Photo Illustration by Kylee Weber
Human trafficking is a large problem with many different organizations working to put a stop to it. It is something that has been, and always will be, a major issue all around the world. I feel that it is important to spread awareness and hopefully save the lives of many innocent victims, who were forced into this terrible situation.
Human trafficking, also known as “modern slavery,” is when someone is transported and forced into a situation of exploration. This can include being forced into marriage, organ removal, prostitution or physical labor. It is estimated that as of right now, there are 40.3 million people who are being forced into modern slavery, according to www.antislavery.org.
The scariest part about modern slavery is that most cases go undetected, so it could be happening all around us but we just never see it happen. Just like a lot of other things in this world, modern slavery takes place for the reward of money. Traffickers make a total of $150 billion a year, almost all of that money comes from sexual exploration. Another scary part about this issue is that over 50% of the victims of modern slavery are children, mostly from other countries like the Phillippines or Mexico.
While it can be very difficult to identity a case of human trafficking, there are signs you can look at for that may point to modern slavery. If you see any of these signs, you need to strongly consider seeking help for the person in trouble, remember, it could save their life.
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Signs of abuse. Bruises, scars, burn marks, or cuts
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Always tired
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Constantly misses class or work
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A sudden increase in income
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Sudden depression
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Personality change
Human trafficking is a big issue that our country, as well as others, faces. But that doesn’t mean we can’t work toward making our country a safer place by spreading awareness and reminding people that modern slavery is a serious issue. Picture this: you are a mother or father with a 13-year-old child. After a few weeks of seeing their behavior change drastically, and seeing signs of depression, you brush it off and blame it on them just being a teenager. While most of the time that is the case, it might not be the case for your child. You find out that the reason they are acting up is becasue they are being forced into modern slavery. And maybe you found out too late.
It is never wrong to ask your loved ones if they are okay, and it could end up saving their life. If you see any of these signs taking place for anyone you care about, please take the time to make sure they are okay. As a country, let’s take steps forward into stoping the horrible crime that is human trafficking.
If you suspect someone is involved in human trafficking, contact the national human trafficking hotline at 1 (888) 373-7888.