 13,300. Now organisers want you to help meet a target of 15,000 by January 1 and put the campaign in a real position of strength to start the new year.

“Thank you to all Royal Gazette <$>readers who have taken action — we have had a great response,” said Aidan McQuade, director of Anti-Slavery International.

“The bicentenary provides the opportunity to harness the abolitionist spirit, not just to increase understanding of the Transatlantic Slave Trade but to demand an end to slavery once and for all. For those of you who have not yet signed the Fight for Freedom Declaration, use 2007 to make a difference and join the fight to end slavery now.”

Figures for the number of Bermudians who have signed the petition are unavailable, but organisers confirmed the response was “excellent”.

Increasing numbers of charities and community groups are throwing their weight behind Break The Chains — and all of them want as many people as possible to sign up.

The Salvation Army says the abolition of slavery has long been one of its key goals.

In 2004, the charity’s Canada and Bermuda Territory joined its International Task Force against Human Trafficking, helping form a network of members who have worked in the front lines with trafficked women and children across the world.

Bosses at the charity are currently in talks aimed at making suggestions on how slavery can be tackled by changing legislation to address traffickers and customers.

Lionel Cann, community service worker at Bermuda’s Salvation Army, said: “Slavery is alive and well across the world.

“At the Salvation Army, we are very much involved with attempts to tackle human trafficking. We try to highlight the conditions some individuals find themselves in because of these tragic acts of slavery.

“They get sent from under-developed countries to other places in the world, where they are told they will be able to get jobs. Then when they get there they find themselves involved in prostitution or forced labour.

“The Break The Chains campaign has got a good message. I hope people will sign the petition.”

Maryanne Scott, chairman of the Human Rights Commission, said: “My first reaction on seeing the campaign was to sign the petition. For the past year, I have gathered some information on human trafficking and have read where agencies were involved. It is real.”

The Red Cross is involved in work tackling the effects of slavery in countries including Nigeria and Bulgaria.

Petra Spencer-Arscott, health, safety and disaster services co-ordinator at the charity’s Bermuda branch, said: “It’s fantastic that 13,000 people have signed the petition, but more would be much better. The more people that sign on and say they won’t accept slavery, the more Governments will realise they have to do something about it.”

Groups which have previously backed Break The Chains include Amnesty International, the Coalition for the Protection of Children, the Women’s Resource Centre and Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda.

* 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