Abstract
Human trafficking is second only to drug trafficking in terms of criminal industry profitability and has a known annual revenue of greater than $100 billion. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem of trafficking by exposing populations to social conditions such as unemployment and poor health outcomes, conditions that render individuals more vulnerable to traffickers. Human trafficking has historically been recognized as a problem exclusively for law enforcement, though modern scholars have increasingly recognized human trafficking as a social justice issue that must involve all facets of society, from governments and healthcare providers to local businesses, in the response. After establishing human trafficking as a social justice issue that requires a collaborative and multi-faceted response, the chapter will lay out an example of how collaborative work, focused on the application of technology, can elevate a response to a complex problem such as human trafficking.
TopBackground
Human trafficking can be detected in nearly every country, including the U.S. In the U.S., human trafficking is detected in every state. The known extent of human trafficking, as defined by the United Nations and the U.S., is described in this section. Challenges in accurately identifying human trafficking are also reviewed. The section concludes with a suggestion to reframe human trafficking into a social justice issue in the U.S., which will allow for a more collaborative, less criminal-justice focused approach to anti-trafficking efforts.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Globalization: The increasing interconnectedness of people across the world.
Human Rights: A term used to describe the inherent rights all humans are entitled to, such as access to housing, education, medical needs, food, etc.
Labor Trafficking: The use of force, fraud, or coercion to keep a human in a job, often without payment and adequate health and safety conditions.
Human Trafficking: The exploitation of people who are involuntarily recruited, transported, or harbored by imposing force, fraud, or coercion.
Sex Trafficking: The commercial sexual exploitation of humans using force, fraud, or coercion, and the commercial sexual exploitation of youth under age 18 with or without force, fraud, or coercion.
Social Justice: A term used to describe the equal treatment of all humans, regardless of sex, gender, religion, sexuality, age, etc.