Human Trafficking Survivor Stories

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January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month — a time to acknowledge and get educated on those experiencing enslavement and how to prevent it.

Over the last couple of years, Human Trafficking stories have been on the forefront of the news cycle, alarming parents and making them knowledgeable about the risks and dangers of leaving a child or young adult alone in certain places at certain times.

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Before folks knew anything about Human Trafficking, many chalked it up to a weird man and a weird white van snatching your kid on the street. Although that may be part of the operation — it gets much deeper than that. NCTS.org reports:

Although slavery is commonly thought to be a thing of the past, human traffickers generate hundreds of billions of dollars in profits by trapping millions of people in horrific situations around the world, including here in the U.S. Traffickers use violence, threats, deception, debt bondage, and other manipulative tactics to force people to engage in commercial sex or to provide labor or services against their will.

And unfortunately, as the years go by, the statistics get worse. According to the Human trafficking Hotline, Florida ranks third in U.S. in human trafficking cases reported by states, behind only California and Texas. Jacksonville ranked 48 out of the top 100 most populous cities from 2007 to 2018.

We must protect our children at all costs. And to do so, we need all the info. Hit the flip for a few facts you probably didn’t know about sex trafficking, and the survivors who shared their stories.

There Are Several Types Of Human Trafficking

“Sexual exploitation and forced labor are the most commonly identified forms of human trafficking. More than half of the victims are female. Many other forms of exploitation are often thought to be under-reported. These include domestic servitude and forced marriage; organ removal; and the exploitation of children in begging, the sex trade and warfare.”

It’s One Of The Most Lucrative Businesses In History

“Human trafficking is one of the largest international crime industries in the world. Forced labor generates $150 billion in illegal profits per year. Two-thirds of that money came from commercial sexual exploitation, while the rest is from forced economic exploitation, including domestic work, agriculture, child labor and related activities.”

Predators Lure Their Victims In Different Ways

Traffickers promise a high-paying job, a loving relationship, or new and exciting opportunities.

There Are Many Reasons Behind The Cause Of Human Trafficking

Poverty alone does not necessarily create vulnerability to trafficking, but when combined with other factors, these can lead to a higher risk for being trafficked. Some of those other factors include: corruption, civil unrest, a weak government, lack of access to education or jobs, family disruption or dysfunction, lack of human rights, or economic disruptions.

The Three P’s May Help You Stop Human Trafficking

The U.S. government is at the forefront of efforts to address human trafficking. Its policy surrounds the three P’s: prevent trafficking, protect victims and prosecute traffickers. The number of convictions for human trafficking is increasing, but unfortunately not proportionately to the growing awareness and extent of the problem.

Find Out More At CRS.Org.