Modern Day Slavery
Human trafficking is modern-day slavery. The power and control tactics used to enslave a person are similar to those utilized by perpetrators of domestic violence. Traffickers make false promises of love or companionship, promise a good job and home, use violence or threaten violence to control others, deprive the victim of basic necessities such as food, limit the victim’s freedom of movement. In both crimes, the victims live in such a state of fear that they can’t ask for help. Frequently, law enforcement and for that matter, neighbors and whole communities mistake a human trafficking situation for an abusive relationship.
Human trafficking, however, is big business. Millions of people worldwide, mostly women and children, are enslaved in industries demanding cheap labor. According to the Utah Trafficking in Persons Task Force, “human trafficking is $32 billion per year industry, second only to drug trafficking as a transnational crime.”
When we think of human trafficking we tend to think of young girls forced into sex trades. Sex trafficking is in fact a large part of human trafficking. According to US federal law, any minor under the age of 18 who is induced to perform commercial sex acts is a victim of human trafficking, regardless of whether he or she was forced. However, human trafficking can happen in any industry, restaurants, hotels, agriculture and domestic service and in our own communities in Summit and Wasatch Counties.
Peace House services bridge the gap between a fearful existence and a thriving life. Look for us on Mainstreet Friday, January 19 at 3:45 while we shed some lighthearted awareness on what is a global issue, human trafficking.
See below the face of modern slavery.