World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

July 30th is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, an awareness campaign initiated by the UN.

The theme for 2023 is “Reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind,” and they list statistics that show how global detection and conviction rates have fallen rather substantially since 2020.  Of course there are lots of theories and data around this idea, and let’s remember this is a very complex and very nuanced discussion.  For instance, for the first time, more trafficking victims reach out to authorities or organizations on their own volition as opposed to being identified by either those authorities or organizations.  This could either mean a colossal failure of detection and a need to re-educate people in positions who may intersect with victims OR it could mean that educational campaigns have done an amazing job and victims are more empowered to advocate for themselves and recognize the signs of their own trafficking.  It could also be a both-and or neither-nor. 

But what we do know and can all agree on is that people should not be trafficked.  People should not be exploited for financial gain of an oppressor.  People should not be forced, coerced, or deceived into labor or sex trafficking.  And sadly there are whole groups of people who are still left behind in anti-trafficking endeavors.

We at FTG are working in the reintegration sector – but this also doubles as tertiary prevention – a fancy term that means long-term responses aimed at preventing the re-exploitation of a person.  We have found that when individuals are not given the tools to combat their vulnerabilities – especially economically and socially– they are at risk of being re-trafficked.  Without a social support, in the absence of a way to afford a safe and dignifying life, a person could easily become desperate and become a target once again.

Your donations go towards providing services and resources to help change the trajectory of a woman’s life.  Having access to education, job skills, safe housing, medical care, and social services along with a community of people who understand, accept, and support a person can make all the difference in the world.  Help us continue to remove barriers for true freedom in a survivors’ life.