What You Need to Know About Human Trafficking

Over the last twenty years, the issue of human trafficking has gained a lot of attention globally. This crime has gained a lot of popularity to the extent that there is a need to support survivors and ensure enough resources for victim service providers. The crime has also opened doors for many misconceptions that should be debunked. Here is everything you need to know about human trafficking.

1. What is the Actual Definition of Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking has received a lot of definitions, which depends on how it is defined in various communities—however, the term has a standard definition that cannot be changed. At the time of writing, human trafficking meant the act of harboring, recruiting, providing, transporting, or obtaining an individual for forced labor or commercial sex arrangements through coercion, fraud, or force.

You need to note that human trafficking can involve but doesn't necessarily require movement. This implies that one can be a victim of human trafficking without leaving their hometown. Human trafficking is achieved as soon as the desire of the trafficker is achieved.

2. What Are The Types of Human Trafficking?

Forced labor and sexual abuse are the most common forms of human trafficking. Remember, more than 50% of victims are female. It is also believed that there are also other forms of human trafficking, only that they are underreported. They include but not limited to, forced marriage, domestic servitude, and exploitation of children in begging, organ removal, warfare, and the sex trade. These are some of the things to watch out for when looking for the signs of human trafficking.

3. What About the Numbers?

As already mentioned, human trafficking, though not a new thing, has become quite rampant in the modern era. This indicates that the stats and numbers around this crime are highly valued but are, most of the time, inconsistent and, therefore, misinterpreted. Since the issues around human trafficking are underreported and misinterpreted, it is hard to know the exact population of individuals trafficked annually in the US alone or globally.

Not all victims and survivors are bold enough to come out and report what they went through. The numbers reported are always just a fraction of the actual cases around the world and in the US. In 2017, the US department of justice reported around 8,003 cases, which is quite mind-blowing, but that is just a fraction.

4. What Are The Causes of Human Trafficking?

If you are looking for the main reasons why human trafficking happens, then you might not be able to find definite answers. This is because the causes of human trafficking are interlinked and include things such as political, social, and economic factors. It is understood that poverty alone cannot lead to cases of human trafficking.

However, when poverty is combined with other factors, it can lead to increased cases of human trafficking. Some of these factors include lack of human rights, weak government, civil unrest, corruption, lack of access to jobs and or education, economic disruptions, etc.

5. Why is Human Trafficking a Lucrative Industry?

Alongside drug trafficking and illegal arms, human trafficking has been reported to be one of the biggest international crime industries in the world. According to International Labor Organization, forced labor alone generates at least $150 billion on an annual basis.

It is said that two-thirds of that money originates from commercial sex exploitation, and the remaining ones come from forced labor in various sectors such as domestic work, agriculture, and other activities related to child labor.

6. Is Human Trafficking Everywhere?

It is hard to believe that human trafficking is a crime that happens in all parts of the globe. In the United States of America, human trafficking is common in California, New York, Florida, and Texas. Human trafficking is categorized as a domestic and global crime as some victims are transported from their countries to neighboring nations and between continents. The victims of this crime can be of any age and gender.

Closing Thoughts

Young girls and women will always be used for sexual exploitations, while men will be used for forced labor. Human trafficking is a global crime that has been fought for many years. However, due to factors such as corruption and weak governments, impressive results are yet to be realized. If you suspect that there is human trafficking in your area, be sure to communicate to local authorities as soon as possible.