Human Trafficking Awareness Month 2021

Human trafficking: what is it and what can you do to help?

Homeland Security defines human trafficking as a use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Over 40 million individuals worldwide are victims of human trafficking -- of those, 1.2 million children are trafficked each year. Human trafficking can happen to anyone no matter their race, gender, nationality, or age. 

Here are 3 debunked myths about human trafficking:

Myth: Human trafficking doesn’t happen in the United States

Fact: Human trafficking exists in the US. The top 5 states with reported cases are California (1,507), Texas (1,080), Florida (896), New York (454), and Ohio (450).

Myth: Human trafficking only includes sexual labor

Fact: While sex trafficking is a form of human trafficking, it’s not the only one. Forced labor is a form of human trafficking which could be found in sweatshops, hotels, massage parlors, agriculture, and restaurants. 

Myth: Human trafficking is only considered a case when victims are taken across boarders 

Fact: Trafficking does not require movement of victims, it’s based on exploitation of individuals.

What can you do to help?

1. Get educated: Here are a few accounts and organizations we follow:
   • International Justice Mission (IJM): their vision is to rescue millions, protect a half a billion and make justice unstoppable
   • Hope For Justice International (Hope for Justice): they exist to bring an end to modern slavery by preveting exploitation, rescuing victims, restoring lives and reforming society
   • International Sanctuary: empower girls and women escaping human trafficking to embrace their true identity and worth
     
     
2. Spread Awareness: Spreading awareness is simple! Share content, blog posts, or stories of survivors. The leaders listed in the Get Educated section above have media kits filled with images and text that you can share on your platform(s).
   
   
3. Support
   • Donate to organizations and causes that fight to end trafficking and help survivors
   • Shop to support survivors rebuild lives for themselves
     
     

Thank you for joining us in this journey of fighting to end human trafficking and for helping rebuild lives of survivors. Together, we can end human trafficking.