Human trafficking is the second largest criminal industry in the world, and a crime which could easily be occurring in your neighbourhood without your knowledge.
People frequently think of human trafficking in terms of the sex trade, and indeed many women and children are traded and sexually exploited by traffickers. However other victims are also trafficked to work in legitimate industries such as domestic help or restaurants and cafes. Whatever industry is involved, human trafficking is modern day slavery, in which people are exploited and used as commodities for a trafficker’s profit.
Data previously collected estimates that 25% of human trafficking victims were in Texas, with Houston a major hub for traffickers, due in large part to its proximity to the border with Mexico, diverse population and the variety of labor available here.
Encouragingly, Texas has been quick to recognize this problem and Houstonians eager to report instances of child trafficking. In 2003 Texas was the first US state to pass anti- trafficking legislation. Meanwhile, at a local level, in the last quarter of 2007 30% of all calls to the National Human Trafficking Hotline were from Texas, with the majority of these being from Houston. Such calls can help agencies such as the Human Trafficking Assistance Program to identify and assist victims of this crime.
If you encounter someone in your neighborhood or in a place of business that appears not to be free to come and go as they wish, appears to be paid little or nothing, works excessively long hours and is subject to unusual restrictions or security measures, you could be encountering a victim of trafficking. To report what you have seen, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline on 1-888-3737-888 and you will be playing your part in ensuring that human trafficking is a crime that is not allowed to flourish in Houston.
For more information see - www.polarisproject.org/content/view/90/95/
Comments
How about having a local hotline that people can call and give tips to about trafficking and sex slavery in Houston? If callers can stay anonymous, it can lead to the arrest of many pimps and traffickers. Also, if the women and victims of it are immune from prosecution that would lead to more tips coming in and less fear on their part of being arrested themselves. Many people don't report trafficking because of fear of getting hurt by the criminals. If they could report these crimes without fear, it would lead to more arrests.
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