One is too many. Today is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

Human trafficking may not start with violence.

Sometimes it begins with the promise of a job. A better future. A way out of poverty.

July 30 is the United Nations (UN) World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. And this is why we need to mark this day:

• Annually, an estimated 27.6 million people (if not more) are victims of human trafficking.
• More than 28,000 children in the United States alone were possible victims of child sex trafficking.
• The average trafficking situation is approximately 16 months.

Additionally:

• Nearly 50 million people are bought, sold and trapped in modern day slavery.
• Around 71 per cent of trafficking victims are women and girls and 29 per cent are men and boys.
• An estimated 25 per cent of victims are children under the age of 18.

Millions of people are being exploited and pushed into forced labour. Or sexual exploitation. Or other forms of modern slavery.

And through the efforts and support of organizations like World Vision Canada, over 200,000 victims were detected globally between 2020 and 2023.

A start. But a long way to go.

What is human trafficking?

Human trafficking is a human rights crisis and a massive criminal enterprise. Traffickers earn nearly $10,000 USD per victim while forced labour generates more than $236 billion USD annually.

According to World Vision, the definition of human trafficking is:

• …a criminal offense in which victims are moved or placed into slavery or slavery-like situations through the use of force, threats, or deceit, and their human resources forcibly extracted and fundamental human rights denied.

Traffickers exploit vulnerability. People experiencing violence, poverty, hunger, gender inequality and even the impacts of climate change are at greater risk because traffickers prey on desperation, instability and limited opportunities.

Despite what is seen in movies, human trafficking doesn’t always involve violent kidnappings or clandestine operations or crossing international borders.

Something as simple as responding to a scam job ad or accepting what appears to be a legitimate offer of work can open the door for victims to be trafficked.

As a result, more than 58 per cent of detected victims are trafficked within their own country instead of being taken across international borders

Traffickers also prey on people they know or have an existing relationship with. When it comes to human trafficking in Canada, for example:

• Over 90 per cent of trafficking victims knew their trafficker.
• About 34 per cent were trafficked by a current or former intimate partner.
• Only 9 per cent of victims were trafficked by a stranger.

Human trafficking operates as a paradox. It often begins with deception rather than force. With a life-changing promise of work or safety or a better future that’s shrouded in a life-shattering lie.\

It hides in plain sight. It’s widespread, yet invisible.

It happens across town, across the country and across the globe. Many people may encounter victims of trafficking without realizing it.

And understanding how traffickers operate is one of the most powerful ways to protect vulnerable people, recognize the warning signs and help stop exploitation before it begins.

How does human trafficking happen? How are victims recruited?

There is no single path into human trafficking. Traffickers are opportunistic, adapting their tactics to exploit whatever they can, however they can:

• Misleading recruitment for work which promises good wages or a better life.
• Romantic grooming that builds trust and lowers defenses before turning into coercion.
• Exploitation of vulnerability including poverty, conflict or displacement.
• Online recruitment via social media, messaging apps or fake advertisements.

While the methods vary, every case of human trafficking has one thing in common: someone is exploited for another person’s financial gain.

Rights are removed. Dignity is denied. Safety is stripped. And the most vulnerable among us—the ones living in fragile contexts who are desperate for change—are lured into a world of exploitation.

Hope stops being an aspiration. It becomes weaponized. It becomes another tool traffickers use for profit.

Can you spot a victim of human trafficking?

The signs of human trafficking are so subtle, you may not be able to identify them with certainty.

But they are there.

No single sign confirms that someone is being trafficked. These indicators should be viewed together and approached carefully.

Control signs

Trafficking is almost always rooted in control. Traffickers use fear, isolation, manipulation and intimidation to control victims and strip away independence. These warning signs may indicate a person needs help.

• Unwillingness to speak for themselves or someone else answers questions on their behalf.
• Avoidance of eye contact and reluctant to interact with others.
• Unable to leave home, work or school without permission or on their own.
• No access to personal documentation like passports, birth certificates or social insurance numbers.
• No access to personal items such as phones or bank cards.
• Unable to keep the money they earn or must surrender it to someone else.

Behavioural signs

A victim’s behaviour may change first. Fear and trauma govern how victims navigate everyday situations. These signs don’t necessarily mean that someone is being trafficked, but that someone may need support or care.

• Appear exceptionally nervous around law enforcement or other authority figures.
• Reluctant or afraid to discuss their working or living conditions.
• Suddenly stop attending school, work or other community or personal activities.
• Easily startled or always seem nervous and on edge.
• Provide scripted or vague explanations when asked simple questions about their situation.

Physical signs

There is no single “look” that identifies a human trafficking victim. And many victims show no obvious physical signs. It’s important to view this list as possible indicators rather than clear physical definitions.

• Visible signs of physical abuse like bruises, cuts or untreated injuries.
• Tattoos or branding of names, barcodes, signs or symbols on the neck, back, legs, arms or face.
• Inappropriate clothing for the weather or social situation.
• Malnutrition or dehydration which leaves the victim looking unusually thin, weak and fatigued.
• Untreated dental conditions which obviously need care and attention.

If you or someone you know is being trafficked or at risk of being trafficked, call the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010 .

How to stop human trafficking

Human trafficking is a global crisis. And the known numbers—such as 5,000 reported incidents just in Canada from 2014-2024—may only represent 10 per cent of actual occurrences.

Daunting? Yes. Impossible to solve? No.

One person cannot do everything. But millions of people can do something.

It starts with learning the warning signs.

It continues by supporting organizations that protect vulnerable children and families before traffickers can manipulate them. It happens when you read survivor stories like 16-year-old Zena’s (name changed to protect her identity) and how a trusted family friend lured her into a life of child sex trafficking.

It strengthens when communities create safe places for children. It lasts when governments enact laws against exploitation. It makes an impact when ordinary people refuse to ignore what they see and speak up against human trafficking.

And it never stops because:

• Every conversation raises awareness.
• Every report could save a life.
• Every child who gains access to education, or every family that escapes poverty, removes another opportunity for traffickers to prey on vulnerability.

Human trafficking depends on people looking the other way.

Ending it begins when we choose not to.

Support World Vision Canada on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

When does human trafficking start? Is it when:

• People are forced into labour?
• Children are exploited for sex and profit?
• Individuals are stripped of freedom, dignity and agency?

These are the outcomes of human trafficking. But it begins much earlier.

It begins with vulnerability.

It begins when poverty leaves families with impossible choices. When conflict and disaster zones force people from their homes. When hunger, inequality or a lack of education make false promises seem like the only path to a better future.

These are the conditions traffickers exploit. These are the conditions World Vision Canada seeks to change with your support. Here’s how:

Sponsor a child: Help transform a child’s life by providing education, healthcare and hope.

Give where most needed: Give essentials like food, healthcare and education to help children overcome extreme poverty.

END the cycle of poverty: Feed the hungry and bring clean water to people and communities who need it.

END economic insecurity: Support families and women as they build successful businesses, sustainable livelihoods and pathways out of extreme poverty.