Join The Movement to Combat Slavery

Human trafficking is the modern day practice of slavery, based on the recruitment, harboring, and transportation of people solely for the purpose of exploitation. Every year, traffickers generate billions of dollars in profits at the expense of victimizing millions of people around the world.

Victims of human trafficking are people forced or coerced into labor or sexual exploitation. Labor trafficking is widespread in variety of situations that encompass domestic servitude and small-scale labor operations, to large-scale operations such as farms, sweatshops, and major multinational corporations. Sex trafficking is one of the most lucrative areas regarding the illegal trade in people, and involves forms such as prostitution, pornography, bride trafficking, and the commercial sexual abuse of children.

An estimated 17,500 foreign nationals are trafficked annually in the U.S. alone.The number of U.S. citizens trafficked within the country is even higher. An estimated 200,000 American children are at risk for trafficking into the sex industry each year.

Despite this staggering reality, governments around the world are only beginning to address the problem. In most countries, traffickers operate without almost any punishment even in the most severe cases. A lack of awareness in the public makes it harder to act on the part of the authorities.

More awareness should be made. Everyone should get educated on this growing issue.

Here’s the “Dirty Dozen”- twelve states in the U.S. that have failed to enact basic human trafficking provisions or have provisions that fail to adequately address the growing crime. The ratings indicate how equipped states are to respond to human trafficking and serve as a resource for lawmakers on what specific provisions should be enacted to improve each state’s comprehensive approach to combating the issue.  Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming.

This entire map should be green! Let’s make it that way!

Click on the image to view full size.

We the undersigned, are not only pleading with these states above to take initiative and pass the laws/meet the conditions needed to combat human trafficking, but also urge the UN to focus more on these growing horrendous crimes throughout the world as well.

Join the movement to combat slavery. Together we can all make a difference.

For other resources on human trafficking and additional ways you can help, please visit the following:

• Polaris Project: Films to View & Share
• Polaris Project Action Center
• Hope For Justice: What You Can Do
• Polaris Project: Download Information on Human Trafficking in the US
• The A21 Campaign: 21 Ways To Help
• The A21 Campaign Resources
• UN.Gift : Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking
• NY Times Human Trafficking Section
• Free the Slaves: How You Can Help
• National Human Trafficking Resource Center

RESOURCES

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