Human Trafficking Awareness: The First Step In Defeating Human Slavery

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month.

Since it’s January, this is a good time to ask, each of us, “What can we do to help the war against human trafficking?”

In other words, what can you and I do to help fight this immense worldwide problem?

As with fixing the world’s refugee crisis, the first thing is that we must become more self-aware of the problem’s magnitude.

For even though trafficking is global in nature, it is often taking place right around the corner, closer to us than most of us realize.

Human trafficking is the equivalent of modern day slavery. It’s one of the most hideous and degrading issues affecting individuals across the globe. And every year, thousands of men, women, and children fall into the hands of traffickers.

Recent studies have seen an upswing in trafficking over the past decade. Here are a few current statistics demonstrating the magnitude of human trafficking:

• 150 billion dollars are made per year from enslaved labor

• More than 40 million people are enslaved worldwide, 25% are children, 75% are female

• 14,500 to 17,500 immigrants are trafficked into the U.S. per year.

Leading The Fight Against Human Trafficking

If you would like to know more about human trafficking, here are some organizations that are leading the fight against this international cancer.

The Coalition To Abolish Slavery And
Human Trafficking (CAST)

The Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST), commonly referred to as CAST, is a Los Angeles–based nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive, life-transforming services to survivors, as well as advocates for legislation to fight trafficking and assist survivors.

Over the past two decades, CAST has supported thousands of survivors through every phase of their journey to freedom from counseling, to legal resources, to housing, educational and leadership training and mentorship. Through these programs, survivors have overcome their traumatic pasts and become leading voices in shaping policy and public awareness to put an end to the fastest growing criminal enterprise of the 21st century.

Hope For Justice

Hope for Justice located in Nashville, Tennessee, is part of a worldwide network with offices in the United Kingdom and Norway. The organization coordinates anti-trafficking projects in 32 locations thoughout the globe.

Similar to CAST, Hope For Justice provides education and life skills, professional medical treatment and advice, and training in how to spot the signs of slavery, how to respond to cries for help, and how to reunite children and adults with their families.

Your Role In Fighting Trafficking

As non-profit organizations, both CAST and Hope For Justice rely on volunteerism and donations to help alleviate the pain and suffering of traffickign victims.

Since this is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, why not give them a call? Or look on the web to find a similar organization closer to your home?

The battle won’t be won without all of us chipping in, however and wherever we can.

And do not forget to share this information with our friends, family members, co-workers, and acquaintances.

The only way those victimized will ever be educated and empowered is if each of us learn the causes and signs of modern day slavery.

Let’s save some lives.

By Carlos Batara

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