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Originally Posted On: How Prevalent Is Human Trafficking Today? – US News Breaking Today (buzztum.com)

Back in 2000, the United States Congress passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. This is a federal law criminalizing the practice of human trafficking and providing support to the victims of trafficking.

So how much of an impact has this law had on human smuggling around the world? Read on to find out more.

What is Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking is essentially another name given to modern-day slavery. This involves the illegal transportation of people against their will.

Often traffickers will abduct or deceive victims into traveling to a new city or country. They then exploit them for labor, sexual trade, or other financial gains. For example, some victims of trafficking are used for organ harvesting.

Is Human Trafficking Still a Problem Today?

While slavery might be something that you think of as historic, human trafficking is still a huge issue around the world today. In fact, in a single year, an estimated 40.3 million people around the world become victims of slave trafficking.

In recent years, migrant smuggling has also become a huge issue. There are currently millions of people displaced around the world as a result of political unrest, war, or famine.

Human traffickers prey on these vulnerable individuals, offering them passage to a safe country. However, on arrival, a lot of people find themselves trapped and controlled by the very people who offered to help them. Some traffickers will also demand ‘payment’ for their services in the form of work or sexual exploitation.

Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Iran, and North Korea are some of the most commonly targeted countries for human trafficking. That said, geography and migration aren’t the only risk factors when it comes to human trafficking. Let’s take a look at some other factors that can leave individuals at risk.

Who is Most Vulnerable?

Experts and statt consulting on human trafficking will be the first to tell you that isolation and desperation can make individuals very vulnerable to human trafficking. Because of this, people who have less power or control over their circumstances are prime targets for traffickers.

71% of human trafficking victims are women and girls, while a large portion of them are children. Some other common risk factors include:

• Recent relocation
• Substance abuse or addiction issues
• Mental health conditions
• Involvement in the child welfare systems
• Homelessness

The majority of people in one or more of these positions have limited options compared to others. Human traffickers use this to their advantage and exploit a victim’s vulnerability for their own gain.

Unfortunately, this puts victims of human trafficking even further on the back foot when it comes to recovering from their experiences. This is why it is so important that they have access to all of the support and resources that they need to get back on their feet.

Learn More Today

As you can see, human trafficking is still a huge issue around the world. Because of this, the work of anti-trafficking organizations to prevent this crime and support victims is more important than ever before.

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