Human trafficking is considered a modern-day form of human slavery. According to the United Nations, about 2.4 million men, women and children are trafficked across different countries every year. More than 30 million people have been affected in one way or another by human trafficking. However, there are some myths and misguided opinions people have formed regarding human trafficking. Here are the five most common myths we hope to debunk.
Human Trafficking is Mainly for Labor Exploitation
Back in the 1800s, people were being trafficked across international borders to work in the farms and houses of rich people. This trend has shifted drastically with time to other forms of slavery, such as sexual exploitation, forced marriages and domestic servitude.
According to studies, 80 percent of human trafficking happening today is linked to sexual exploitation. Only 19 percent involves forced labor. Most victims are forced into prostitution while others are compelled to commit sex acts for the purpose of making pornographic films. These statistics reveal why about 50 percent of people being trafficked are women, while 30 percent are children. The average age children enter the sex trade in the U.S. is 12 to 14 years old.
Human Trafficking Happens in Developing Countries Only
People often think that human trafficking happens to individuals who live in developing countries. The truth is that trafficking happens everywhere and in different contexts. It is a problem for both men and women in Europe, North America, Africa, Asia and South America. Enslaved farm workers have been found harvesting corn in Florida and picking berries in California. Young women have been found engaging in prostitution in Atlanta, New York, Maryland, Toledo, Los Angeles and other big cities all over the world. Human trafficking happens everywhere, even in your small town. It does not discriminate on the basis of color, age, gender or religion.
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Human Trafficking and Smuggling People are Synonymous
There is a huge difference between human trafficking and smuggling people. Human trafficking has an element of exploitation while smuggling does not. People who are being smuggled across borders have usually consented. Victims of human trafficking have not consented. In most cases, they are tricked or forced to consent. What follows after smuggling and trafficking is also different. People who are smuggled are often free to do whatever they like after their journey. Those who are trafficked are not free to do whatever they like. Instead, they are forced to work in farms or engage in prostitution for the sake of the traffickers’ profits. The only relationship between smuggling and trafficking is the transactions that usually happen at the end of the journey.
Human Trafficking Only Involves Moving People Across Borders
Trafficking doesn’t necessarily mean a person must be transported from one country to another. What really defines trafficking is the aspect of exploitation and being compelled to do something without consent. Studies show that those in forced labor or sexual slavery are trafficked more in their own countries than across the borders. Any form of exploitation that takes away an individual’s right of consent can be considered trafficking, regardless of whether it happens domestically or across the borders.
Human Trafficking Victims Will Always Seek Help
Most trafficked people do not seek help publicly. This is because they are usually stuck in a circle of self-blame and intense fear. Their traffickers often threaten them with violence in case they decide to speak. Others even threaten to go after their loved ones if they seek help. These are some the key factors that make human trafficking so difficult to handle.
Having facts about human trafficking can help individuals break the cycle of misinformation. This can in turn provide a good platform to tackle human trafficking across the globe.
