What is Human Trafficking?
Human trafficking is modern day slavery. Humans are captured and sold into prostitution, domestic slavery, and factory work. Many people who are trafficked are under the guise that they are accepting legitimate job offers, only to arrive on site, have their papers stolen and be under the control of the slavers. Many large families in poverty are affected by human trafficking because children will go off to work to raise money for their families, only to be sold into slavery.
It Happens Everywhere.
Human trafficking happens everywhere, even in the United States. One in three teenage girls living on the street will be captured and sold into slavery. Major events such as the Super Bowl and the World Cup are hotspots for human trafficking, because of the influx of money in a concentrated area. Although there are about 16,000 known cases identified each year in the United States, there are an estimated 75,000 cases that go unidentified every year.
How Can You Help?
According to the Polaris Project, one of the top combatative human trafficking organizations in the world, here are some warning signs that may be able to identify a person who is being trafficked.
- Avoids eye contact
- Is not allowed breaks or suffers under unusual restrictions at work
- Appears malnourished
- Lacks knowledge of whereabouts and/or do not know what city he/she is in
- Is not in control of his/her own identification documents (ID or Passport)