5 Important Resources for National Human Trafficking Awareness Day

5 Important Resources for National Human Trafficking Awareness Day

Jan 3, 2023

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.

What is 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.

Human Trafficking Global Statistics

A September 2017 report issued by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and Walk Free Foundation confirmed the following:

• An estimated 24.9 million victims were trapped in modern-day slavery in 2016.
• Of these trapped in modern-day slavery, 16 million (64%) were exploited for labor, 4.8 million (19%) were sexually exploited, and 4.1 million (17%) were exploited in state-imposed forced labor.
• Forced labor takes place in many different industries. Of the 16 million trafficking victims exploited for labor:
  • 7.5 million (47%) work in construction, manufacturing, mining, or hospitality
  • 3.8 million (24%) are domestic workers
  • 1.7 million (11%) work in agriculture
• 71% of trafficking victims around the world are women and girls
• 29% of trafficking victims around the world are men and boys.
• There were an estimated 15.4 million human trafficking victims in 2016. Of those:
  • 75% were aged 18 or older
  • Children under the age of 18 accounted for an estimated 25% (around 5.5 million).

Where Does Forced Labor Happen?

Forced labor is a worldwide issue, but certain areas around the globe report more instances than others. For example:

• The Asia-pacific region accounts for the largest number of forced laborers with 15.4 million (representing 62% of the global total).
• Africa accounts for 5.7 million (23%), followed by Europe and Central Asia with 2.2 million (9%).
• The Americas account for 1.2 million (5%), and the Arab States account for 1% of all victims.
• Human trafficking does not always involve travel to the destination of exploitation. In fact, 2.2 million (14%) forced labor victims were believed to have either moved internally or internationally, while 3.5 million (74%) victims of sexual exploitation were living outside their country of residence.
• Victims spend an average of 20 months in forced labor (although this varied with different types of forced labor).

The Business of Human Trafficking

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:

• Human trafficking earns profits of roughly $150 billion a year for traffickers, according to an ILO report from 2014. The following is a breakdown of profits according to sector:
  • $99 billion from commercial sexual exploitation
  • $34 billion in construction, manufacturing, mining and utilities
  • $9 billion in agriculture, including forestry and fishing
  • $8 billion dollars is saved annually by private households that employ domestic workers under conditions of forced labor
• While only 19% of victims are trafficked for sex, sexual exploitation earns 66% of the global profits of human trafficking.
• The average annual profits generated by each woman in forced sexual servitude ($100,000) is estimated to be six times more than the average profits generated by each trafficking victim worldwide ($21,800), according to the Organization for Security and Co operation in Europe (OSCE).
• OSCE studies show that sexual exploitation can yield a return on investment ranging from 100% to 1,000%, while an enslaved laborer can produce more than 50% profit even in less profitable markets (such as agricultural labor in India).
• In the Netherlands, investigators were able to calculate the profit generated by two sex traffickers from a number of victims. One trafficker earned $18,148 per month from four victims (for a total of $127,036) while the second trafficker earned $295,786 in the 14 months that three women were sexually exploited, according to the OSCE.

How Often is Human Trafficking Prosecuted?

When compared to the frequency at which human trafficking occurs, the number of prosecutions against offenders is dismally low. For example:

• A 2017 State Department Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report estimated that there were only 14,894 prosecutions and 9,071 convictions for trafficking throughout the world in 2016.
• According to the U.S. Department of State, of the estimated 16 million forced labor victims worldwide, only 1,038 cases were prosecuted around the world in 2016.
• In 2016, the Department of Justice convicted a total of 439 human traffickers (up from 297 convictions in 2015 and 184 in 2014).

Where Is Human Trafficking Prosecuted Around the World?

The aforementioned Trafficking in Persons report confirms the following prosecution statistics by geographical location for the year 2016:

• Africa: 1,251 prosecutions, 1,119 convictions, and the identification of 18,296 victims
• East Asia & the Pacific: 2,137 prosecutions, 1,953 convictions, and the identification of 9,989 victims
• Europe: 2,703 prosecutions, 1,673 convictions, and the identification of 11,416 victims
• The Near East: 996 prosecutions, 1,187 convictions, and the identification of 3,292 victims
• South & Central Asia: 6,297 prosecutions, 2,193 convictions, and the identification of 14,706 victims
• The Western Hemisphere: 1,513 prosecutions, 946 convictions, and the identification of 8,821 victims

Five Important Resources for Human Trafficking Awareness Day

1. National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline

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.

2. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

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.

3. The Office for Victims of Crime

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).

4. The Specialized Services and Mentoring for Child and Youth Victims of Sex Trafficking Initiative

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.

5. The National Judicial Institute on Domestic Child Sex Trafficking

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.

Can I File a Civil Claim Against a Human/Sex Trafficker?

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.

Speak to a Lawyer Today

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:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• Diminished quality of life
• Lost wages
• Lost warning capacity

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.