Written By: Lindsay H.
What is Human Trafficking?
Human trafficking is slavery, it is oppression and abuse, and it is happening day in and day out all over the world. According to the Department of Homeland Security “Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act.” (Source)
More often than not, victims are unaware that they are entering a human trafficking situation. They think they are going to a new job opportunity, meeting a significant other, or even going on vacation.
According to the US Department of State “Human trafficking can include, but does not require, movement. People may be considered trafficking victims regardless of whether they were born into a state of servitude, were exploited in their hometown, were transported to the exploitative situation, previously consented to work for a trafficker, or participated in a crime as a direct result of being trafficked.” (Source)
Human Trafficking Statistics
- A victim of sex trafficking is, on average, raped 6000 times. (Source)
- In 2019, one in six children reported missing in the U.S. was likely a victim of sex trafficking and most were in the welfare system when they disappeared. (Source)
- The average victim of sex trafficking has a life expectancy of 7 years. (Source)
- Sex Trafficking accounts for 77% of human trafficking cases. (Source)
- California and Texas consistently have the highest numbers for reports of Human Trafficking Cases. (Source)
- The odds of escaping a human trafficking situation are 1%. (Source)
- 95% of girls born in a red light district will be sex trafficked, and die in captivity.
- Out of 40 million slaves in the world, 1 in 4 of those is a child. (Source)
More Information on Human Trafficking
The Nature of Human Trafficking
Human Trafficking Prevention Toolkit
References
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. (2020). https://www.missingkids.org/footer/media/keyfacts
Polaris Project. (2018) On-Ramps, Intersections, and Exit Routes: A Roadmap for Systems and Industries to Prevent and Disrupt Human Trafficking. https://polarisproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/A-Roadmap-for-Systems-and-Industries-to-Prevent-and-Disrupt-Human-Trafficking-Social-Media.pdf
U.S. Department of Homeland Security. https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/what-human-trafficking
U.S. Department of State. (2020) https://www.state.gov/policy-issues/human-trafficking/
Wood. L. (2020). BMJ Paediatrics Open. Child modern slavery, trafficking and health: a practical review of factors contributing to children’s vulnerability and the potential impacts of severe exploitation on health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7264998/
World Population Review. (2020). https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/human-trafficking-statistics-by-state
