What is human trafficking?
Human trafficking is the second fastest-growing criminal business in the world. It involves the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of individuals for forced labor or commercial sex through force, fraud, or coercion. In its simplest form, it is the sale of human beings for profit. However, human trafficking is far more complex. It’s a global trade that turns people into objects.
This crime impacts all layers of society, with the primary targets being young people, including children below their teens. It’s essential to understand that human trafficking doesn’t always involve movement across borders. Victims can be trafficked and exploited within their own communities and their hometowns.
At its core, human trafficking is about exploitation and enslavement, and its devastating effects are felt in the U.S. and worldwide.
What are the different types of human trafficking?
Human trafficking involves holding individuals against their will through coercion or deceit, forcing them to work or provide services under exploitative conditions. This includes forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation, often disguised by fake contracts with little to no pay.
Common forms of exploitation:
• Sexual Exploitation: Essentially affecting women and girls, but affecting boys and men as well.
• Forced Labor: Victims work in harsh conditions for low or no pay.
• Debt Bondage: Victims are trapped in endless cycles of debt.
• Under-reported Exploitation: Includes domestic servitude, forced (often child) marriage, organ trafficking, and child exploitation in begging and warfare (child soldiers).
How profitable is human trafficking?
Human trafficking is among the worst human rights violations. Due to its low costs and huge returns, it has become the 2nd largest international criminal industry after the arms trade, generating tremendous profits of an estimated $150 billion per year, according to the United Nations. The average cost of a human trafficking victim today is $90 whereas the average slave in 1800 America cost the equivalent of $40,000. Two-thirds of that money comes from commercial sexual exploitation, while the rest is from forced economic exploitation, including domestic work, agriculture, child labor and related activities.
The following is a breakdown of profits, by sector:
• $99 billion from commercial sexual exploitation (sex trafficking), and;
• $34 billion in construction, manufacturing, mining and utilities.
What causes human trafficking?
Human trafficking happens for many reasons, and they are often connected. Poverty alone doesn’t make someone vulnerable, but when combined with other problems, it can increase the risk. Some of these problems include corruption, war or conflict, weak governments, lack of education or job opportunities, broken families, human rights abuses, or big economic changes.
For victims, it’s often about wanting a better life or love. For traffickers, it’s about money and control. Sometimes, people call this situation “the game,” where the trafficker uses power to control the victim.
Where does human trafficking happen?
Human trafficking happens all around the world, affecting every continent. It’s a crime that occurs both within countries and across borders. Women and children (both girls and boys) are often trafficked for sexual exploitation, while men and boys are usually forced into labor.
Globally, about 1 in 4 victims are children. They are sometimes forced to beg, work in unsafe conditions, or be involved in child sexual abuse material (CSAM—pornography using children). Some children are exploited because their smaller hands can do delicate tasks like sewing or handling fishing wire.
Many people think human trafficking only happens in far-off places, but it can happen anywhere, including close to home. It is a crime that happens in all countries, including the U.S. and other rich nations of the world.
Human trafficking is “modern-day slavery”
Even though it has been over 200 years since the transatlantic slave trade was abolished in America, slavery hasn’t truly ended. Instead, it has taken a new form called human trafficking, or “modern-day slavery”. There are more slaves today than at any time in history.
Victims of human trafficking are often tricked with false promises, then forced to work under inhumane conditions without pay. Many are made to work long hours, abused, or locked away with no way to escape. Some are even beaten, starved, or sexually abused.
These victims are often hidden in plain sight, working in kitchens, shops, gas stations, hotels, and even in fields. Out of fear and shame, they stay silent, unable to ask for help. Traffickers control them through violence and threats, making them feel worthless and unwanted. This modern form of slavery strips people of their freedom; shackled by fear and trauma, leaving them trapped.
Awareness-raising & education
Raising awareness and educating people about human trafficking is everyone’s responsibility. There is a lot of confusion and misinformation about this crime, including denial of how serious and widespread it is.
This happens because trafficking is hard to define, hard to track, and often misunderstood. Communities also lack the resources to respond effectively.
Since trafficking is a hidden crime, people don’t always see it or know how to recognize the signs. Victims may also feel too much fear or shame to come forward, which makes it even harder to get accurate information.
What are we, at Youth Underground, doing against human trafficking?
It is inconceivable for many to imagine that the buying and selling of human beings is a profitable trade that happens all over the world. You may not see the problem. But it’s there. It is estimated there are 40.3 million human trafficking victims worldwide. This is not something that occurs only in dark alleys in the far corners of the world. It is happening in all countries every day, including the U.S.
This is why Youth Underground’s focus is youth education and empowerment in all its aspects, so that there is an understanding at an early age that human trafficking is a crime that can affect everyone. Through education, we can all do something to prevent it.