Human Trafficking

The Need for Awareness of Human Trafficking

– The United Nations estimates that up to 4 million women and children are trafficked around the world for purposes of forced prostitution, labor and other forms of exploitation every year. Human trafficking (sometimes referred to as trafficking in persons, or TIP) is estimated to be a $32 billion dollar annual business. Victims of trafficking are subject to gross human rights violations including, rape, torture, forced abortions, starvation, and threats of torturing or murdering family members.

– Nearly every country is involved in the web of trafficking activities, either as a country of origin, destination or transit. Major destination countries are the most affluent and include Australia, Brazil, France, Israel, Japan, The Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom and the United States. The U. S. State Department (DOS) maintains Trafficking in Persons (TIP) programs through various agencies.

– Traffickers recruit women and children through deceptive means including falsified employment advertisements for domestic workers, waitresses and other low-skilled work. Traffickers include highly sophisticated networks of organized crime.

– Airports and supporting travel hotels are major hubs of entry and exit for perpetrators and victims alike.  Training is needed for airport and travel industry personnel including airport employees, hotel employees, tourism companies, ground transportation and law enforcement. DOS supports such training, but currently does not fund it.

­­Airline Ambassadors International collaborates with Homeland Security and DOS to train airline and travel industry personnel with TIP approved curricula at major airline hubs.