Human Trafficking

What if I told you there are more slaves in the world right now, then there were doing the trans-Atlantic slave trade? You’d think I’m lying, right? Unfortunately, there really is more. Do you want to know the cause of slavery in the modern world? Human trafficking. What is human trafficking, you ask? Well, human trafficking according to the UN is the trade of humans, most commonly for the purpose of sexual slavery, forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation for the trafficker or others. This horrible act is a violation of basic human rights but, is practiced world-wide.   Many young women, girls and boys are kept in disgusting brothels where their traffickers take advantage of their youth and innocence and coerce them into committing sexual acts. Human trafficking is the third largest international crime industry (behind illegal drugs and arms trafficking). It reportedly generates a profit of $32 billion every year. Of that number, $15.5 billion is made in industrialized countries. Sex traffickers use a variety of ways to “condition” their victims, including subjecting them to starvation, rape, gang rape, physical abuse, beating, confinement, threats of violence toward the victim and victim’s family, forced drug use, and shame. How are these women being trafficked? Women and girls are ensnared in sex trafficking in a variety of ways. Some are lured with offers of legitimate and legal work as shop assistants or waitresses. Others are promised marriage, educational opportunities and a better life. Still others are sold into trafficking by boyfriends, friends, neighbors or even parents.Women often travel through multiple countries before ending at their final destination. For example, a woman from the Ukraine may be sold to a human trafficker in Turkey, who then passes her on to a trafficker in Thailand. Along the way she becomes confused and disoriented. Typically, once in the custody of traffickers, a victim's passport and official papers are confiscated and...