Observed on January 11th, National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is a day designed to bring attention to the reality of human trafficking both in the U.S. and globally. Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery, and it’s estimated that up to 40 million people might be trapped by it worldwide. That’s why it’s important for everyone to do everything they can to learn more about human trafficking and to become more active in helping the government create policies that combat human trafficking in the U.S.

The History of National Human Trafficking Awareness Day

This day was established after the United States Senate designated it as a holiday in 2007. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about the prevalence of human trafficking in the country and to debunk some of the many myths that exist around this issue. Charitable organizations also use this day to raise awareness about the need for strong anti-trafficking laws and the need for added funding to support victims of human trafficking.

Facts About Human Trafficking

Below are some of the horrifying facts about human trafficking in the U.S. and worldwide. Human trafficking is one of the biggest problems facing our society today, and everyone should do their part to eliminate it. Before that can be done, however, people need to educate themselves on the subject. The following bullet points should be a good start for most people.

• Only about 0.04% of human trafficking cases are identified.
• Human trafficking has global profits of over $150 billion a year, the majority of which comes from sexual exploitation.
• It’s estimated that 50,000 people from the Philippines and Mexico are trafficked into the U.S. each year.
• The average age a teen enters the sex trade in the United States is 12 years old. Many of them were runaways swept up by human traffickers.
• Approximately 71% of enslaved people in the world are women and/or girls. Less than 30% are boys.
• Anywhere from 100,000 to 300,000 U.S. children are commercially sexually exploited.

Observing National Human Trafficking Awareness Day

People wanting to get involved with solving the problem of human trafficking in the U.S. can do so by joining organizations such as the 31:8 Project—an organization that seeks to address issues facing human trafficking. They can also write to their legislators and tell them of the need for policies combating human trafficking to be established. People can also help to improve awareness about human trafficking in their own communities.

Anyone who suspects that someone is a victim of human trafficking can call 911 to report it to law enforcement or call the National Human Trafficking Hotline. The only way that we’re going to end human trafficking in the U.S. is by being proactive about it.