Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery and is the act of exploiting a person through force, fraud or coercion, and is a worldwide issue. Due to its complex nature and vulnerable populations, those whom it targets often go unnoticed. In many instances, victims don’t realize that they are being exploited, causing them to feel shame or even blame for having put themselves in the situation. This makes the discovery of this illegal activity very challenging. It can occur in any of our social circles, be it in highly populated areas or remotely. It is up to everyone to become aware of the signs of human trafficking as it can occur anywhere. In many cases, it is a witness who understands what human trafficking looks like and is able to report it to the authorities.
Statistics in human trafficking are difficult to track. The detection of these crimes is hampered by its veiled nature, and the challenge of identifying individuals make it difficult to reflect the full scope of the problem. In 2021, a document called Global Estimate of Modern Slavery was released, stating that approximately 27.6 million people were in forced labor. Of these, "17.3 million are exploited in the private sector, 6.3 million in forced commercial sexual exploitation, and 3.9 million are in forced labor imposed by state."
It can happen to anyone regardless of age, race, or gender. Eight percent of victims are exploited in their country of residence. There are certain populations that tend to be more vulnerable than others. They include those who have little legal or social protections, undocumented workers, transient young people, substance abusers, addicts and disadvantaged individuals. The most common types of trafficking involve sex, domestic servitude, and forced labor. Perpetrators use a variety of methods to draw in their victims; whether through false promises, violence, psychological manipulation, or threats. Offenders often find potential victims who need money, who later fall into a trap of never being able to repay their debt.
It is difficult to identify victims and human traffickers, but one common characteristic is a person’s vulnerability. Victims may appear disconnected or may show signs of mental or physical abuse. They may display signs of being submissive, timid, or fearful or in the presence of someone who controls them in some manner. The victim may appear restricted in their freedom of movement.
For further information to educate yourself and become an informed citizen, making you aware of this global problem, there are several courses to take in eLMS: Human Trafficking Awareness; Global Human Trafficking Awareness; and Human Trafficking Awareness for Employees.
Over several decades, Congress has taken steps to increase protection for victims of human trafficking. In FY 2000, they passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) to help in the fight against human exploitation.
Another law, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act allows victims to sue a business if an establishment benefited financially from trafficking activities. The focus of this act protects foreign victims, making them eligible for health services and other benefits, while expanding the capacity of federal prosecutors to pursue traffickers. The act also helped to establish an Interagency Task Force (under the State Department) to Monitor and Combat Trafficking.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline is 1-888-373-7888, or one might text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733).
Human trafficking deprives millions of people worldwide of their dignity and freedom. It undermines national security, distorts markets, and enriches transnational criminals and terrorists, and is an affront to our universal values. This is a call to action for all of us, to protect the rights of victims everywhere. No one should be exploited by trafficking, as everyone deserves a life of safety and dignity.
