Human Trafficking is Organized Crime

There are over 27 million victims of human trafficking in the world today. You can sell a drug once. You can sell a person over and over and over again, making this criminal enterprise system one of the most powerful and lucrative on the planet.

“Human trafficking continues to be a global threat driven by organized crime. More and more victims are being trafficked every year, across greater distances, with greater violence, for longer periods of time and for greater profit. Organized criminal networks are driving this victimization and exploitation, using migration flows, global supply chains, legal and economic loopholes and digital platforms to facilitate cross-border trafficking at a massive scale. They profit from forced labour, sexual exploitation and coercion into criminal activities.” United Nations-World Day Against Trafficking In Persons.

The true scale of human trafficking is difficult to determine because it is a hidden crime. Victims are conditioned to protect their traffickers and deflect any attention away from the trafficking enterprise through extreme violence and threats to them personally or their families. Human trafficking is often referred to as "modern-day slavery" due to the exploitation and control traffickers exert over their victims. The vortex of the coercion is nearly impossible to escape.

Human trafficking is a highly profitable criminal activity, generating billions of dollars annually. And much of it happens and remains unnoticed in our communities. If you follow the money, you will always find the corruption. At the center of the corruption is organized crime inflicting unimaginable atrocities on their perceived possessions to be used, abused, and destroyed. This is human trafficking.

Sadly, we have just experienced another episode of power and influence corrupting the understanding of the trauma that victims must endure during the “Diddy” trial. Numerous witnesses were called to the stand to expose the horrific crimes he led against humanity and the result was that survivors were not fully believed. Privilege, power, and control appeared to have the upper hand in the verdict. No wonder survivors are terrified to speak their truth. Without the confidence their day in court would be a positive outcome, after speaking their truth, why? Why would you dare risk what might occur after you speak? This is the reality of human trafficking. It's like they have been raped again in the court of public opinion if they talk.

“We don’t stay silent because we want to. We stay silent because we’ve seen what happens when we speak –the denial, the backlash, the blame. Sometimes silence feels safer than truth in a world that protects power over people.” Jessica Kay, Survivor.

“The jury’s decision to acquit Sean Combs on charges of sex trafficking reflects a deep and troubling misunderstanding of power, control, and coercion. The verdict is a devastating blow to victims and survivors everywhere. Yet it also underscores, with painful clarity that the work to create a world without exploitation is urgent now more than ever. In nearly every case of sex trafficking, moments of brutal violence are deliberately intertwined with moments of affection. Calculated manipulation is one of the most insidious tools traffickers use to dominate and terrorize their victims. We are inspired by the courage of all those who come forward to share their stories. By speaking their truths, survivors shine a bright light on the hidden realities of exploitation and push the conversation forward toward justice and accountability.” World Without Exploitation

Understanding that human trafficking is a powerful organized criminal enterprise, may help us begin to see survivors differently. It is astonishing to comprehend that modern-day slavery still exists in the world today. We have easily admitted that it happens in third world countries and never considered that it happens right here in our neighborhoods.

The crime of human trafficking which includes sex trafficking and labor trafficking has only been recognized as a crime in the last 15 to 20 years. What was it before? It existed – we chose to not recognize it; I believe in part because the sheer destruction it wields is unbelievable. And the enterprise insists on keeping it hidden, counting on no one to look behind the pain, bruises, and fear evident in their victims. Turning a blind eye doesn’t make it go away; it only fuels the ability to sell someone one more time.

So, if we can consider that there are over 27 million modern-day slaves in the world today, kept in fear and isolation, can you imagine the incredible force it would be if they all began to link arms in solidarity? Can you imagine the influence we would have, and potential lives transformed to live free from exploitation, if everyone would begin to see human trafficking as a crime against humanity and join survivors in solidarity?

It’s a fight worth fighting for!