Kevin [Content Notice: Today’s post talks about human trafficking, in the context of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2024. If this is something you’re not in the headspace to hear about, I encourage you to give this post a miss, and go check out some of my other stuff instead. We can kick it together some other time. Deal? If you decide to move forward w/ this post, and it brings up some difficult feelings for you, reach out to the peeps at the Crisis Text Line. On that note, if you or someone you know is being trafficked, or was in the past, reach out to the peeps at the National Human Trafficking Hotline.]
When I say ‘human trafficking,’ what comes up for you? Is it the stuff we see on TV in shows like Law and Order SVU or whatever? Or is it something else? Today, we’re recognizing World Day Against Trafficking in Human Persons 2024, and the theme for this year is “Leave No Child Behind.” Despite the theme for this year mentioning children, it’s important to remember that anyone of any age, gender, social status, and identity can become a victim of human trafficking.
This shyt doesn’t care who someone is, or how they identify.
Human trafficking is unfortunately nothing new, and it’s also a better term for what’s commonly referred to as slavery. When you really think about it, how can the transatlantic slave trade be anything but human trafficking? This post talks about the multitude of parallels between the transatlantic slave trade, and the human trafficking of today’s world.
Going off of this as a historical example, nobody was safe from the reaches of traffickers from the so-called “new world,” as well as those from other countries. This included men, women, and children of all ages, just as the human trafficking that happens in contemporary 21st century times does.
Even though this post is from 2021, it highlights the systemic racial inequities, as well as the worldviews that serve to reinforce these beliefs and help fuel human trafficking. At the same time, these worldviews play a huge role in why human trafficking survivors who identify as a member of the global majority, or any other shared identity often go unheard, ignored, and sidelined in favor of survivors that match what’s considered the ‘default.’
One of the quotes mentions the vulnerability that goes along w/ shared identities, and the unfair treatment they often get when they’re in shitty places in life. It ties in w/ the concept of “Missing White Woman Syndrome,” and even though it’s always sad when someone goes missing regardless of identity, this is what we hear about in the news.
In the next breath, we rarely hear a peep about someone who identifies as a part of the global majority or any other shared identity.
Based off of this, I believe this is a part of why human trafficking is more prevalent than what the statistics indicate. I also can’t help but wonder just how many of the kids listed on the NCMEC website are trafficked. The sobering, and horrifying statistic quoted on Black Girl Nerds talks about how even though Black women comprise of up to 40% of sex trafficking survivors, Black youth under 18 have a rate of 51% of arrests related to prostitution.
These kids can’t legally consent, no matter what anyone says, so that means they’re child abuse victims and survivors.
This year, the theme is “Leave No Child Behind.” The UN states that worldwide, 1 out of every 3 victims of human trafficking is a child. In addition, a child who falls victim to the hands of traffickers is more likely to endure violence during their ordeal.
The UN site touches on this, but traffickers search high and low for victims. They know kids will do stupid shyt like access websites meant for adults, like certain dating sites for instance. Many of these sites say they’re for those of legal age, but kids will find ways around it and gain access to these sites. Traffickers and other predatory dickbags will take hardcore advantage of these kids like the creeps they are, and since they know the kids are doing something they’re not supposed to be doing, it’s just one more piece of artillery they have to use against their potential victims.
This is never the kid’s fault, never, under any circumstances. Kids don’t know any better, even if they think otherwise, and insist otherwise. As adults, it’s our responsibility to safeguard em, and also demand better checks and balances from these sites in the first place.
So, what can we do to help fight this?
To go off of our responsibility to safeguard the most vulnerable among us against human traffickers and the ones who help create the demand in the first place, the US Department of State has a list of ways we can join the fight against human trafficking, both at the grassroots level, and on a larger scale. This includes following new developments in the news from trustworthy sources, like the Freedom Project by CNN, set up in 2018.
Companies can also help in the fight, by introducing trauma-informed practices and standards, by hiring survivors of human trafficking, and by utilizing responsible sourcing methods in their supply chains.
On a more personal note, another way we can help shift this world toward a trafficking-free global society is by listening to the stories of survivors, and believing those stories. Over to you, readers. How are you gonna honor this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2024? I’d love to hear your thoughts and takeaways, so drop it all like it’s hot, and let’s talk.
In closing, if this is something that’s happened to you or someone you know, or if, like me, you’ve probably come close to it, I want you to know that I’m sorry this happened to you. You didn’t deserve to be subjected to any of it, and you deserved better. I hear you, I see you, and you matter to me.
