Top 10 things you can do to end human trafficking, a hidden crime

Every year, millions of people across the globe become a victim of human trafficking. The criminal practice involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of labour or commercial sex act. It can happen in any community and victims can be of any age.

Human traffickers might use violence, manipulation, false promises of lucrative jobs or romantic relationships to lure victims into trafficking situations. Language barriers and/or fear of their traffickers frequently keep victims from seeking help.

Traffickers look for easy targets. They seek people facing psychological or emotional vulnerability, political instability, natural disasters, economic hardship or lack of a social safety net. The trauma caused can be so great that many victims may not ask for help.

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10 things you can do to stop human trafficking

1. Pay attention to facts

Find out the methods human traffickers resort to in your country. Be alert to situations the people around you may be experiencing.

2. Be there for people at risk

You could be the friend or mentor needed by a young person, an immigrant or someone else in your community. Human traffickers usually seek people facing a difficult situation, lacking resources to meet their requirements or missing important social connections.

3. Take action

Locate local anti-trafficking organisations and ask them if there is anything you can help at. There is a high chance of them needing volunteers or resources.

4. Think before you make a purchase

Find out the source of the things you buy. Ensure the goods you are purchasing have not been produced by child or forced labour.

5. Responsible journalism is immensely important

The media plays a significant role in guiding the public conversation about human trafficking. If you are a journalist, ensure you responsibly report stories on the situation.

6. Pay attention, attorneys

If you are an attorney, don’t be reluctant to offer human trafficking victims legal services, including support for those in need of benefits or special immigration status.

7. Free or affordable healthcare services

If you are a healthcare provider, learn to identify the indicators of human trafficking and assist victims. Take help from local anti-trafficking organisations and the Department of Health in your country to extend affordable or free services to human trafficking survivors.

8. College students, take action

If you are a college student, start taking action on your campus. Join or establish a university club to raise awareness about human trafficking. Request that human trafficking be included in your curriculum and consider doing one of your research papers on it.

9. Employment for trafficking survivors

Businesses should provide jobs, internships, skills training and other opportunities to the victims. They should also investigate and prevent trafficking in their supply chains.

10. Pay attention, parents and caregivers

If you are a parent or a caregiver, be familiar to information on methods human traffickers often use to target and recruit youth to protect the young ones from dangerous situations.