National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is observed on 11th January every year. The day aims to raise awareness about human trafficking and modern slavery. The entire month of January has been observed as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month (NSHTPM). The National Human Trafficking Awareness Day was established by the United States Senate in 2007 to prevent human trafficking in the United States and other countries. It also opposes all the groups and organizations that support or commit human trafficking. 

People have supported the National Human Trafficking Day by working on the frontline to end the human trafficking and giving donations to government-organized events

What is human trafficking?

Human trafficking is considered as a modern form of slavery. It is an illegal practice of exploiting other people for labor, domestic slavery, or commercial sexual activity by force, fraud, or coercion. Generally, traffickers make false promises about job and money to lure victims. 

Human trafficking is the 3rd largest crime industry in the world. People of any race or background can become the victim of human trafficking. According to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), about 2,25,000 people are victims of trafficking in the world.   

What are the different types of Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking can be of different types such as sex trafficking, labor trafficking and trafficking for organ trade.

Sex Trafficking

This is the most prevalent form of trafficking. Women, teenagers and children from developing countries are lured by false promises of job and a better life but they are forced into prostitution. Victims are often transported to other countries and they are forced to work in massage parlors, clubs, brothels and on the street.  

Labor Trafficking 

Victims of labor trafficking are trapped into a cycle of debt and then ultimately forced against their will in slavery. The victims are forced to work in agricultural, mining, restaurants, on construction sites, and as a domestic workers. 

Trafficking for organ trade

In many countries, the victims are forced to give up their organs. In some case, the victims agrees to sell an organ for money but in some cases the organ has been removed without the victim’s knowledge or. Poor people, migrants, homeless people, and uneducated people are at risk to this form of exploitation.  

What is the impact of human trafficking on victims? 

Human trafficking victims suffers sexual abuse and domestic violence which can lead to anxiety, depression, substance abuse, feeling of hatred or disliking, self-isolation and suicidal behavior.

How people can take part in Human Trafficking Awareness Day?

People can start a campaign on social media with #HumanTraffickingAwarenessDay to spread awareness about the human trafficking. They can also donate to an anti-trafficking organization or volunteer for an organization to assist victims of human trafficking.

Project 31:8 organization works with many other groups throughout the United States and world to combating human trafficking. Project 31:8 raise awareness among the people about the human trafficking through presentations, training and webinars.

US Embassy India wrote on twitter “Today, on the National Day of #HumanTrafficking Awareness, we welcome all efforts by the global community to combat human trafficking, including that of NHRC.