January Spotlight: Human Trafficking
It seems appropriate that the January Spotlight for the blog to focus on a cause close to my heart, the fight against human trafficking. January is also National Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Month, so it makes sense to tackle this heavy topic for January.
I've shared in the past about my bumbling discovery of the fight against human trafficking--the words at first meant nothing to me. I assumed human trafficking had something to do with pedestrian safety laws or something! As I researched the organization where I was offered an internship, the words "human trafficking" very quickly took on a new and terrifying meaning.
Estimates vary, but it is believed that there are 12.3 children and adults in forced or bonded labor situations and forced prostitution. At the time of my internship, in terms of dollars made, human trafficking rated 3rd behind drug and weapons smuggling. The definition varied based on the source, but in more recent years, those in the fight against human trafficking have come up with a standard definition. The Polaris Project explains it this way:
"Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery where people profit from the control and exploitation of others. As defined under U.S. federal law, victims of human trafficking include children involved in the sex trade, adults age 18 or over who are coerced or deceived into commercial sex acts, and anyone forced into different forms of "labor or services," such as domestic workers held in a home, or farm-workers forced to labor against their will. The factors that each of these situations have in common are elements of force, fraud, or coercion that are used to control people. Then, that control is tied to inducing someone into commercial sex acts, or labor or services. Numerous people in the field have summed up the concept of human trafficking as "compelled service." Every year, human traffickers generate billions of dollars in profits by victimizing millions of people around the world, and here in the United States. Human trafficking is considered to be one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world." (source: http://www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/overview)
A more detailed report from the UNODC can be found here.
There are several organizations out there now involved in the fight to end modern slavery and stop human trafficking. Some of these organizations are listed below. The best way to end this injustice is to spread awareness of its existence. It may not be the cause that tugs on your heartstrings, but be aware and spread the word.
Shared Hope International
The Polaris Project
International Justice Mission
End It Movement
The Defenders
The SOLD Project
Invisible Children
TraffickFree
Stop the Traffic
Project Exodus
Slavery Is Real
CNN Freedom Project
Not For Sale
I've shared in the past about my bumbling discovery of the fight against human trafficking--the words at first meant nothing to me. I assumed human trafficking had something to do with pedestrian safety laws or something! As I researched the organization where I was offered an internship, the words "human trafficking" very quickly took on a new and terrifying meaning.
Estimates vary, but it is believed that there are 12.3 children and adults in forced or bonded labor situations and forced prostitution. At the time of my internship, in terms of dollars made, human trafficking rated 3rd behind drug and weapons smuggling. The definition varied based on the source, but in more recent years, those in the fight against human trafficking have come up with a standard definition. The Polaris Project explains it this way:
"Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery where people profit from the control and exploitation of others. As defined under U.S. federal law, victims of human trafficking include children involved in the sex trade, adults age 18 or over who are coerced or deceived into commercial sex acts, and anyone forced into different forms of "labor or services," such as domestic workers held in a home, or farm-workers forced to labor against their will. The factors that each of these situations have in common are elements of force, fraud, or coercion that are used to control people. Then, that control is tied to inducing someone into commercial sex acts, or labor or services. Numerous people in the field have summed up the concept of human trafficking as "compelled service." Every year, human traffickers generate billions of dollars in profits by victimizing millions of people around the world, and here in the United States. Human trafficking is considered to be one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world." (source: http://www.polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/overview)
A more detailed report from the UNODC can be found here.
There are several organizations out there now involved in the fight to end modern slavery and stop human trafficking. Some of these organizations are listed below. The best way to end this injustice is to spread awareness of its existence. It may not be the cause that tugs on your heartstrings, but be aware and spread the word.
Shared Hope International
The Polaris Project
International Justice Mission
End It Movement
The Defenders
The SOLD Project
Invisible Children
TraffickFree
Stop the Traffic
Project Exodus
Slavery Is Real
CNN Freedom Project
Not For Sale
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