More than 27 million men, women and children are estimated to be trapped in slavery today- of whom 4300 are in Australia- according to the Walk Free Foundation’s 2016 Global Slavery Index.

Tomorrow, Saturday 14 October, marks the beginning of a global day of anti-slavery marches as part of A21’s Walk For Freedom movement setting off 239 walks across 39 countries including Greece, and 12 marches in Australia alone. The worldwide action will begin at 11.30am from St Mary’s Cathedral Square and will continue in single file to Mrs Macquaries Chair.

Participants will wear black and give voice to all slaves around the world calling for measures to see the eradication of modern-day slavery.

Why? Many of the women who were placed into care with A21 anti-slavery organisation in Greece after being freed, have given testimonies of their suffering as sex slaves in the hands of their abusers. They describe their prison and what they were forced to do in sex clubs and brothels where they were kept against their will.

One of those victims is Anna (name has been changed to protect identity) from Romania, who at age 20 got set up by her own family and ended up servicing up to 50 clients a day,chained to a bed.

“We had to smile, always try to smile. We had to act as if we liked it. I felt ashamed. I would see client after client, with not much break, and then we’d have to see another client.

“I could see the cameras, and they would lock the doors. You couldn’t go. They would find us.”

Nina from Bulgariawas also sold into slavery when she turned 16 by her mother and eventually found caged in a Greek brothel by by police who told her she was lucky to be alive, the Age reports.

Another Bulgarian woman aged 19, referred to as Angie, was forced to live with her cousins when her mother could no longer cope with the care of six children. She was asked to find a job in Greece by her cousin and was sold into slavery having to ‘service’ 40 men per day for two years. She was kept captive under inhumane conditions and was allowed to use the bathroom only two times a day.

“To prevent falling victim to trafficking schemes, which target individual vulnerability, and to keep Australia’s youth safe within the nation and abroad, we need to educate ourselves and the next generation around this global injustice,” said Erina Low, A21 Australia’s Prevention, Awareness and Education Coordinator.

To find out more about the Australian Walk follow https://www.facebook.com/A21Aus/ on Facebook. For Greece head to https://www.facebook.com/TheA21CampaignGreece/