WORLD DAY AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
Every year on July 30th, the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons spreads the alarm about the horrible crime of human trafficking. The day also provides an opportunity for governments to reaffirm their commitment to stop criminals from exploiting people for profit.
Human trafficking is considered a modern form of slavery. This illegal act involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain labor or sex. Traffickers use violence, manipulation, or false promises to lure their victims into trafficking situations. Trafficking victims usually experience physical and/or psychological abuse. They might also endure sexual abuse, food and sleep deprivation, threats to family members, and isolation from the outside world. Family members of the victim may also get threatened.
According to the International Labor Organization, there are over 40 million victims of human trafficking around the world. Nearly every country in the world is affected by human trafficking. There are some countries that are worse than others.
Some of the worst countries for human trafficking include:
- Equatorial Guinea
- Iran
- North Korea
- The Central African Republic
- Syria
- Algeria
- Russia
- Zimbabwe
- Libya
- Venezuela
The United States is not exempt from being affected by human trafficking. Every year in the U.S., up to 17,500 people become victims of human trafficking. Victims in the United States are almost exclusively immigrants. Victims in this country and elsewhere usually consist of women and children. Other factors that contribute to the supply of trafficking victims include poverty, lack of employment opportunities, organized crime, discrimination, and government corruption.
HOW TO OBSERVE #WorldDayAgainstTraffickingInPersons
The best way to observe this day is to learn about human trafficking problems in the area you live and find ways to prevent it. Some of the best things you can do to prevent human trafficking include:
- Learn the indicators of human trafficking, which can be found on the U.S. Department of State website.
- Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 if you suspect someone is a victim.
- Be a conscientious and informed consumer.
- Ask your local officials what they are doing to combat human trafficking.
- Learn more about human trafficking by watching a documentary on the subject, such as Face to Face with Slavery, The Traffickers, and Children for Sale.
You can also spread awareness for this day on social media with # WorldDayAgainstTraffickingInPersons or #EndHumanTrafficking
WORLD DAY AGAINST TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS HISTORY
In 2010, the UN General Assembly adopted the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking In Persons. The goal of this Global Plan was to urge governments around the world to take coordinated measures to defeat human trafficking. The Plan helped to create a voluntary Trust Fund for victims of trafficking. In 2013, during a high-level meeting to appraise the Global Plan, the UN adopted a resolution to designate July 30th as the World Day against Trafficking in Persons.