The locusts of everyday violence have been allowed to swarm unabated in the developing world. And they are laying waste to the hope of the poor. - The Locust Effect
Through reflecting on countless conversations, travels, lectures and books one aspect of violence is made particularly clear: Our world's poorest people are especially vulnerable to it. For myriad reasons they are often without a voice and, in the end, often without justice.
Our estimates are more accurate than ever, and they tell us that perhaps 30 million children, women and men are held as forced labor slaves.
Then there's this: One in five women (CDC) will be a victim of rape or attempted rape and one in six men have experienced unwanted or abusive sexual experiences before age 18. Sexual violence, of course, makes everyday activities like going to school, gathering water, using a communal restroom or taking public transport all the more dangerous. Additionally, poverty experts agree that the world's poorest 4 billion people often live in places where their justice systems don't or can't protect them from these kinds of "everyday violence."
The International Justice Mission just put together this powerful three-minute video that shows what the world is up against as we work together to help our poorest neighbors.
For deeper insights into the links between violence and poverty, please read The Locust Effect, a recently-released book by Victor Boutros and Gary A. Haugen.