A group will hold a ‘Walk for Freedom’ march this Saturday in an attempt to raise awareness and to voice their objection against human trafficking, the fastest growing criminal industry in the world.

“The issue gets a little closer to here than people may think,” organiser Geoff Hovey said.

Mr Hovey said a conversation he had with a former Armidale brothel owner was cause for concern.

He indicated to Mr Hovey that large contingent of the girls he had working within the establishment had either come to the country through illegal means or suffered from human trafficking at one point in time.

Through the Tenterfield Presbyterian Church, Mr Hovey and wife Margy became aware of Sydney based organisation A21 which stands for ‘Abolishing Injustice in the 21st century’.

The organisation was founded to tackle the plight of human trafficking worldwide.

“The A21 organisation was founded by a well-known international conference speaker, Australian woman Christine Caine.

"In 2007 she was travelling though Athens and noticed a huge wall in the airport covered with photographs, each with a small caption. She asked what it was all about and was told that they were posted there by parents looking for missing children, mostly young girls,” Mr Hovey said.

He said the walk is not only an attempt to raise funds for the A21 group but to bring greater awareness to the issue.

“Kids do a lot of travel these days – girls from the bush can be a bit innocent in the ways of the world. They could simply be going for a coffee with a friend one day and be gone without a trace.

“That could be your daughter, my daughter or granddaughter,” he said.

According to statistics, someone becomes a victim of modern day slavery every 30 seconds.

At this time only two per cent are ever rescued.

“We encourage anyone to join the walk which leaves from Bruxner Park at 10am and heads to Jubilee Park. We would appreciate a gold coin donation for registration but larger donations are always welcome,” Mr Hovey said.