THE ISSUE | chains

AN ISSUE

Human trafficking involves the use coercion, abduction, deception, payment, or threat of force to exploit people. Most of the time (42.5% of it), people are promised a false job. Victims are used for prostitution, forced labour, marriage, criminality, or the removal of organs. However, in a lot of cases, people do not have to be physically removed from their homes to be considered victims (43% of victims are trafficked domestically). Also, victims often feature poor mental and physical health, and lack of control. Only 1% of victims are rescued.

A LOCAL ISSUE

In Mexico, beside children and women, indigenous persons are the most exploited as well as transgender prostitutes. According to the U.S. Department of State, the government of Mexico has not fully met with the minimum standards for eliminating sex trafficking. Victims who report themselves are generally re-trafficked. Furthermore, shelters that are supposed to provide security to victims are inadequate. Two hours from Mexico City, a town called Tenancingo, has been called the “sex trafficking capital of the world” by Business Insider. The town is the largest source of sex slaves going to the United States,

A GLOBAL ISSUE

Human trafficking is one of the three largest criminal activities in the world. Over 20.9 million people are trafficked, while the activity generates $150 billion a year. Although most traffickers are men, there is a large majority of traffickers that are women (37%). As for the victims, most are women (51%), while 28% are children and 21% are men.

YOUR ISSUE

Part of the UNODC’s strategic effort to stop trafficking is to raise awareness, promote capacity building, and strengthen coordination. It has been recommended that organizations fund shelters and specialized victim services, build prevention programs, pressure the government to convict corrupt officials (a lot of them are involved with human trafficking), and ensure the training of special forces to provide effective protection of witnesses and speedy recovery missions. By donating to Stop Art, you would join the effort of prevention, intervention, and restoration.

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