Human Trafficking & Modern-day Slavery

#IGIVEHOPE

(#IGIVEHOPE symbolizes solidarity and hope to millions of trafficking victims and survivors.)

Human Trafficking and Modern-day Slavery are umbrella terms often used interchangeably; which refers to the exploitation of individuals through threat or use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud and deception. 

 

It includes the practices of forced labor or services, child labor, slavery practices, debt bondage, domestic servitude, forced marriage, sex trafficking, child sex trafficking, sexual exploitation, the recruitment and use of child soldiers, extraction of organs and tissues.

 

Human Trafficking is the exploitation of vulnerability for economic gain. While human trafficking spans all demographics worldwide, trafficked persons most often come from positions of vulnerability. For this reason, Human Trafficking can happen anywhere because there are vulnerable people everywhere. 

 

Traffickers use vulnerabilities to their advantage and use a number of tactics to establish control over victims. Violence, isolation, threats, deception, manipulation, debt bondage, prospects of an education, friendship and romance are just a few methods used. Traffickers may operate alone, with one or many victims or may be a part of an extensive criminal network. Examples of trafficking rings include gang members, family members, pimps, business owners, or smugglers.

 

*An estimated 40 million people are victims of modern-day slavery and human trafficking.

 

The victims of Human Trafficking face threats of violence from many sources; including customers, pimps/madams, brothel owners, traffickers, employers, corrupt local law enforcement officials, friends and even from family members. Human Trafficking victims and survivors experience extreme psychological and emotional traumas due to the abuse and manipulation from the traffickers. Fear of reaching out for help and support can be complicated due to lack of awareness, language barriers, legal status and fear of being arrested for a crime. Human trafficking victims and survivors experience feelings of shame, isolation, blame, discrimination and being stigmatized. 

 

 

How can you help....?

By becoming better informed on the issue, raising awareness, speaking up and taking action, we can all do our part to help victims of trafficking.

 

“You may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know”

-William Wilberforce

   

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*THIS POST IS INDEPENDENT AND IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE UNTIED NATIONS (UN)