Skip to main content

Faith in the Worth of People: Human Trafficking at Home and Abroad

It is difficult to pinpoint the number of lives affected by human trafficking—these are often hidden crimes, frequently targeting the vulnerable—women, children, the poor, the addicted. Though estimations vary, the Global Slavery Index estimates that as of 2016, roughly 45.8 million men, women, and children are caught in a modern slavery situation. This broad term encompasses human trafficking, forced labor, forced marriage, the exploitation of children and debt bondage. Topping the list of nations affected are a number of African nations -- Uzbekistan, Haiti, Qatar, and India. In the United States, almost 60,000 individuals are enslaved. Of those enslaved, the United Nations has estimated that globally more than 2.4 million people, predominantly women and girls, are victims of human trafficking.

The Baptist community is making strides in the fight to stop human trafficking here in the United States, providing assistance to women exploited by human trafficking. They train individuals to assist exploited women and work with their network of ministries in prevention, intervention, and aftercare. Other organizations provide assistance to human trafficking victims by helping them escape and begin new lives.

Faith-based organizations are acting to put an end to human trafficking abroad. Over one million children enter the sex trade each year—this amounts to a massive loss of innocence and childhood throughout the world. In Cambodia, the tragedy of child sex trafficking is acutely felt, with hundreds of thousands of children affected. One California-based mission provides assistance, aftercare and rehabilitation to victims of sex trafficking through their recovery home. On the front end, to prevent trafficking, they also founded a community center based in Cambodia to provide healthcare, education, and a safe place for Cambodian children to go. Instead of being bartered for the sex trade, Cambodian children have opportunities to learn, grow, and obtain careers to take care of themselves and their families.

The Baptist community is making strides in the fight to stop human trafficking here in the United States, providing assistance to women exploited by human trafficking. They train individuals to assist exploited women and work with their network of ministries in prevention, intervention, and aftercare. Other organizations provide assistance to human trafficking victims by helping them escape and begin new lives. They help victims get physical care and reunite with their families, in addition to educating and promoting awareness of the horrors of human trafficking to their communities. Though the atrocity of human trafficking is largely kept hidden, with many Americans believing it does not touch the United States, local congregations are supporting victims in a huge way, helping to educate Americans and end the cycle.