Anti-Slavery Australia has just opened the world’s very first Human Mart, right in the heart of Sydney. Human Mart, is a store that displays products that represent the real-life survivors of unspeakable crimes. The mart is only open for a limited time, from March 16th till March 25th, to coincide with International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The shop ultimately aims to drive awareness about modern-day slavery and human trafficking, which affects approximately 15,000 people in Australia today.
About Human Mart
With its pastel hues and modest exterior, Human Mart appears like any other boutique, but what you’ll be interested to learn is that this supermarket is displaying products like no other. Anti-Slavery Australia has created this supermarket as a form of activism, aiming to shed light on the scarily straightforward, and transactional process of human trafficking and slavery.
The Human Mart store itself, showcases over 70 physical items that are wrapped in bold, bright packaging, that display names and personal stories of individuals, who have had their human rights stripped away by acts of slavery. You can learn about the crushed aspirations of Jamila, whose parents tried to send her overseas at the age of 16, to marry a man against her wishes. You can also read the trapped and sealed stories of Elliot who was forced to sleep in a room so uncomfortably small he could not even lie down.
The range of stories includes victims of human trafficking brought to Australia under false pretences, and people living here who are tricked or drawn into terrible situations, including work as cheap labour and in conditions of sexual exploitation. These stories are brutal, frightening and extremely heartbreaking. Human Mart has been intentionally created to shed light on how buying a human is truly, just as easy as buying a product.
About Anti-Slavery Australia
Anti-Slavery Australia are the leaders for, and are the advocates of, the anti-slavery movement happening here in Australia. They are the only specialist legal practice, research and policy centre committed to the abolition of modern day slavery, including: human trafficking, forced labour, servitude, and forced marriage. From their establishment back in 2003, Anti-Slavery Australia have focused on delivering high-quality, free legal representation for the survivors of modern slavery.
Anti-Slavery Australia 2020 Survivors:
- Trafficking: 23%
- Servitude: 16%
- Domestic Servitude: 10%
- Forced Labour: 17%
- Forced Marriage: 30%
- Other: 4%
Jennifer Burn, the director of Anti-Slavery Australia has said:
“Human Mart looks to raise much needed attention and awareness about all forms of modern slavery, while also raising money to allow Anti-Slavery Australia to continue supporting victims and survivors. Legal representation is key to helping survivors gain certainty, security and opportunity in the months and years post trauma. With donations, we can create real impact to prevent these human rights abuses and better protect victims and survivors. While slavery still exists, we need to make greater noise in order to abolish human trafficking and we need our community’s support.”
Jennifer Burn the Director of Anti-Slavery Australia
This incredibly moving supermarket store is open to the public for only a very short time, from Tuesday, March 16 through to Thursday, March 25. The store, located at 205 Oxford Street Darlinghurst, will be open between the hours of 10am till 6pm. Human Mart is absolutely both the most confronting and affective supermarket that Sydney siders will step foot in. Each and every dollar raised from Human Mart will be donated to Anti-Slavery Australia, in support of the many victims and survivors of slavery.
Visit Sydney’s Human Mart today and show your support toward ending slavery in Australia, every donation counts. For more on Human Mart visit: https://humanmart.com.au and for more on Anti-Slavery Australia visit: https://antislavery.org.au/
