It is widely known that human trafficking is a global issue that impacts millions of people every year. Though it’s possible that you could view all human trafficking as simply “forced labor,” the distinctions that exist in each of its currently defined forms are important to understand. The three most prevalent forms of human trafficking are sex trafficking, forced labor, and debt bondage.

Forced labor, also called involuntary servitude, is characterized by coercion, deception, or other nefarious means to force individuals to work against their will. The U.S. Department of State reports this is the largest and most significant form of human trafficking worldwide.

Debt bondage is another form of trafficking in which an individual is forced to work to repay a debt. This type of trafficking often traps victims in this cycle of debt, making it difficult for them to escape.

Sex trafficking is a form of exploitation in which women and children are forced to participate in commercial sex acts. This form of trafficking disproportionately affects women and children and is a significant problem globally. In the United States, any child under 18 who has been involved in a commercial sex act is considered a trafficking victim. According to the latest statistics, women and girls comprise 80% of those trafficked across national borders. Each year, traffickers exploit around 1 million children in the commercial sex trade.

Contrary to popular belief, human trafficking involves more than just young girls and women being forced into prostitution. This is just one aspect of the issue. Human trafficking victims can be men, women, and children and can be exploited through various methods. Some types of labor that victims may be forced into include domestic servitude, agricultural work, manufacturing, janitorial services, hotel services, construction, health and elder care, hair and nail salons, prostitution, and strip club dancing. Some victims are “mail-order” brides who believe they are traveling to a new country for marriage but instead are enslaved. This is not a “one size fits all” crime. This makes detection and prevention even more difficult.

No group is immune to human trafficking. It affects people of all nationalities and ethnicities and can occur in any country, which may be a source, a transit point, or a destination for trafficking. It is a critical issue that requires a global effort to address and eradicate.

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(This post was written with the assistance of ChatGPT and edited for clarity and accuracy. Image generated in Midjourney with the prompt: “children working in horrible conditions, forced into labor, forced labor, factory, 18mm lens, wide angle, 8k, award-winning photography, hyper-realistic, cinematic atmosphere”)