The UK’s first ever Anti-Slavery Day will take place on Monday 18 October 2010. The purpose of the day is to raise national awareness of the need to eradicate all forms of slavery, human trafficking and exploitation.

This Anti-Slavery Day is very significant because it is the first time since the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 that the UK has openly acknowledged the existence of contemporary slavery with a specific day to focus national attention on the issue. Prime Minister David Cameron was particularly keen to secure this date as it coincides with the European Union Trafficking Awareness Day and as such will help to increase its impact.

Lord Alton, who has a keen interest in the plight of India's Dalits, backed the proposal for this Anti-Slavery Day in the UK in his speech in the House of Lords in March this year. Lord Alton highlighted the issue of Dalit trafficking and slavery in his speech, referring to a clay cup, often used to symbolise the Dalit cause, which was given to him by Dr. Joseph D’souza, International President of Dalit Freedom Network. (Read more here).

As an organisation, Dalit Freedom Network UK will be engaging in a number of activities to mark the event. Dr. D’souza will be in the UK during the week preceding the Anti Slavery Day so DFN UK have organised various press interviews, speaking engagements and meetings where Dr D’souza and the DFN UK team will raise the issue of Dalit trafficking with a wider audience.

DFN UK is calling on supporters to join us in highlighting this day. Please take this opportunity to raise awareness of Dalit trafficking with your family, friends and colleagues. Our DFN UK website is packed full of information that you can use to do this effectively and our new brochures will be available if you want to use them for any event. (Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to request copies). No activity is too small to get the message out there!

Good luck and don’t forget to share with us what you do so that we can share it with others.