ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — The slaves who once stared with terror at prospective buyers in the covered market here in America’s oldest city may be long gone, but tens of millions of their 21st-century brethren wear similar desperate expressions all over the world, including in the United States.

How can we tolerate such a disgrace? How can we allow human trafficking to rise to the point that some are calling this era the new age of slavery? And how can we let another day pass without taking forceful action?

Quite frankly, we cannot. Ridding the world of slavery should rank as a top global priority. I would like to see that happen within a decade, although realistically the effort may take somewhat longer.

Kevin Bales, the president of Free the Slaves, a non-profit organization, succinctly summarizes the challenge: “With the end of the Cold War, human trafficking and slavery have bounced back as businesses.” Citing a U.N. report, he adds that human trafficking is currently the third-largest moneymaker for criminals (after illegal drugs and weapons). Further, Bales says, we have seen a dramatic fall in slave prices during the past half-century, with the average price for a human life reaching the historical low of less than $200.

Still, there is reason for optimism. Bales recently sent me some encouraging news, that a “bill reauthorizing the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, now in the U.S. Senate, has some breakthrough provisions.” Furthermore, Bales offers a realistic, detailed plan to stop human trafficking in his new book, “Ending Slavery.” He estimates that we could accomplish the task within 25 years at a cost of no more than $20 billion.

What must be done?

1. At the individual level, people should inform themselves. A good place to begin is the U.S. Department of State’s annual report on human trafficking (http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2007). Also, the State Department invites inquiries at 202-312-9639, and the U.S. Department of Justice has a toll-free help line, 1-888-428-7581. Other sources are plentiful: the American Anti-Slavery Group (www.iabolish.org); Anti-Slavery International (www.antislavery.org); the Coalition to Abolish Slavery (www.castla.org); and Free the Slaves (www.freetheslaves.net), to list but a few. Next, individuals should take action, such as by joining anti-slavery organizations and writing letters to elected officials (especially those in the U.S. Congress).

2. At the business level, I agree with Bales that all who benefit from an item should band together to clean up the product chain. As an example, he notes the Cocoa Protocol, in which businesses partner with consumers, human-rights groups and others to clamp down on slavery in the cocoa industry.

3. At the news-media level, organizations should make the investigation and reporting of human trafficking – particularly the types that are found in their respective communities – a regular focus.

4. At the governmental level, I again agree with Bales that officials should develop national plans overseen by anti-slavery ambassadors to stop all forms of slavery within their borders. In addition, the United Nations should appoint a special representative for slavery and human trafficking.

5. Finally, at the level of the U.S. campaign for president, candidates should incorporate the elimination of human trafficking into their platforms and regularly discuss the issue.

Put simply, everyone must rise to the challenge of modern-day slavery. In the days of old St. Augustine – when, in a single year, record-keepers registered the arrival of 1,000 slaves – human trafficking was visible, legal and aggressively defended. Now, it is largely invisible, uniformly illegal and without a lobby. Moreover, we have the means to eradicate this terrible, inhumane, despicable and unconscionable practice once and for all. We lack only the collective will.