As Women…We Can Help!

Basic Facts About Human Trafficking

600-800,000 people, mainly women and children, are trafficked across national borders. This does not include millions trafficked within their own countries.

Researchers differ on the numbers of women trafficked.  United Nations (UN)
reports estimate that 4 million women have been trafficked from one country
to another and within countries. U.S. reports cite 700,000 to two million
women and children internationally trafficked each year into the sex
industry and for labor, with 50,000 into the United States.  All estimates,
however, are preliminary.

While labor exploitation of all kinds is widespread, much of the trafficking trade involves sexual exploitation and is a criminal activity that primarily impacts young women and girls. The most prevalent forms of sex trafficking are for the prostitution, sex tourism, and mail-order bride industries.

The United Nations now lists Mexico as the number one center for the supply of young children to North America. They are sold to rich, childless couples unwilling to wait for bona fide adoption agencies to provide them with a child. The majority are sent to international pedophile organizations. Women trafficked to the United States have been forced to have sex with 400-500 men to pay off $40,000 in debt for their passage.

It is estimated that approximately $7-10 BILLION is made every year from human trafficking and is the fastest growing criminal industry.

Here are just a few of the many organizations targeting the end of human trafficking:

	Vital Voices Vital Voices Global Partnership believes in the transformative value of women’s participation in society. http://www.vitalvoices.org
	Coalition Against Trafficking in Women-International (CATW) The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women-International (CATW) is a non-governmental organization that promotes women’s human rights by working internationally to combat sexual exploitation in all its forms. http://www.catwinternational.org
	Polaris Project Polaris Project’s vision is for a world without slavery. Polaris Project has been providing a comprehensive and community-based approach to combating human trafficking and modern-day slavery since 2002. http://www.polarisproject.org/
	Global Fund for Women Human trafficking is an international problem involving almost every country in the world as a source, transit or destination country. In addition, many people are trafficked within their own country. http://www.globalfundforwomen.org/cms/hot-topics/trafficking/trafficking.html
	Not For Sale Campaign The major obstacle that we face in the fight against modern day slavery is that the crime is hidden. Individuals that work in the field know that slavery is not part of the current collective consciousness. http://www.notforsalecampaign.org
	The Protection Project The goal of the Protection Project is to research and document the global scope of the problem of trafficking in persons and, through the dissemination of relevant and timely information, to influence policy and practice in the war against trafficking. http://www.protectionproject.org
	Human Trafficking & Modern-day Slavery Are slavery and bondage still extant in the world today?  Difficult to imagine but sadly, true.  Millions of people around the world still suffer in silence in slave-like situations of forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation from which they cannot free themselves. http://www.gvnet.com/humantrafficking/00-Resources.htm
	U.S. State Department Facts About Human Trafficking Trafficking in persons is modern-day slavery, involving victims who are forced, defrauded or coerced into labor or sexual exploitation. Annually, about 600,000 to 800,000 people—mostly women and children—are trafficked across national borders which does not count millions trafficked within their own countries. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/rls/33109.htm