The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) defines trafficking as

“the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs”

On March 12, 2009, an UNODC report announced that they now believe there may be as many as 2 million victims of the human trafficking epidemic.  79% of the estimated 2 million victims are believed to be victims of sexual slavery.

For those of you who still think slavery was abolished in 1865, think again. Slavery is alive and thriving today, and yes, living right here in the United States.  The Council of Europe reports that human trafficking markets top $40 billion in profits each year.  In places like Russia, Hong Kong, and Columbia, human trafficking is a huge operation run by crime organizations  dealing primarily in forced prostitution (sexual slavery.)

Women and Children

Women and children make up the biggest percentage of sex slaves worldwide with many of them tricked, abducted, or sold into slavery. Women make up over 70% of persons trafficked each year followed closely by children.

The abducted women are often tricked into believing they are receiving job placement, but upon arrival are beaten, robbed of their papers and passport, and raped before being forced into sexual slavery.  Most of these women are from poor areas of the world, are ethnic minorities, runaways or  refugees.  They leave their country looking for a safe place to prosper, but when the illegal trafficking ring is busted, the victims are often arrested for illegal prostitution and promptly deported back to their home country.  Eastern Europe is a major player in human trafficking for women and children;  two-thirds of the women trafficked for forced slavery around the world come from Eastern Europe.  In many parts of the world, women to traffic other women into slavery everyday.

Children are sometimes sold or leased out by their families for sexual slavery, forced labor, international adoption, or early marriage.  Some children face being recruited as child soldiers, thieves, or being sold to religious cults.  In Africa, thousands of AIDS orphans have been trafficked for recruitment as child soldiers.  However, international adoption is the most documented cause for human trafficking.  The Associated Press reports trafficking of children for forced labor on the West Coast is a direct extension of the way of life in parts of Africa today.

Human Trafficking in the United States

If you’re wondering what all of this has to do with you, let me bring it a little closer to home.  Of 14,000 people trafficked into the country (US) every year, 46% of them are forced into sexual slavery*.  The National Human Rights Center reports there are over 10,000 forced laborers in the US today. One-third of them are domestic servants, with the vast majority of those being children.  The East Coast is flush with illegal sex slave brothels in cities like Raleigh, New York, Atlantic City just to name a few.  Women, ages 14-35, are disappearing all along the East Coast and little is being done.

Recently in New York, a number of “spas” were raided and their owners prosecuted for sex trafficking.  According to the FBI Human Trafficking website, an Anchorage Alaska man was convicted in February of this year for “recruiting young women—mostly runaways from other parts of the country—to work for him as prostitutes. He controlled them by getting them addicted to crack cocaine, confining them to a small closet for days at a time, and beating them.”

Who’s Making a Difference?

Born to Fly and @DianaScimone are working diligently to put an end to global child trafficking.  Please stop by and see how you can help.

UNODC has launched the Blue Heart Campaign to rally public opinion against human trafficking.  Join the campaign and help educate the populous about the human trafficking epidemic.

The Human Trafficking Project is doing it’s part to educate the masses about modern day slavery, “connect those working to combat the issue and support trafficking survivors.”  Their blog is really well written and very informative, I love their writing.

“Free the Slaves liberates slaves around the world, helps them rebuild their lives and researches real world solutions to eradicate slavery forever.”

Edited to add: Love 146 is doing it’s part to educate, protect, and provide aftercare to child trafficking victims.  Their vision is to see the abolition of child trafficking.

What We Can Do?

• Contact your Senator/Congressman. Let them know you want more done to combat modern day slavery at both a Federal and International level.
• Contact your local media. Encourage them to give more coverage to the issue.
• Spread the word.  Blog about the issue, Tweet it, post a link, read a blog, join a campaign.

The very most important thing is just TALK ABOUT IT!  The more we talk about it, the more awareness evolves and the less the fugitives can hide.  Haven’t we been silent long enough?