Human Trafficking in the 21st Century is No Joke

*One voice to End Slavery*

Few things infuriate me. Human trafficking is one of them.

This form of modern-day slavery is the 2nd largest illegal industry after drug trade. It is a highly sophisticated form of organized crime that has overtaken the illegal trade of weaponry today. The UN estimates that 1-4 million people are trafficked worldwide every year.

Human trafficking is illegal in every country in the world and happens in every country of the world. However, justice has not yet been served.

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to deliver a seminar on this topic, among other social justice issues, to a group of youth in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, only a handful of youth knew about this. Parents and adults were also clueless about the gravity of this issue. Perhaps you are too. Hopefully, this short article will shine some light. Your friends and coworkers need to know about it too. Share the facts. This needs to stop.

January 11th was the first annual Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the United States. I am hoping that this day will raise awareness in the US because, statistically speaking, human trafficking is more than likely happening around you.

If you thought slavery was abolished in the 19th century, sorry to disappoint you. It is estimated that about 27 million people were enslaved in 2008. The American government estimates that up to 17,500 people are trafficked into the US each year for purposes of labor and commercial sexual exploitation.

The victims of human trafficking can be used in a variety of situations, including prostitution, forced labor (including bonded labor or debt bondage) and other forms of involuntary servitude (via Wikipedia; thorough and informative link).

The words of Martin Luther King Jr. ring true, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Human trafficked victims have no voice.

If this has not shocked or surprised you yet, consider this: There are more people forced into modern-day slavery today than in the transatlantic slave triangle. What does this say about society? humanity? international human rights? power and justice?

People working to abolish human trafficking address three main challenges: 1) Locating the victims, 2) Liberating them, and 3) Caring for the victims once liberated. Every step is critical to abolish modern-day slavery. There is a growing need for organizations that can offer psychological, social, financial, and spiritual assistance to the victims.

I find a lot of hope in Restore NYC. This organization, started by three young visionaries in NYC, is focused on providing holistic long-term aftercare services for international survivors of sex trafficking in NYC. Their goal is to help victimized women achieve complete and total reintegration back into society.

If you want to learn more check out the videos and links below: