Whenever the topic of slavery comes up in any discussion, most people tend to dismiss it as if it is no longer an issue in modern society. Slavery is the most outrageous crimes against humanity. Some of us think it can never happen in a “normal” society as ours. If you are one of these people, I am sorry because I have bad news for you. Slavery is alive and thriving in our world today. It is happening everywhere including our back yard. Yes, those neighbors of ours who look innocent are probably engaging in acts of slavery. Those of you who engage in prostitution are probably supporting slavery. And those of you who seek cheap labor are probably perpetuating modern slavery.
Modern slavery is known as human trafficking. According to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, human trafficking occurs if a person is induced to perform labor or a commercial sex act through force, fraud, or coercion. It is estimated that 2.5 million people are in forced labor including sexual exploitation as a result of trafficking. Of these 2.5 million, 1.4 million(56%) are in Asia and the Pacific. 250,000 (10%) are in Latin America and the Caribbean. 230,000 (9.2%) are in the Middle East and Northern Africa. 130,000( 5.2%) are in sub-Saharan countries of Africa. 270,000( 10.8% ) are in industrialized countries and 200,000( 8%) are in countries in transition.[1] The majority of human trafficking victims are between age 18-24years. An estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked each year. 95% of the victims experience physical and sexual violence during trafficking. 43% are used for forced commercial sexual exploitation and 56% of them are women and girls.[2]
It is estimated that human trafficking profits are as high as US$31.6 billion. 49% of the profit- US$15.5 billion is generated in industrialized economies. 30.6% = US$ 9.7 billion is generated in Asia and the Pacific. 4.1%=US$ 1.3 billion is generated in Latin America and the Caribbean. 5% = 1.6 billion is generated in sub-Sahara Africa and 4.7%=US$ 1.5 billion is generated in the Middle East and North Africa. Most of the traffickers are men (52%) with women comprising about 42%. While in 54% of the cases the recruiter was a stranger to the victim, 46% of the time the recruiter is known to the victim. It is also estimated that 50-75,000 victims are trafficked into America for sexual exploitation. This number does not include the 100,000 – 300,000 American children who are forced into prostitution in the United States. Because human trafficking is a profit making billions industry, it is very difficult to control, or even prosecute traffickers. In 2006 for instance, while only 5,808 cases of human trafficking were prosecuted, only 3,160 convictions were made in the world.
In spite of these seeming obstacles, we can all help stop human trafficking. The power is in the people. It has always been. It is only a challenge to make us all recognize how much power we have to change our society. The challenge is whether and how to identify modern slavery where it exists and to do something about it. We can all stop human trafficking if we learn how to look for and identify a victim of human trafficking. Once you identify a suspicious behavior, all you need to do is call the HHS trafficking hotline at 1-888- 3737-888 to and file an anonymous report. Recruiters known as pimps are known to hang around schools, libraries and places where children can be found. You can also help stop human trafficking by spreading the news about human trafficking in our modern societies. We can also stop buying cheap labor products by demanding fair trade certified products. When you go to Starbucks for coffee for instance, demand fair trade certified coffee. This is one way to raise awareness and to voice concern.
Many a times, children who are reported as missing end up in human trafficking. They are kidnapped and trafficked for labor and sexual exploitation. In the United States, for instance, it is reported that 3,000 children go missing every day with only a few cases appearing in the news. Have you ever wondered what happens to them? If we teach our friends and family about the reality of human trafficking, we can save many from pimps and other human traffickers. We need to strategize more to protect our children from modern slavery.
As we observe the National Slavery and Human Trafficking prevention month, - January – we need to think deeply about this human atrocity and especially how we can help to end it. Let us remember that the United States senate resolution of June 22, 2007 that marked January 11th the day of awareness and vigilance for the countless victims of Human Trafficking across the globe is just the first step to ending human trafficking. As President Obama said in his proclamation speech, we stand with all those who are held in compelled service; we recognize the people, organizations, and government entities that are working to combat human trafficking; and we recommit to bring an end to this inexcusable human rights abuse.”[3] Donations to shelters to help support those who are rescued from human trafficking go a long way to support those who want to escape this circle of abuse. If you feel called to act in donation form, you can send your donations to WISO Organizations. Our address is 229 Orton Drive, Greenville NC 27858. All donations are passed on to shelters to help rescue victims of human trafficking so they can transition to normal life.
