An estimated 27 million people around the world are exploited for labor, services, and commercial sex, according to the State Department’s 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report.
Understanding Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is modern-day slavery, where traffickers exploit and profit by compelling adults or children to perform labor or engage in commercial sex.
The United States recognizes two primary forms of human trafficking: forced labor and sex trafficking.
- Sex trafficking: victims are forced, frauded, or coerced against their will to engage in sex acts for someone’s financial gain.
- Forced labor: victims are forced, frauded, or coerced against their will to work for little or no pay.
Types of Human Trafficking
Not all human trafficking is easily identifiable. Globally and in the U.S., human trafficking crimes can include:
Forced Labor
Forced Labor, sometimes also referred to as labor trafficking, uses force, fraud, or coercion to exploit the labor or services of another person.
Domestic Servitude
A form of forced labor is domestic servitude, where victims are forced to work in a private residence for little or no pay. Domestic workers are often isolated and may work alone in a private residence where employers often control access to food, transportation, and housing. Foreign domestic workers are particularly vulnerable to domestic servitude due to language and cultural barriers, as well as a lack of community ties.
Forced Child Labor
Traffickers often target children because they are more vulnerable. Forms of child labor, including the sale of children, forced child labor, and debt bondage and serfdom of children, continue to exist. Although some children may legally engage in certain forms of work, it is illegal to force or coerce children to work. Signs of forced labor of a child include situations in which the child appears to be in the custody of a non-family member, and the child’s work financially benefits someone outside the child’s family. Other indicators include denying a working child food, rest, or schooling.
Sex Trafficking
Sex trafficking encompasses a range of activities when a trafficker uses force, fraud, or coercion to compel another person to engage in a commercial sex act or any situation when forcing a child to engage in a commercial sex act.
Child Soldiers
When a government or any non-state armed group unlawfully recruits or uses children as soldiers or for labor or services in conflict situations. Child soldiers often experience sexual slavery when armed groups force or coerce children to “marry” or engage in sex acts with commanders or combatants. Both male and female children are often sexually abused or exploited by members of armed groups.
Trafficking in Persons for the Purpose of Organ Removal
A smaller percentage of human trafficking victims are trafficked for the purpose of organ removal. Experts believe this form of trafficking may be growing. It is ultimately a crime that exploits human beings for economic profit.
The crime is sometimes confused with organ trafficking; however, organ trafficking refers more broadly to the illicit trade or exchange of organs for financial or other material gain.
- In organ trafficking, the focus is on the organ itself.
- In trafficking in persons for the purpose of organ removal, the focus is on the individual.
Often, in cases of trafficking in persons for the purpose of organ removal, would-be donors are tricked into organ donation. Common deceptions include being told human beings have three kidneys, that kidneys regenerate after being removed, or being falsely told they will experience no negative side effects from a kidney removal. Victims may not be paid at all, or they may receive some payment. An individual can still be a victim of trafficking in persons or other human rights abuses even if they receive some form of payment.
Forced Criminality
Traffickers also exploit many victims in forced criminality. Organized crime groups, including gangs and illegal armed groups, exploit girls in child sex trafficking, force children into street begging, forcibly recruit or use child soldiers, and coerce and threaten young men and women to transport drugs, commit extortion, act as lookouts, or commit acts of violence, including murder. Organized crime groups target groups of migrants unable to enter a country due to border restrictions or awaiting asylum decisions, including at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Human Trafficking Risk Factors
Human trafficking can happen to anyone. Victims can be of any age, race, gender identity, sex, ethnicity, nationality, immigration status, and socioeconomic class.
Some populations are at a higher risk for human trafficking. Factors that lead to an increased risk of trafficking include:
- history of abuse and neglect
- social disconnection
- social stigma and exclusion.
The Office of Victims of Crime identified the most vulnerable populations for human tracking as LGBTQ+ individuals, persons with disabilities, undocumented immigrants, runaways and unhoused youth, foster youth, children with a history of abuse, and low-income individuals.
Underserved populations and marginalized groups recognized as at high risk of trafficking include:
Indigenous People
In a National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center study of four sites in the United States and Canada, Native Americans represented 40% of those trafficked, even though they accounted for only 10 percent of the population in those areas. Indigenous people, including American Indians/Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, are at a higher risk of human trafficking than other diverse populations because of racism and the historical mistreatment of these marginalized communities.
Persons with Disabilities
Persons with disabilities represent one in four adults in the United States. In addition to sex or labor trafficking, persons with disabilities are often targeted for theft of social security and disability benefits. These individuals may rely on others to meet their basic needs, and caregivers may exploit the dependency. Other risk factors for people with disabilities are being sheltered or isolated and craving friendship and human connection; having difficulty with communication or speech; being desensitized to inappropriate touching because of isolation; lacking informed sex education or medical or intimate care related to their disability; and fearing that they will not be believed because of the social discrimination and prejudice.
Undocumented Immigrants
Traffickers often target undocumented immigrants who are often targeted because traffickers know they are less likely than legal residents to speak English, know their rights in the United States, or seek help for fear of deportation.
Unhoused and Financially Vulnerable
Research supports an association between running away from home and foster care with an increased vulnerability to sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
According to the National Network for Youth, one in five runaways and unhoused youth are victims of human trafficking. These youth may lack basic needs, such as a safe place to sleep. They also are more likely to be victims of childhood trauma, such as abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect.
According to the United Way, finances are used as a means of control to prolong the exploitation. Human traffickers often prey on the financially vulnerable, such as those living in poverty, unemployed, underemployed, or homeless. Financially vulnerable victims may struggle to meet basic needs, such as food, shelter, or healthcare, and are targeted with offers of meeting their basic needs in exchange for labor or sex.
Foster Care
The National Foster Youth Institute recently estimated that 60% of child sex trafficking victims have been in foster care (or another part of the larger child welfare system).
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) estimates that 19% of children and youth who ran away from foster care likely experienced sex trafficking.
Victims of Child Abuse and Neglect
Those who have experienced multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are at greater risk of trafficking. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse are at particularly high risk for sex trafficking.
ACEs that can increase the risk of human trafficking include
- Childhood abuse, including physical, mental, and sexual abuse.
- Neglect: physical and emotional.
- Household dysfunction: divorce, incarcerated relatives, mental illness, substance abuse, and interpersonal violence.
- Expanded ACEs, whereby the expanded ACEs: exposure to bullying, community violence, neighborhood safety, racism, and living in foster care.
Help End Human Trafficking
If you are in the United States and believe someone may be a victim of human trafficking, call the 24-hour National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or report an emergency to law enforcement by calling 911.
The US Department of State recommends ways you can help #EndHumanTrafficking, including:
- Understand the complexities, risks, and signs of human trafficking.
- Become a mentor to a young person or someone in need. Traffickers often target people who are going through a difficult time or who lack strong support systems. As a mentor, you can be involved in new and positive experiences in that person’s life during a formative time.
- Parents and Caregivers: Learn how human traffickers often target and recruit youth and who to turn to for help in potentially dangerous situations. Host community conversations with parent teacher associations, law enforcement, schools, and community members regarding safeguarding children in your community.
- Youth: Learn how to recognize traffickers' recruitment tactics, how to safely navigate out of suspicious or uncomfortable situations, and how to reach out for help at any time.
- Businesses: Provide jobs, internships, skills training, and other opportunities to trafficking survivors. Take steps to investigate and prevent trafficking in your supply chains by consulting the Responsible Sourcing Tool and Comply Chain to develop effective management systems to detect, prevent, and combat human trafficking.
- Health Care Providers: Learn how to identify the indicators of human trafficking and assist victims. With assistance from local anti-trafficking organizations, extend low-cost or free services to human trafficking victims.
A history of childhood abuse and neglect can increase the risk of human trafficking. Know the signs of abuse and report it. Find child abuse prevention training at MandatedReporterTraining.com.