If you know anything about soccer, the red card is a pretty serious matter in the game.  The red card is given to the players who committed the worst offense in the game. He or she must leave the game without replacement, meaning that the team will be playing one player short. Additionally, the player who received the red card cannot play in the next match. This is a very serious action, as the player takes himself out and hinders the team, and, therefore, becomes a subject to embarrassment and ridicule from fans and press. Naturally, no one player wants to receive the red card.

The idea to use the red card for social justice causes was first applied in 2002, when the International Labour Organization used it to bring awareness to the issues of child labor during the African Cup of Nations event in Mali. In 2007, Brazilian soccer legend Pele joined the Red Card campaign to put an end to child labor. Today, the International Labour Organization works together with FIFA in communities at risk to educate and empower children and young people to put an end to child exploitation. Additionally, the red cards against trafficking were used in 2006 World Cup in Germany and in 2009 African Cup of Nations.

Many organizations are using this concept to bring the attention of the world to human trafficking and modern-day slavery during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. UNICEF, together with various South African government agencies and other partners, has launched a Red Card campaign with a focus to raise awareness of abuse and exploitation of children. They are urging the communities to protect their children, especially while the World Cup is taking place, since the competition is also attractive to human traffickers preying on most vulnerable population groups.

UNICEF is using “Give a Red Card to Child Abuse and Exploitation” as their campaign slogan. According to UNICEF South Africa, various methods are used to relay their message to the public, which include posters, brochures, and messages on electronic devices. The campaign efforts are to “make children aware of risks of exploitation by adults, <to> provide safety tips and advice to children and parents, <to> inform tourists and visitors that child sexual exploitation and trafficking are against the law, <to> make the public aware of child trafficking and how to prevent or act against it,  <and to> provide emergency numbers to report incidents of child sexual exploitation and abuse,” states the organization. The venues where the materials will be given out include schools, hotels, restaurants, festival sites, and many others. The campaign also is taking advantage of the electronic media devices, spreading the message to end child exploitation through emails and social network outlets.

Not For Sale Campaign is another organization that is on the ground in South Africa, giving a red card to human trafficking. The recent 2010 Trafficking in Persons report issued by the State Department indicated that people are being trafficked into the United States for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation. Today, over 27 million people worldwide are enslaved, more than at the peak of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. There are estimates that over half of them are under the age of 18. The Not For Sale campaign, founded in 2007, is fighting to abolish modern-day slavery and to end human trafficking, especially focusing on child slavery during the 2010 World Cup. According to the Not For Sale website, South Africa is an attractive place not only for soccer fans and tourists, but also for human trafficking criminals that are trying to take advantage of the flooding crowds. The Not For Sale is using the World Cup to give a red card to “the ultimate offense against humanity, human trafficking.” More than 10,000 red cards were printed with messages on one side  “Child slaves outnumber pro footballers. Makes you wonder what our favorite pastime really is,” and “The youngest pro footballer signed at 14; which is old if you’re a sex slave.” And on the other, “Stop Offenses Against Children.” The Not For Sale advocates, dressed as soccer players and referees have been going to the World Cup events and venues to give out the cards to the visitors. “They’re handing out red cards in the stadiums, in the streets, in all of the popular areas… and they are declaring that no human being should be for sale.” The Red Card campaign by Not For Sale also includes ten million flyers, stickers, and posters distributed through South African retail stores. David Batstone, founder of Not For Sale, says that “Human trafficking is an issue all over the world, and the eyes of the world will be on South Africa during this sporting event… This campaign will be a powerful tool in helping us capture the attention of World Cup fans and raise awareness of modern-day slavery." The Not For Sale team on the streets of South Africa is using the excitement of the event to educate and recruit the public to end human trafficking and modern day slavery. Their call is that “Together, we’re bringing the movement to end slavery to the front lines in South Africa.”

There are many organizations working together to end the abuse of children, to stop human trafficking, and to bring social justice. Modern day slavery is a global issue, happening in many places of the world, not just some distant countries. Some of the places might even be surprisingly close. It is also a hidden issue, making it hard to detect. The government officials are working together with law enforcement all over the world to identify and prosecute the human trafficking criminals and provide support and protection to the victims. Many non-government and non-profit organizations help and empower the survivors of modern-day slavery to start new lives. Let’s use the momentum of the World Cup to continue the fight until there is not even one person is sold.