Human Trafficking: The Facts and How to Help

Human trafficking is closer than you think, the film ‘Sound of Freedom’ opens the pandora’s box by raising awareness to the general public of a dark, underground $150 billion dollar industry. This incredible true story is about federal agent Tim Ballard, played by Jim Caviezel, who quit his job and put his life on the line to rescue trafficked children from sexual exploitation, this has been tastefully done and brings light to this heinous activity. Seeing the film is the first step in spreading awareness about child trafficking, see the trailer above and more information can be found here: Visit angel.com/blog/sound-of-freedom to read more about how you can join the fight to end child trafficking. Please support the movement, the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is that good men stand by and do nothing, be the voice of those who have none.

“It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” ~ Luke 17:2

What is human trafficking?

Human trafficking is a nefarious practice that many thought had been abolished years ago. However, slavery is alive and kicking in the 21^st century and is the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world, it is big business worth $150 billion dollars! It covers an array of ways to exploit another human being for profit, whether it be slave labor, sex slavery, organ harvesting or drug trafficking, the list goes on and gets darker.

There are 27 million enslaved, 7 million of them children and increasing. So many of us aren’t aware of how wide spread this issue is, because it’s not at the forefront of the media, and we think it doesn’t happen where we live. But this is the closet crime that is exploding and rising all around us at astronomical rates. There are more people enslaved today than any time in history, even when it was legal!

Where is this taking place?

The subject matter is too dark for polite conversation, but burying your head in the sand won’t make it go away. This evil is prevalent worldwide and according to the charity organization ‘save the children’ statistics, children make up 27% of all human trafficking victims worldwide, and two out of every three identified child victims are girls. The United States is the largest consumer of child rape videos and one of the largest producers worldwide.

MYTH: Traffickers target victims they don’t know

FACT: Even though this is true, a majority of the time, victims are trafficked by someone they know, such as a friend, family member, family friend, a person esteemed in the local community or a romantic partner.

MYTH: Only girls and women are victims of human trafficking

FACT: Boys and men are just as likely to be victims of human trafficking as girls and women. However, they are less likely to be identified and reported. Girls and boys are often subject to different types of trafficking, for instance, girls may be trafficked for forced marriage and sexual exploitation, boys for sexual exploitation also, but more likely to be trafficked for forced labor or recruitment into armed groups.

MYTH: All human trafficking involves sex or prostitution

FACT: Human trafficking can include forced labor, domestic servitude, organ trafficking, debt bondage, recruitment of children as child soldiers, and/or sex trafficking and forced prostitution.

MYTH: Trafficking involves traveling, transporting or moving a person across borders

FACT: Human trafficking is not the same thing as smuggling, which are two terms that are commonly confused. Trafficking does not always require movement across borders. In fact, in some cases, a child could be trafficked and exploited from their own home or community. In the U.S., trafficking most frequently occurs at hotels, motels, truck stops and online.

MYTH: People being trafficked are physically unable to leave or held against their will

FACT: Trafficking can involve force, but people can also be trafficked through threats, coercion, or deception. People in trafficking situations can be controlled through drug addiction, violent relationships, manipulation, lack of financial independence, or isolation from family or friends, in addition to physical restraint or harm.

MYTH: Trafficking primarily occurs in developing countries

FACT: Trafficking occurs all over the world, though the most common forms of trafficking can differ by country. The United States is one of the most active sex trafficking countries in the world, where exploitation of trafficking victims occurs in cities, suburban and rural areas. Labor trafficking occurs in the U.S., but at lower rates than most developing countries.

DO YOU SUSPECT SOMEONE IS BEING TRAFFICKED?

Spot The Signs

Identifying trafficking is the first step to stopping it. Understanding the signs to look out for could help the most vulnerable people within your community.

Significant Signs

Stop the traffic organisation Stop the traffic states, that there are a number of signs that are common across all types of exploitation. Including, if a person:

acts as if instructed by another, as though they are forced or coerced to carry out specific activities
demonstrates signs of physical or psychological abuse, such as lacking self esteem, seeming anxious, bruising or untreated medical conditions
seems to be bonded by debt or has money deducted from their salary
has little or no contact with family or loved ones
is distrustful of authorities
has threats made against themselves or family members
is not in possession of their own legal documents

SAVE THE CHILDREN: If you suspect someone is a victim of trafficking, contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-800-373-7888. The confidential hotline is open 24 hours a day, every day, and helps identify, protect and serve victims of trafficking.

Stop the traffic: Spot the signs – STOP THE TRAFFIK

Identifying trafficking is the first step to stopping it. Understanding the signs to look out for could help the most vulnerable people within your community.

Specific Signs

Many of the main types of exploitation have significant signs that are specific to them.

NSPCC: Report child trafficking What You Need to Know About Child Trafficking | NSPCC

Children who are trafficked are intentionally hidden and isolated from the services and communities who can identify and protect them. If you’re worried about a child, you can take steps to keep them safe.

If you think a child or young person is in danger, contact the police on 999.
Contact your local child protection services. You can find their contact details on the website for the local authority the child lives in.
Contact the Modern Slavery Helpline to get help, report a suspicion or seek advice. Call 0800 012 1700 or fill in their online form.

Living in the end times

We live in a fallen world with entitled individuals who think they have a right to do what they want, when they want and to whomever they want without accountability. There has been a major attack on our children from every side because they are the new generation that is supposed to be an arrow in the bow for God’s Kingdom and this attack starts in the womb. (I will do a separate article on this important subject). It’s easy to become discouraged when we focus on the news today, but there is goodness and hope in a broken world, look to God’s promises and don’t be mere hearers, but doers of the Word. There are many brave heroic individuals who are have been doing just that, and one walking in their calling is a man called Tim Ballard, a former special agent and undercover operator for the Department of Homeland Security and also former CIA, shares what we need to know about child trafficking. He’s an abolitionist, NGO specialist, activist and philanthropist, and is the founder and president of O.U.R. Rescue that rescues children from child sex trafficking and sexual exploitation and has assisted in the arrested of thousands of predators.

Quotes

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” -John 16:33 (ESV)

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” -Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” -Romans 15:13 (ESV)

Here are a few ideas on how to be a light in your sphere of influence:

Start and end your day reading the Word of God.
Memorize God’s promises.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
Love your neighbor.
Pray for people in your life.
Pray for the world. Pray for our leaders.
Pray for people who are oppressed.
Share God’s love with others.
Give to those in need.
Get involved in meeting a need.
Show acts of kindness.
Encourage those who are discouraged.
Give the gift of love, peace, gentleness, patience, grace, kindness. (navigators.org)

How to get involved?

Please start by watching and supporting the film the sound of Freedom, there are numerous ways to support the individuals on the front line, but to get a flavor of what’s going on, I urge you to watch sound of freedom, it’s a dark subject matter that has been tastefully done, but punches you right in your stomach and at the end of the film, you can either choose to bury your head in the sand or stand up and do something about it.

Support the non-profit organisations fighting human trafficking:

Destiny Rescue: Destiny Rescue

All Things Possible: https://victormarx.com/trafficking-solutions/

Child Liberation Foundation: Child Liberation Foundation

Stop the Traffik: Spot the signs – STOP THE TRAFFIK

The Nazarene Fund: Home – The Nazarene Fund

Save Our Children: Save the Children UK | International Children’s Charity

NSPCC: What You Need to Know About Child Trafficking | NSPCC

Relevant articles:

Child Safety Online

5 Ways Your Kids Are Under Spiritual Attack

6 Reasons Why Sexual Predators Target Churches