The Womens Conference

Human Trafficking Awareness Day

01/11/10 | The Women's Conference | 3 Comments

Slavery persists in the United States today, almost 150 years after the Thirteenth Amendment outlawed it. Modern day slavery, or human trafficking, takes many forms. From forced prostitution to forced domestic labor, the majority of people trafficked are women and children.

In 2007 the U.S. Senate designated January 11th as a National Day of Human Trafficking Awareness in an effort to raise consciousness about the problem. As Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who proclaimed that January 11th is Human Trafficking Awareness Day in California, remarks, “Our own vigilance is crucial to rescuing those held captive.”

The facts:

• 50,000 people are trafficked across the U.S. borders annually, according to CIA estimates. 
• The U.S., Japan and Australia are the three countries that receive the most victims of human trafficking.  In the U.S., California is one of the most common destinations for those victims.
• Easy access to international borders, numerous ports and airports and large immigrant populations make California, Florida, New York, Nevada and Ohio prime destinations for trafficked persons.
• Los Angeles is one of the top three entry points into the U.S. for human trafficking because of its diverse communities and extensive geography, which make it easy to hide and move victims of human trafficking. In Los Angeles alone 10,000 women are in forced prostitution, according to immigration agents.

What you can do

• Educate yourself and your community about human trafficking. 
• Encourage the men in your life to join The Defenders USA, recognizing that pornography and prostitution often prey on victims of human trafficking.
• If you witness suspicious activity, contact your local law enforcement agency.
• Become involved with agencies such as Shared Hope International (SHI) and CAST, which raise awareness about and fight against human slavery and trafficking.

Grow your awareness throughout this month. On January 4, 2010 President Barack Obama proclaimed that January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.