It’s no secret that human trafficking is a brutal industry. There are thousands of young women and men being trafficked on a daily basis. While many people think human trafficking happens in developing countries, human trafficking is happening in many countries, including the United States. There are a lot of misconceptions about human trafficking and its victims. To shed light on this horrific industry, we are debunking several myths that most people believe to be true.
Myth 1-. Human trafficking only happens in poor and developing countries. While human trafficking is present in developing countries, a wide number of cases have been reported here in the United States and other developed countries. Human trafficking is a global issue. Whether it’s in the United States, Canada, or a developing country, it is an important issue that needs awareness. This way we can end the fight to stop human trafficking once and for all.
Myth 2- Only young girls are trafficked– When many people think of human trafficking, they think girls are being sold for sex. While this may be true, there is much more to human trafficking than the sexual exploitation of young girls. Young men are also victims of human trafficking. Human trafficking also can include forced labor, slavery, and a wide variety of inhumane practices.
Myth 3- Only convicts and criminals are in the human trafficking industry- Contrary to popular belief, convicts and criminals are not the main culprits of human trafficking. Typically, professionals in high role positions are the primary suspects in human trafficking cases. These professionals usually hold positions such as politicians, youth leaders, corporate CEO’s, executives, and many regular working professionals.
Myth 4- Human trafficking victims are happy to be rescued. This is simply not the case. Some human trafficking victims are anxious, afraid, ashamed, lack trust or were giving specific instructions by their traffickers how to respond to certain officials. This is why they don’t always welcome law enforcement and officials with open arms.
You can help us end human trafficking!
With your help, we can help eradicate human trafficking. It will be no easy feat, but it’s possible! This information can help you be more aware of signs of human trafficking victims as well as the suspects. If you suspect human trafficking is happening in your area, immediately call the Human trafficking hotline at 1-888- 373-7888 and report any suspicious activity. To get more involved on a daily basis and show your support, you can visit https://sherofoundation.org to learn more about how you can help!
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