If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, or need to report trafficking, get in contact with National Human Trafficking Hotline:
- Call: 1-888-373-7888
- Text: 233733
- Chat online
Human trafficking is a humanitarian crisis that is happening all over the world — including the United States. Recently in late January 2020, President Trump signed an executive order to combat human trafficking and online child exploitation. It is evident that human trafficking is a problem that is escalating.
While government officials, state, county and local law enforcement agencies, and victim advocates are working to combat this epidemic, the role of the private investigator is somewhat overlooked. Private investigators can make a difference when it comes to human trafficking and many have already made a huge impact. Here’s the information you need to get involved as a private investigator who specializes in investigating human trafficking.
What is human trafficking?
First, it’s important to understand exactly what “human trafficking” means. While many equate it to forcing individuals into the sex trades, it is not limited to that type of work. Human trafficking ultimately enslaves someone to do work against their will — any type of forced labor is considered trafficking, no matter the industry.
For some, slavery might seem like an issue that’s purely in the past, but the number of those trapped in modern-day slavery is actually growing largely due to lack of awareness and denial that such a problem could exist. Even for those who are aware that this issue exists, many are unaware that it is happening so close to home. But the truth is America is ranked as one of the worst, if not the worst, countries for human trafficking. So while this is an epidemic worldwide, it is also happening in your own backyard.
But the truth is America is ranked as one of the worst, if not the worst, countries for human trafficking. So while this is an epidemic worldwide, it is also happening in your own backyard.”
Human trafficking is the practice of recruiting, harboring, transporting, or receiving humans by coercion, fraud, or force for the purpose of forced labor or sexual exploitation. The exact number of human trafficking victims worldwide is impossible to calculate since a majority of the crime goes unreported, but the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that there are 40.3 million victims of human trafficking globally — and 75% of this number are women or girls while 25% are children. The human trafficking industry is also estimated to be a $150 billion industry worldwide.