Though National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month has ended, Pope Francis, the FBI and the NFL continue to draw attention to this insidious societal problem. But every citizen, business and organization can do more to alleviate this global crisis throughout the year.
Human trafficking is estimated to be a $150 billion industry that profits from 25 million victims worldwide, according to the International Labour Organization. More than 100,000 children are sold for sex in the U.S. each year. Eighty-three percent of sex trafficking victims in the U.S. are U.S. citizens, according to the Polaris 2019 Report.
As a licensed counselor, researcher on domestic abuse and participant in domestic violence committees, including Illinois Religious Women Against Human Trafficking, I see the critical importance of awareness and prevention.
Pope Francis recently wrote in the preface of an autobiography of a trafficking victim:
“Since there are countless young women, victims of trafficking, who end up on the streets of our cities, how much does this reprehensible reality derive from the fact that many men, here, require these ‘services’ and show themselves willing to buy another person, annihilating her in her inalienable dignity?”
Supporting the pope’s vision through advocacy are Alliance to End Human Trafficking, among many others. They support human trafficking survivors through direct services such as providing shelter, counseling, spiritual support, job placement and educational scholarships.
The upcoming Super Bowl in Tampa will highlight the efforts of the NFL to grapple with human trafficking. Prominent athletes support the It’s A Penalty campaign that has played a role in eight major sporting events. Together with its partners, the organization has facilitated the rescue of almost 17,000 victims of trafficking and exploitation and prevented thousands more from becoming victims.Pope Francis, Superbowl
Ingawa mwezi wa kitaifa wa kuzuia utumwa na biashara ya binadamu umekwisha, Papa Francis, FBI na NFL wanaendelea kuvutia umakini kwa tatizo hili la kijamii la hila. Lakini kila raia, biashara na shirika linaweza kufanya zaidi kupunguza mgogoro huu wa kimataifa mwaka mzima. Uhamiaji wa binadamu ni biashara ya dola bilioni 150 inayozalisha faida kutoka kwa waathirika milioni 25 ulimwenguni kote, kulingana na Shirika la Kazi la Kimataifa. Zaidi ya watoto 100,000 huuzwa kwa ajili ya ngono nchini Marekani kila mwaka. Asilimia 83 ya waathirika wa biashara ya ngono nchini Marekani ni raia wa Marekani, kulingana na ripoti ya Polaris ya 2019. Kama mshauri wa leseni, mtafiti wa unyanyasaji wa nyumbani na mshiriki katika kamati za unyanyasaji wa nyumbani, pamoja na Wanawake wa Kidini wa Illinois dhidi ya Uuzaji wa Binadamu, naona umuhimu muhimu wa ufahamu na kuzuia. "Papa Francisko aliandika hivi karibuni katika utangulizi wa kitabu chake cha autobiography cha mhasiriwa wa biashara ya binadamu: ""Kwa kuwa kuna wanawake wengi vijana, waathirika wa biashara ya binadamu, ambao wanamalizika katika barabara za miji yetu, ni kiasi gani ukweli huu wa kukataliwa unatokana na ukweli kwamba wanaume wengi hapa wanahitaji huduma hizi na wanaonyesha nia ya kununua mtu mwingine, wakimnyang'anya katika heshima yake isiyoweza kuondolewa." Wanaunga mkono waathirika wa biashara ya binadamu kupitia huduma za moja kwa moja kama vile kutoa makazi, ushauri, msaada wa kiroho, uwekaji wa kazi na udhamini wa elimu. Mashindano ya Super Bowl ya mwaka huu ya Tampa, Florida, yanaonyesha jinsi NFL inavyojitahidi kupambana na biashara haramu ya binadamu. Wanariadha mashuhuri huunga mkono kampeni ya It's A Penalty ambayo imecheza jukumu katika matukio manane makubwa ya michezo. Pamoja na washirika wake, shirika hilo limewezesha kuokolewa kwa karibu waathirika 17,000 wa biashara haramu na unyonyaji na kuzuia maelfu zaidi kutoka kuwa waathirika.