Jan 11, 2022
Since 2010, January has marked National Human Trafficking Prevention month. And today – the 11th – is recognized as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
Human trafficking is an odious crime that impacts countless innocent lives around the world every year. Below we will look at some important statistics related to human trafficking, labor trafficking, and sex trafficking. We’ll also provide five key resources that are available if you or someone you care about is being victimized by human trafficking.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline defines the crime of human trafficking as:
“A form of modern-day slavery. This crime occurs when a trafficker uses force, fraud, or coercion to control another person for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or soliciting labor or services against his/her will. Force, fraud, or coercion need not be present if the individual engaging in commercial sex is under 18 years of age.”
Although the subject of human trafficking garners some attention from the media, the scope of the problem is not well understood by the public. Below are some important statistics concerning the global human trafficking problem.
A September 2017 report issued by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and Walk Free Foundation confirmed the following:
Forced labor is a worldwide issue, but certain areas around the globe report more instances than others. For example:
What many people might not realize is how lucrative the business of sex trafficking is around the world. It’s one of the many obstacles law enforcement officials face in attempting to eradicate this type of criminal activity on a global scale.
Some important statistics highlighting the business of human trafficking include:
When compared to the frequency at which human trafficking occurs, the number of prosecutions against offenders is dismally low. For example:
The aforementioned Trafficking in Persons report confirms the following prosecution statistics by geographical location for the year 2016:
The National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) includes both a national anti-trafficking hotline as well as a resource center serving victims and survivors of human trafficking and the anti-trafficking community in the U.S. The NHTRC’s toll-free hotline is available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year in more than 200 languages. If you or someone you care about has been victimized through human trafficking, call 888-373-7888 for help.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) was established in 1984 to serve as the nation’s clearinghouse on issues related to missing and sexually exploited children. Currently NCMEC is authorized by Congress to perform 22 programs and services to assist law enforcement, families, and the professionals who serve them.
The Office of Justice Programs (OJP) within the U.S. Department of Justice has established an Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) to help survivors find local programs, helplines, compensation programs, and more. The OVC provides resources for U.S. citizens both inside the country and abroad as well as international victims. One specific resource includes a searchable database allowing survivors to search by type of crime (such as human trafficking).
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) supports several programs to increase the availability of direct support services for children and youth who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation. Additionally, the OJJDP facilitates outreach efforts and helps to develop organizations’ capacities to identify and respond to this vulnerable population. Accordingly, the OJJDP funded the Specialized Services and Mentoring for Child and Youth Victims of Sex Trafficking Initiative. Additionally, with OJJDP support, the Youth Collaboratory developed a toolkit for youth service providers in an effort to better understand the commercial sexual exploitation of children.
National Judicial Institute on Domestic Child Sex Trafficking was established to help judicial officers better understand the dynamics of domestic child sex trafficking and the applicable laws and legal considerations involving trafficking victims. Additionally, the program helps officials to better recognize and identify trafficked and at-risk children, and how to connect youth victims to appropriate services.
Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, survivors may file civil claims against entities that benefit from human trafficking enterprises. The law was initially signed by President Clinton and reauthorized by presidents Bush, Obama, and Trump.
Some notable examples of recent sex trafficking prosecutions include:
Keith Raniere and the Nxivm Cult: Last year, Keith Raniere, founder of the company known as Nxivm (pronounced Nexium), was sentenced to 120 years in prision after being convicted on numerous federal charges, including sex trafficking, sexual exploitation of a child, child pornography, and human trafficking. The infamous cult, featured in a number of recent documentaries, reportedly involved Raniere branding women as “slaves” with his initials.
GirlsDoPorn Website: Last June, adult film performer and producer Ruben Andre Garcia was convicted on federal conspiracy sex trafficking charges and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Garcia reportedly conspired with the owners of the adult websites GirlsDoPorn.com and GirlsDoToys.com to recruit young women to appear in sex videos for adult websites using force, fraud, and coercion.
Major Hotel Chains Accused of Sex Trafficking: In December 2019, 12 major hotel chains – including Hilton, Intercontinental, and Best Western – were accused of profiting from sex trafficking. Women and children were allegedly held captive, abused, and sold for sex in countless guest rooms across the U.S. The litigation marked the first time that the hotel industry has faced legal action as a collective group.
Schedule an appointment online for a free consultation today, or call us directly to speak to our top-rated, expert Human Trafficking and Sexual Assault attorneys.
For nearly two decades, Dordulian Law Group (DLG) has been helping survivors of sexual assault and trauma obtain the justice they deserve through civil lawsuits. Survivors may file claims in pursuit of financial damages, such as:
DLG’s SAJE Team includes added resources for survivors that extend beyond legal expertise. For a free and confidential consultation with a sex trafficking lawyer, contact DLG today at 818-322-4056.
DLG was founded by former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County, Sam Dordulian. To date, we’ve helped victims recover more than $100,000,000 while maintain a 98% success record. Contact us today to discuss your legal options and take the first step towards pursuing justice.
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