Africa: Human Trafficking and the Danger of Sensationalising Belief Over Fact

analysis

Photographs of nooses, bound hands, bruised faces and gagged mouths of women and children - with the words 'save', 'innocent', 'bought' or 'sold' - are appearing on billboards and on social and other media. This kind of imagery is sensationalist and designed to evoke a social and moral panic. They do little more than distract us from the underlying issues that make human trafficking possible.

We seem to be living in a world where facts no longer matter; where beliefs prevail over science; where truth is unable to generate the same fervour and excitement as opinion.

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