Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world. It’s second only to drug trafficking as the most profitable form of transnational crime. 1

And while drugs are sold in one transaction, human beings can be sold over and over again. The costs are low and the profits are extremely high. Human trafficking generates an estimated $150 billion annually. 2

Human trafficking affects adults and children in every community around the world, including yours.

The United States defines human trafficking as such:

the use of force, fraud or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts or labor or services against his or her will. 3

Inducing a minor into commercial sex is considered human trafficking regardless of the presence of force, fraud or coercion.

In 2020, about 50,000 human trafficking victims were detected and reported by 141 countries. These are just the reported cases — the true number of victims is certainly much higher. 4