I’ve heard about human trafficking, but didn’t really understand the concept of it. It wasn’t until last year or so, that I was watching the daytime talk show, The Real and co-host Jeannie Mai was bringing awareness to it. On my job, a newsletter was recently distributed to all staff, informing us that January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. I never knew this; therefore, I want to share with you all what I’ve learned.
There’s a list of key indicators at the end of the post that I want you to review. Who knows, as a result, you maybe able to save a life. If you see something, say something. Let’s break the silence.
What is Human Trafficking?
Basically it’s a modern day slavery. And most importantly, it is a crime. It is the use of fraud, force, and/or coercion to obtain labor or a sexual act. Human trafficking involves millions of men, women, and children in the United States and around the world each year.
Recently in the news, you may have heard of a young lady, Cyntoia Brown, who will be released from prison later this year after serving 15 years for killing a man who bought her for sex. She was 16 years old when that happened. Ms. Brown, who is now 30 years old, was a sex trafficking victim.
Recently while at the airport restroom in Las Vegas, NV there was a sign on the door of the stall to raise awareness of human trafficking. That alerted me to how serious this problem really is.
Big Business
Human trafficking is a BILLION dollar business! Whoa! It is in second place directly behind drug trafficking in terms of profitability. Like any other business, human trafficking is done online too. This crime is definitely growing in the South Carolina region. The top five SC counties for the highest risk of human trafficking includes: Greenville, Richland, Horry, Beaufort, and Charleston. My guess is that these are the larger populated counties.
Human trafficking is a crime against humanity. We must unite our efforts to free victims and stop this crime that’s become ever more aggressive, that threatens not just individuals, but the foundational values of society.
Pope Francis
Key Human Trafficking Indicators
- Does the person appear to be alienated from family and friends?
- Has the child stopped attending school?
- Does the person lack personal possessions? (purse, wallet, phone, etc.)
- Is the person shy, fearful, or submissive?
- Has the person shown signs of being denied food, sleep, water, or medical attention?
- Does the person have freedom of movement?
- Does the person appear to be coached in speaking?
Additional Resources
http://humantraffickinghotline.org