Human slavery is not a thing of the past. It is one of the most prevalent forms of abuse of innocent victims, and it is growing on a global scale.
The statistics are stunning. Nearly a million people are trafficked across international borders each year. The market for human slaves is estimated at over $30 billion. In 2011, there were more slaves in existence than at any other point in history. 50% of trafficked victims are under 16 years of age, and 80 out of 100 are female. Human trafficking is the second largest crime in the world today.
And there are human trafficking victims among us everywhere. We many not be able to spot them, particularly as they are naturally being controlled by those who “own” and abuse them. But we can look for signs and alert authorities when we suspect a human being is being enslaved.
This Thursday in Needham, MA, I am honored to join a panel of experts including Steven Procopio, a specialist in trafficking of males, and Peter DiMarzio from our nation’s Homeland Security Investigations office, assisting victims. The event is being hosted by the Needham Human Rights Committee and “PATH” – People Against Trafficking in Humans.
Join if you can, or follow us on this blog and social media, and help us all highlight the crisis in an effort to end slavery in our lifetimes. I am speaking as an RN and Delegate at the United Nations in the areas of Trafficking and Refugee Crises.
As ever, I deeply appreciate your support!
Deb
