Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a crime that involves the exploitation of people for forced labor or commercial sex. In truth, human trafficking is a serious crime and a grave violation of human rights. To clarify, it affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, and it can take many different forms, including sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and organ trafficking.

Read more: More Than Meets the Eye: The Immense Web of Human Trafficking and Its Vast Implications.

The AMP Model Requirements of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA)

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act has three requirements for any act to be considered human trafficking: an ACTION, a MEANS, and a PURPOSE.

• ACTION. The act: Recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, or receipt of persons.
• MEANS. The means: Threat or use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or vulnerability, or giving payments or benefits to a person in control of the victim. (Not necessary in the case of minors in America.)
• PURPOSE. The purpose: For the purpose of commercial exploitation, which includes exploiting the prostitution of others, sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery or similar practices and the removal of organs.

Read more about the TVPA here.

Prevalence (where it’s happening)

The prevalence of modern-day slavery is difficult to determine, as it is often hidden and difficult to detect. However, according to the Global Estimates of Modern Slavery: Forced Labour and Forced Marriage, an estimated 40.3 million people are subjected to modern slavery and human trafficking worldwide. This includes 25 million people who are subjected to forced labor, and 15.4 million people who are in forced marriages. Modern slavery and human trafficking are global problems that affect people of all ages, genders, and nationalities. Above all, these crimes are often hidden and difficult to detect, and they require continued efforts to prevent and combat them.

Other terms you’ll hear

Some other terms that refer to human trafficking include:

1. Modern day slavery
2. Forced labor
3. Debt bondage
4. Forced marriage
5. Servitude
6. Labor exploitation
7. Labor trafficking
8. Human exploitation

Forms of human trafficking

People who are subjected to these crimes are forced to work in a wide range of occupations and industries. To illustrate, human trafficking occurs in:

1. Agriculture, including farming, fishing, and forestry
2. Construction, including building and infrastructure projects
3. Domestic work, including cleaning, cooking, and childcare
4. Manufacturing, including textiles, electronics, and clothing

Why do people traffick others?

There are many factors that can drive someone to engage in human trafficking, including a desire for power and control, financial gain, and a lack of regard for the well-being and rights of others. In some cases, traffickers may see it as a way to make easy money, while in others they may be motivated by a desire to exploit and abuse vulnerable individuals. Additionally, factors such as poverty, lack of education and opportunities, and a history of abuse can make some people more vulnerable to becoming traffickers or being trafficked themselves.

Am I (or my child or friend) being groomed for trafficking?

We have all heard the social media hysteria over people in white vans kidnapping children for trafficking or placing some marking on a car of someone they plan to traffic. However, this type of method is rarely used here in the United States to traffic someone. Most often a trafficker will use a grooming process to manipulate their victim and eventually exploit them.

Read more: Signs of Grooming a Young Person for Trafficking.

Learn about human trafficking today

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