Human trafficking is the third biggest crime operation in the world, only after illegal drug and gun trade.
It grosses approximately $32 billion dollars each year.
The two main types include slave labor (about 20%) and sexual exploitation (80%).
More than 70% of these trafficked individuals are women.
According to the FBI, 83% of domestic victims are not undocumented immigrants or even qualified aliens, but United States citizens.
The average age in which someone is generally sold into the sex trade is 12-14 years old.
Do you have goosebumps yet?
The punishment for engaging in human trafficking is less harsh than the punishment for engaging in illegal drug trade.
Every 30 seconds, a new victim is brought in.
The facts speak for themselves. These people are not criminals, they are victims. Human trafficking is one of the biggest human rights issues of our generation, especially for women and children. I’m not going to go into more detail on why this is such an important battle to engage in, because I’m thinking it should be pretty black and white. Press on this issue has picked up since Obama’s been in office, but the fight’s far from over. Here’s what you can to do help:
- Raise public awareness.
- Find out your Slavery Footprint and realize the importance in engaging in fair trade.
- Volunteer. Most of the victims come from broken homes. By spending time with at-risk youth and serving as mentors, you can directly impact their lives by showing them they have other options.
- Encourage local organizations to offer non-judgemental support.
- Advocacy. Contact your Senator and demand increase anti-trafficking and business transparency laws.
Uptown Moxie 