World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is celebrated on July 30th. It is meant to raise awareness to human trafficking happening right now. Human trafficking is a global pandemic. The act is a crime against the person, it violates the victim’s rights of movement through persuasion as well as the fact that the victim is being commercially exploited. “Human trafficking is not specific to a few regions, but is rather a global act against humanity, with some countries having particularly high rates of trafficking.”
1. Most victims are women and girls
Most victims of human trafficking are women and girls who are exploited for sex work.
2. It’s a billion-dollar industry
Human trafficking is an “industry” that reportedly rakes in hundreds of billions of dollars globally each year.
3. Migrants are susceptible to trafficking
Migrants who come into a country newly are usually susceptible to trafficking, particularly if it is illegal migration.
Why WORLD DAY AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS Is Important:
1. It creates awareness about human trafficking
2. It leads to new ideas for solutions
3. It’s an opportunity to embrace victims
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, “A total of 2,198 persons were referred to U.S. “Attorneys for human trafficking offenses in fiscal year 2020, a 62% increase from the 1,360 persons referred in 2011.The number of persons prosecuted for human trafficking increased from 729 in 2011 to 1,343 in 2020, an 84% increase. The number of persons convicted of a federal human trafficking offense increased from 2011 (464 persons) to 2019 (837 persons), before falling in 2020 (658 persons).” Of the 1,169 defendants charged in U.S. district court with human trafficking offenses in fiscal year 2020— Characteristics of human trafficking defendants in cases charged in U.S. district court, fiscal year 2020
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- 92% were male
- 63% were white
- 18% were black
- 17% were Hispanic
- 95% were U.S. citizens
- 66% had no prior convictions.
At the end of 2020, for the 47 states that reported data, 1,564 persons were in the custody of a state prison serving a sentence for a human trafficking offense.” https://www.acf.hhs.gov
Anyone can join in the fight against human trafficking. If you are in the United States and believe someone may be a victim of human trafficking, call the 24-hour National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or report an emergency to law enforcement by calling 911. Trafficking victims, whether or not they are U.S. citizens, are eligible for services and immigration assistance.
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