Marianne Rozario on the controversial summer sensation, Sound of Freedom, and the dark reality of child trafficking. 07/09/2023

I have heard first–hand horrific stories of modern slavery. The story of a British woman trafficked to Italy by her partner and sold into sexual exploitation. Testimonies of Lithuanians promised an agricultural job in the UK, but then forced to work whilst under threat to their families with passports and wages withheld. The account of a man lured here from Nigeria under the pretence of a football contract only to be sold into sex trafficking. 

Such stories are not shocking to anyone having worked, like I have, in the anti–trafficking field. For a number of years, I worked for a faith–based anti–trafficking initiative and went on to research about modern slavery for my doctorate, which analysed the role of the Church to fight, as Pope Francis describes it, this “open wound on the body of contemporary society”.[i] 

Despite that, I found myself in tears watching Sound of Freedom at the cinema over the weekend, shocked and disturbed by what I saw.  

Child sex trafficking is not a light topic. It is not what people want to talk about. Maybe it is too cruel, too unfathomable to comprehend, or too dark to want to see it. But it is real. It is happening. 

Sound of Freedom follows a US government agent who quits his job to embark on a dangerous mission to rescue trafficked children in Colombia. Whilst the film is not graphic, through the eyes of Tim, the former US government agent, we witness the most horrific and unimaginable crimes being committed to a young brother and sister after being sold into sex trafficking rings. Tim feels compelled to rescue these children saying, “God’s children are not for sale”. 

The film was upsetting, but its creators should be commended for bringing such a crucial issue to light. It is based on the true story of Tim Ballard, a former US Homeland Security agent who founded the anti–human trafficking organisation Operation Underground Railroad. The film has been surrounded by criticisms, some linking it to QAnon or other conspiracy theories, despite its director denying its affiliation to such beliefs. It has also gained support from right–wing politicians including Donald Trump, as well as support from the likes of Elon Musk and Jordan Peterson, making it the latest tool in the culture wars debate, despite the film taking no political stance. Others claim that the story presents a sensationalised version of human trafficking and creates an unhelpful vigilante hero narrative.  

Regardless of these politically driven controversies surrounding the film, and even whether the particular details of its plot are wholly factual, the film has brought to the centre stage one of the most horrific and pressing issues of our times. For that, if nothing else, it is a success.  

Even for those of us who have worked in the field, the story in the film is overwhelming. Worse still, this story of child trafficking is just one story out of millions. 

Child trafficking involves the exploitation of girls and boys forced or persuaded to leave their homes, moved or transported and then exploited, forced to work or sold. Children are primarily trafficked for sexual exploitation or for forced labour. Or they are trafficked for benefit fraud, forced marriage, domestic slavery, or in order to commit crimes like begging, theft or working on cannabis farms.[ii]  

Beyond child trafficking, estimates of rates of human trafficking more broadly and modern slavery are exceptionally high and on the rise. According to the latest Global Estimates of Modern Slavery figures, an estimated 50 million people were living in situations of modern slavery each day in 2021. Of these, approximately 28 million were in situations of forced labour and 22 million were in forced marriage. Children make up 27% of all human trafficking victims worldwide, with 2 out of 3 identified child victims being girls. Worse still, numbers are rising. 10 million more people in 2021 were in modern slavery compared to estimates from 2016.  

This is not a problem “out there” but one happening in the UK today. According to the UK government, around 10,000 people in the UK were reported to be in modern slavery in 2020. Unofficial slavery experts suggest that figure is much higher, potentially more than 100,000 people. In 2021, 43% of referrals were for potential victims who claimed exploitation as children. 

Into this dismal picture, churches have a distinct role to play in ending this crime. Modern slavery goes against the heart of the Christian message defending the dignity of the human person, made in the image and likeness of God. St Augustine wrote in response to slavery that God “did not intend that His rational creature, who was made in His image, should have dominion over anything but the irrational creation—not man over man, but man over the beasts”[iii]. The dignity of the human person calls for no human being to be the slave of another, and no life a commodity at the disposal of another. 

Holding this conviction, Christian charities are heavily involved in anti–trafficking work.[iv] By no means the only effective anti–trafficking movement, they are among the very few capable of being as adaptable as criminal organisations through their global reach that transcends state boundaries, as well as their local expertise.[v] They are, also, the ones who continue to press forward even in the midst of adversity.[vi]  

Yes, the film is a hard watch. But that is exactly why you should care about this issue. Sitting for two hours in the uncomfortable reality of child sex trafficking should awaken you to this crime; a crime that, quite frankly, no criticism of the film should distract you from. It shouldn’t matter where on the political spectrum you sit – this is a story worth hearing, child sex trafficking is an issue we should all care about.  

As William Wilberforce, the British politician who led the movement to abolish slavery, said, “You may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know”. The same applies to modern slavery today.  

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, visit the modern slavery helpline or call 08000 121 700. 

If you wish to report a crime anonymously visit Crime Stoppers or call 0800 555 111.

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