Top 5 Industries using Forced Labor

Approximately 24 million people trafficked for labor are in bondage, working in an industry in which they receive little to no pay. In 2016, the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimated that 40.3 million people are enslaved across the world. Accordingly, roughly more than half of all people stuck in modern-day slavery are victims of labor trafficking. Many cases of forced labor exist within the agricultural, domestic work, factories, clubs, and hospitality arenas. Let’s take a look at these industries:

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Cultural barriers present in human trafficking

As advocates, we care deeply about the men and women who are trapped, abused and exploited within the sex trafficking industry. This passion is such a wonderful thing, but it can also be blinding. Often, when we try to help people in extreme circumstances such as this, we forget to take any other situational factors into consideration. One of the most important factors we should take into consideration when attempting to help sex trafficking victims is cultural context.

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Who is at risk for sex trafficking?

What makes someone more at-risk of falling victim to sex trafficking than others? Knowing the vulnerabilities of people who are exploited through sex trafficking can drastically lower the number of those who are impacted by this awful epidemic. There are no definite criteria that automatically make someone more at-risk, but there are a few factors that play a part in increasing one’s vulnerability to sex trafficking.

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We Can Take Action to #FreeCyntoiaBrown. Here's How.

Chances are, you’ve heard the name Cyntoia Brown in the last year. With the help of celebrity buzz from Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, LeBron James and others, public awareness about an old yet seemingly unjust court case has sparked a social media movement crying for justice for Cyntoia. The 2004 trial that sentenced 16 year old Cyntoia to life in prison has people outraged, and rightly so. Here is everything you need to know about trafficking victim Cyntoia Brown, and what you can do to advocate for her early release.


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How does ethical fashion play into human trafficking?

Fast fashion describes the rapid movement of inexpensive garments from the runway to the store in order to keep up with trends. It stocks stores with beautiful, on-trend items that are hard to say “no” to because of their low prices. But would we consider thinking twice before buying if we knew how that garment was made? If we were to meet the man or woman who made that article of clothing, talked to them about their salary or working conditions, and put ourselves in their shoes - would the $10 skirt be worth it?

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The Overlooked Areas where Modern Slavery Exists

There are many incredible organizations involved in the global fight against human trafficking and all forms of modern slavery. Recently I had the privilege of attending a presentation by Bradley Myles, CEO of Polaris Project, titled, The Typology of Modern Slavery.’ Myles highlighted 25 different types of human trafficking based on the data collected from their hotline for our Southwest Florida community of service providers - and it was eye opening. It’s important as advocates to constantly be educating ourselves about the different realities of trafficking so we can be more effective at combating them.

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