How Trafficking Exists Today

At its most basic form, human trafficking is the buying and selling of people. It exists across continents and is facilitated through a variety of venues, but ultimately- human trafficking is an industry, and it profits from the exploitation of people.

Human trafficking has been compared to modern-day slavery, and in many respects, the similarities are obvious.

It's the 21st century and men, women, and children, are still being forced to work in inhumane conditions, for unbearably long hours, for little to no pay.

Slavery of the past was an accepted economic practice, but today, human trafficking is a criminal activity. Slavery used to systematically exploit a specific people group; while today, anyone can be a human trafficking victim regardless of ethnicity, nationality, gender, or economic status. Human trafficking is now facilitated online and through social media. Traffickers  use love and affection as control mechanisms, and victims might not even self-identify as victims. Human trafficking is an incredibly complex issue- based on dozens of contributing factors. So to understand how trafficking exists today, what it looks like, and why it is sustained, we are going to explore three factors that give it fuel.   

First, human trafficking is fueled by a high reward, low risk dynamic. This means that traffickers can expect to make a lot of money with minimal fear of punishment or legal consequence. It’s the second most profitable illegal industry— second only to the drug trade. And while drugs are sold in one transaction, human beings can be sold over and over again. The costs are low and the profits are extremely high. How high? The International Labor Organization estimates that human trafficking makes $150 billion annually. 

But what are the risks?

The table below shows the Global Enforcement Data from the 2015 Trafficking in Persons Report. It describes the estimated amount of human trafficking prosecutions and convictions around the world each year.

As you can see- the number of prosecutions is shockingly low for an industry that victimizes 20-30 million people around the world. Lasting legal consequences for human traffickers are still minimal and rare. Traffickers know they can sell and exploit others and little will be done to stop them.

Second, human trafficking is fueled by the economic principles of supply and demand.

Human trafficking is the only industry in which the supply and demand are the same thing: human beings. People demanding the sale of people.

High demand drives the market to seek a high volume of supply. Increasing demand from consumers for cheap goods incentivizes corporations to demand cheap labor, often forcing those at the bottom of the supply chain to exploit workers. Secondly, increased demand for commercial sex (especially with young girls and boys) incentivizes commercial sex venues to recruit and exploit children.

Lastly, systemic inequalities and disparities make certain groups much more vulnerable to exploitation. Mass displacement, conflict, extreme poverty, lack of access to education and job opportunities, violence, and harmful social norms like child marriage are all factors that push individuals into situations of trafficking. Families living in extreme poverty or families in situations of desperation are more likely to accept risky job offers. When girls aren’t allowed to learn, parents are more likely to sell their daughters to men for marriage.

Ultimately, harmful social norms and systemic inequity fuel trafficking because traffickers target vulnerability. Traffickers look for the impoverished, the desperate, the ones without legitimate job options, the ones without education opportunities, and the ones looking for a way to escape the violence.

If we never address these basic human rights violations, we will never see the day when trafficking no longer exists.

Want to take action? You can address the three factors that fuel trafficking by taking the following three steps.

1. Advocate for legislation that increases penalties for traffickers and enhances protections for victims. Right now, we are activating around the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to ensure vulnerable youth in the U.S. are protected. Write to your Representative HERE

2. Learn how your buying habits contribute to the demand for exploitative labor by going to Slaveryfootprint.org. Then take steps to make ethical purchases by shopping for Fair Trade products. Fair Trade certification ensures that no child or slave labor contributed to the making of a product.

3. Support UNICEF’s development work to lessen vulnerabilities for children around the world HERE

The End Trafficking project is an awareness-based initiative to educate communities on the issue of human trafficking and mobilize them to take action. If you would like to support the End Trafficking project, you can host a fundraiser or film screening by filling out our application HERE or download our free educational resources HERE.