Say NO to Violence Against Women: Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal enterprise in the world, generating $236 billion annually, according to the International Labour Organization.

Simply put, human trafficking is the business of stealing freedom for profit.

Human trafficking is a crime in nearly every country around the globe to force a person to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts. Women and girls are overwhelmingly the victims of sex trafficking. They are also victims of involuntary domestic servitude and forced marriages. In areas of armed conflict, forced marriages are especially prevalent, and minority women are usually common targets.

In the U.S., it happens in all 50 states and in the District of Columbia. Cases have been reported in urban, suburban and rural areas across the country.

Ten years ago, Peconic Bay sponsored a program on human trafficking. The speaker was Pat Latona, a Zonta International representative to the United Nations and member of the UN Committee to Stop Trafficking in Persons. (Click here to learn about Latona’s presentation in 2015.)

Pat Latona takes questions after her presentation
on human trafficking in 2015.

Here’s what Latona has to say about human trafficking today. “As the world shrinks the horrific crime of human trafficking expands. Traffickers have readily leveraged the proliferation of modern technology and financial systems to maximize profits and reduce the risk of detection. According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, sexual exploitation accounts for 50 percent of detected victims and 23 percent of forced labor victims.”

She continues, “One of the more heinous forms of exploitation is child sex trafficking, now on the rise. It begins when traffickers gain easy access to gaming platforms, social media platforms and other digital spaces where children and teens congregate. And it is here the 'grooming' begins. Traffickers methodically gain the teen or child’s trust, creating a friendly relationship which becomes romantic and then sexual. The child or teen is now 'groomed' to share intimate pictures which the groomer uses to exhort more to blackmail the child and in many cases distributes them on hosting sites.”

The consequences to these children who have been victimized is profound, says Latona. She adds, “As this exploitation increasingly develops it is crucial that children, teens, parents, educators and caregivers be made aware of the tools and techniques used by perpetrators in order to spot the signs early on and intercept immediately. It is also crucial that online platforms that host children are held accountable.”

Human Trafficking National Hotline: 888.373.7888