MORE than 100 Salvationists from the Brazil Territory took to the streets during the FIFA Confederations Cup to raise awareness about human trafficking. Hundreds of thousands of supporters from different countries attended the football (soccer) tournament at which the host nation participated alongside teams from Italy, Spain, Mexico, Uruguay, Nigeria, Japan and Tahiti.
Matches took place across Brazil as a part of preparations for next year's World Cup finals. The Salvation Army's Human Trafficking Awareness Campaign operated in three of the biggest locations – the capital, Brasília, and the cities of Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janeiro.
Coverage of the wave of political protests in the country drew attention to the different creative strategies Salvationists used while assembled around the main football stadiums where the matches were being held. They sought to inform and challenge people about the realities of human trafficking.
Banners with the phrase: 'People shouldn't be bought and sold. Human trafficking is a crime. Denounce it!' were held at traffic signals, while informative leaflets were distributed to the drivers and passengers in cars that stopped. Participants held up barcodes and posters with the question: 'What's the price of your silence?' which created many opportunities for conversation.
The tournament also brought opportunity for Salvationists to engage with the country's general passion for football by promoting sporting events for children and a space for the local community to watch matches.
The Salvation Army's Annual Day of Prayer for Victims of Human Trafficking 2013 is on Sunday 29 September.
Report by Stephanie Parker Chagas
