Everyday, countless children around the world are forced into modern day slavery and led to believe their lives are not their own to control. “Not My Life,” a dual documentary and panel discussion on campus, offers students and community members opportunities to learn and fight against these oppressive practices.
The first half took place as a showing of “Not My Life” Oct. 23 at Westlake Hall. The second half of the program will be the panel discussion at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 in Marty Theatre.
The documentary, “Not My Life,” is the first film made depicting the different forms of human trafficking on a global scale. The film covered five continents and showed viewers how people are exploited through forced labor, domestic servitude, sexual violence and child soldiering. The aim of the film was to bring the reality of modern day slavery to attention, according to the International Affairs Organization co-president Casmeer Mae Reyes.
“There are more people enslaved today than ever in the history of the world,” professor and member of the Peoria Area World Affairs Council Angela Weck said. “With that in mind, the goal is to raise awareness among students and the general community about modern slavery and human trafficking, locally as well as globally.”
The emphasis on the film is awareness, according to Reyes.
“It’s just about making sure that people understand there are different forms of trafficking,” Reyes, a senior international studies major, said. “Because usually we focus on sex trafficking, certain things we wouldn’t even consider to be human trafficking [aren’t discovered] until they’ve seen the film.”
The panel discussion invites experts Brian Cress (International Justice Mission), Chuck Taylor (WEInstitute), Darci Jenkins (Heartland Alliance), Miguel Keberlein (Legal Action Fund) and Rachel Stouder (Salvation Army) to discuss how to approach modern day slavery and what people can do to fight against it.
Reyes said that the aim wasn’t to be a depressing topic but for students to leave with a sense of hope and an ability to act.
“When I say act, that doesn’t just mean ‘Oh, I’m going to go volunteer, I’m going to go to Cambodia and volunteer at this shelter,’” Reyes said. “A lot of it is just our personal choices, the everyday things that we do and kind of building values and the fact that every human life is valuable. I think this film and this panel stresses that and makes that the point.”
The two part program was made a reality through the cooperation of many groups. The Carlson Family Foundation and the World Affairs Council of America, joined by the Bradley University International Affairs Organization, Anti-Slavery Coalition and the Tunnel of Oppression to bring the issue to light and to action.
This event also ties in with the upcoming Tunnel of Oppression, which works to bring awareness to issues such as sex trafficking and homelessness. This year, they are planning to bring a different aspect to the tunnel.
“Without giving too much away, one of our main focuses is to hit it close to home and have students realize that this is not just an issue for people overseas or in third world countries,” junior and president of the Tunnel of Oppression Judith De La Vega said. “It’s our problem too, so the decisions we make or the people we associate with may ultimately have a negative impact on the lives of millions of others.”
