The fight against human trafficking is alive and strong. More people than ever are clued in on how to recognize human trafficking in their general area. Although human trafficking numbers are dropping, they are still too high to ignore.

The Scams

Trafficking is predatory in nature, and as a result it has spawned multiple subgenres. That is why it is important to recognize all legitimate child trafficking organizations to donate to. With the rising interest in stopping trafficking, scammers have resorted to creating fake websites for donations. These websites are sometimes used to funnel money right back into a human trafficking ring!

People can be passionate about causes, so checking for references might not be high on the list. Stick to reputable child trafficking organizations, and you’ll be less likely to get a nasty surprise. As a bonus, legitimate organizations won’t data mine your information for later use.

Soft Numbers and Hard Numbers

Soft numbers, or estimates for human trafficking puts it at about 40.3 million victims around the world. These numbers are split up into slavery, forced labor and forced marriage. For reference, that means there are almost 6 victims for every 1,000 people in the world. That is a staggering number, but still is considered soft numbers.

For the hard numbers, there is no actual data due to unreported incidents. That means the 40.3 estimate for the soft number is a lot higher. The first federal anti-trafficking law passed in the U.S. happened in 2000. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) was a big step for the nation, but still put it several years behind the actual abuse. Even to this day, the U.S. information network is still catching up with other countries. And to make things more confusing, those countries are still doing some catching up of their own!

The short and sweet of it is that the hard numbers for human trafficking are astounding. Not having a solid number is a good thing, as the actual hard numbers would be too bleak to swallow.

Making A Difference

It’s never too late to make a difference. Human trafficking is abhorrent, and no child or adult should have to deal with its consequences. The aggressors become more panicked each time the government makes steps to shut them down. Consistency is the answer, but it will require more than government oversight.

Ending human trafficking once and for all is a people problem, and therefore will require communities coming together as one. Donations, pledges, speaking up and even helping to vote in new trafficking laws is the answer. Human trafficking is on the small list of things that everyone is firmly against. It just needs a little attention, a few small pushes to bring the entire atrocity to a halt.

Spread The Word

Staying quiet about human trafficking will only make things worse for the victims. Even celebrities are beginning to notice, and many are making a huge difference. Do your part to save lives, and the world will become a much safer place.