The world could be due for another global charity effort, with early stages of planning underway for a cross-continent concert series against human trafficking in 2012.

At this point the Global Aid Concerts, should they go ahead, aim to increase awareness and activism around human trafficking issues and raise money for charities working in the field.

Stephen Graham, chief executive of the Australia-based Against Child Trafficking (ACT), sparked the idea on a social network three weeks ago, and has since been “overwhelmed” by the response.

“We quickly had to establish an overarching planning group, with sub-planning groups in the USA, UK and Australia with more continents to follow. The teams are now forming. We have written our vision and mission statements which we are now shaping,” Graham told Civil Society.  

Graham said the organisation is now receiving daily offers of volunteer support, with a graphic and website design companies already on board to work pro bono.

The organisation is now seeking to engage other organisations to unite behind the purpose, ascertain the feasibility of the idea and engage launch sponsors.

The idea was prompted by a recent benefit concert in Australia, held in support of a number of different charities, and ACT is now organising three more large concerts in Australia for 2011.