More than 100 years after slavery ended in the United States, it is still an issue in our modern world.

Because of government corruption, more than half of the 2.5 million human trafficking victims reside in Asia and the Pacific, where they are sold into prostitution, domestic servitude and manual labor.

Delta Phi Lambda, a social interest Asian sorority at the University, will be promoting awareness for the growing human trafficking catastrophe in a seminar at the Miller Learning Center today.

“While looking up topics for our last spring seminar, I found an MSNBC documentary about human trafficking at the border of Vietnam and Cambodia,” said Diana Bui, a sophomore public relations major from Doraville. “The footage was shocking to me.”

Slaveholders in these regions are able to exert control over other human beings without the likelihood of consequences or punishments.

To date, it is one of the largest illegal trades in the world, coming second only to the war on drugs.

With the problem so foreign to students, it is hard to imagine how real it is or even how it affects us.

The United States contributes to human slavery by purchasing products that they harvest, such as cocoa fro the Ivory Coast.

“It is quite shocking that there are so many people in slavery today and how we unknowingly contribute to the industry through buying products from these factories,” said Ranny Long, a senior psychology major from Atlanta.

Delta Phi Lambda’s seminar will discuss basic facts about modern day slavery throughout the world.

A 30-minute documentary made by “MTV Exit,” a campaign against human trafficking sponsored by MTV, will accompany the seminar.

Stories from real human trafficking victims will be shared during this documentary.

The International Justice Mission at the University will also be speaking to encourage students on ways that they can get involve in an effort to end human slavery.

“We are living in an increasingly global community, and learning about issues that are going on around the world is very important,” said Hannah Kamau, a senior telecommunication arts major from Decatur.

“Once we are aware of these issues, we are better equipped to do our part as citizens of the world and to take an active role in helping to advance our society and help one another towards a better world in which to live.”