Human Trafficking Awareness Day 2022

We’ve discussed Human Trafficking several times over the years. However, the last two years of the Pandemic have introduced new complications in fighting against human trafficking; the rise in economic hardships resulting from the Pandemic has also led to rises in labor trafficking and child labor. Today we will discuss some Human Trafficking Statistics and ways for you to help fight Human Trafficking.

Statistics

Human Trafficking is a hidden crime. Getting exact numbers on the number of people harmed by this crime is nearly impossible. However, multiple agencies estimate that the number of modern-day slaves is nearly 40 Million people. Of those people, half are exploited for sex, and 38 percent are subjected to forced labor. The Pandemic is raging on, forcing many people into even deeper poverty than before and leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. Most Human Traffickers use means of deception such as false jobs, or educational opportunities offers to gain the trust of their victims.

Signs and Getting Involved

A few signs identified by the UN of Human Trafficking include:

• Undernourishment

• Lack of personal identification

• Few to no personal possessions

• Signs of physical abuse

• Responding in a scripted or robotic manner

If you see the above signs in a person close to you, don’t be afraid to call the National Human Trafficking Hotline here. If you are looking for an organization to donate to, consider the 31:8 Project, a group that offers seminars and conducts research on ways to help prevent Human Trafficking and empower survivors.

If you know of another group seeking to raise awareness of this crime and help its victims recover, please leave a link in the comments. Until next time.