Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery based upon force, deception, and coercion. Its purpose is to profit from sexual exploitation or forced labor. Victims are young children, teenagers, men and women.
- After drug dealing, human trafficking is tied with the illegal arms industry as the second largest criminal industry in the world today, and it is the fastest growing.
- There are an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 children, women and men trafficked across international borders annually.
It is difficult for many victims to find help because of language, social, and physical barriers that keep them from obtaining assistance.
- Approximately 80 percent of human trafficking victims are women and girls, and up to 50 percent are minors. (U.S. Department of State).
Commercial sex trafficking includes prostitution, stripping, pornography and live-sex shows.
Labor exploitation trafficking includes domestic servitude, work in sweatshop factories, or migrant agricultural work.
- Worldwide, there are nearly two million children in the commercial sex trade. (UNICEF)
- Sex trafficking is an engine of the global AIDS epidemic. (U.S. Department of State)
Traffickers use various techniques to instill fear in victims and to keep them enslaved: debt bondage, shame, fear of authorities, physical harm, isolation, control of all money and legal documents.
- The total market value of illicit human trafficking is estimated to be in excess of $32 billion. (U.N.)
