Human Trafficking Prevention Methods

Defined as the illegal transport of people for exploitation, human trafficking epitomizes one of humanity's greatest violations. This horrific crime represents a $32 billion-a-year industry, with an alarming 300,000 Americans under the age of 18 being lured into the commercial sex trade annually. To combat this, society must educate itself on recognizing the signs of a trafficked victim, undergo training on how to assist victims, trace the origins and production methods of consumer products, understand the various types of trafficking, explore how social media influences trafficking, and acknowledge the involvement of famous individuals in sex trafficking.

By delving into these aspects of society and human trafficking, we can work towards making a significant difference in the statistics of Human Trafficking in the United States. Education stands out as the most crucial tool in this battle, especially when it comes to reaching out to children. Education is a cornerstone in everyone’s life, beginning at a very young age and continuing into adulthood. For instance, in Atlanta, Georgia, there is a group called the iSeeMe Society. This initiative was created to reduce the number of vulnerable youths who might be introduced into the sex trafficking market (Taylor 960). The iSeeMe program aims to engage adults in the youth community, empowering them to make better life decisions based on the kind of person they aspire to become (Taylor 960).

Sex traffickers can earn up to $32,000 a week, and the exploitation of minors results in significant emotional, physiological, and psychological trauma (Taylor 961). The iSeeMe program teaches youth essential decision-making skills, such as avoiding meeting strangers from online platforms or accepting rides from unknown individuals. Schools should offer a safe haven for children facing abuse at home or other forms of victimization. Teachers are now receiving specialized training to identify signs of abuse and intervene appropriately. For example, in Virginia, aspiring teachers must complete a course on child abuse recognition and intervention to obtain their teaching license (Simon 313). Similarly, Florida has updated its Child Abuse Source Book to include child trafficking as a focus for school personnel since 2011 (Simon 313).

Human trafficking incidents often coincide with major events and can occur in plain sight. The Super Bowl, one of the most-watched events in February, is a prime opportunity for traffickers, with numerous parties and gatherings taking place. During last year’s Super Bowl festivities, organizations such as the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), ECPAT-USA, Polaris, the Minnesota Lodging Association, and local hotels collaborated to enhance education and training on human trafficking prevention (States News Service Jan. 31, 2018). It is estimated that 40.3 million people are currently living in trafficking or exploitative situations, with one in four being children (States News Service Jan. 31, 2018).

Training hotel staff to identify and respond to potential trafficking cases can significantly reduce occurrences of abduction and even aid in rescuing victims. The U.S. government has implemented the Four P’s policy, which focuses on preventing trafficking, prosecuting traffickers, protecting victims, and establishing partnerships in counter-trafficking efforts (National Academies Press, 2014). These policies, along with public awareness, provide hope for victims and ensure that traffickers are held accountable.

Unknowingly, many individuals may be supporting human trafficking. Over 14 million people are trafficked for labor, including 4 million women and girls and 9.5 million boys and men (Fisher, Nicole). Human Rights First estimates that $9 billion in profits are generated through agriculture alone (Fisher, Nicole). Consumers must become more conscious of the origins of products they use daily. Websites allow individuals to upload photos of working conditions or hotel rooms, potentially identifying locations where trafficking victims are being exploited (Fisher, Nicole). The Department of Labor encourages companies to investigate and prevent human trafficking within their supply chains (U.S. Department of State).

Sexual trafficking is defined by the U.S. government as the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purposes of a commercial sex act (Hodge 144). This definition highlights the organized crime aspect of human trafficking, which is the fastest-growing organized crime globally. Trafficked women often retain little to no earnings from their forced labor, relying entirely on their pimps for survival. Traffickers frequently move their victims to maximize profit and supply fresh victims to the sex industry (Hodge 145).

The influence of social media in modern society cannot be underestimated. Most teenagers are active on platforms like Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram, which pose significant risks if privacy settings are not utilized. Personal information is required to create accounts, and features like birthday notifications can reveal sensitive details. Young girls, often lacking self-confidence, may become susceptible to traffickers who catfish them by creating fake personas. This manipulation may lead to meet-ups, resulting in abductions. Families often turn to social media for help in locating missing daughters, and survivors use these platforms to reconnect with their loved ones (Albanese, Jay 1). Social media can aid investigations, though victims may be too afraid to seek help due to their attachment to their pimps.

Some famous individuals have been implicated in human trafficking, influencing young audiences. The Players Ball, an annual event celebrating pimps, features rappers like Snoop Dogg, Lil John, and Wiz Khalifa, along with actors such as Ice-T (The original, June 2104). Ice-T, who has songs glorifying pimping, plays a detective on "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit," a stark contradiction to his past behavior. Lyrics from songs by artists like Lil Wayne perpetuate the normalization of pimp culture. However, many celebrities are actively working to end sex trafficking.

Activists like Ricky Martin, Ashton Kutcher, and Demi Moore, along with others like Carrie Underwood, Kristen Bell, David Beckham, and Julia Ormond, are championing efforts to combat sex trafficking. Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore co-founded Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing the spread of child sexual abuse material and confronting child sex traffickers. Kutcher's passionate testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee highlights the organization's commitment to making a difference (The Independent).

By embracing these new ideas and taking specific actions, society can begin to make a tangible impact on human trafficking. Through education, awareness, and proactive measures, we can work towards reducing the $32 billion-a-year industry to a fraction of its current size. Each year, as we become more informed and engaged, we can help free individuals trapped in trafficking, whether for a short period or a lifetime.

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