According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Human Trafficking is...

"The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons by means of threat, force, abduction, fraud, deception, coercion or the giving or receiving of unlawful payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person for the purpose of exploitation."

Based on this definition, trafficking consists of three core elements:

1. The action of trafficking which means the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons
2. The means of trafficking which includes threat of or use of force, deception, coercion, abuse of power or position of vulnerability
3. The purpose of trafficking which is always exploitation. Exploitation includes at a minimum sexual exploitation, forced labour, slavery, servitutde, or the removal of organs.

Due to the illegal nature of Human Trafficking, it is hard to know the extent of the problem.  The United Nations estimates that there are nearly 27 million people in 127 different countries who are victims of Human Trafficking.  Every country in the world is affected and is either a source, destination or transit point.

Trafficked people are usually the most vulnerable and powerless minorities in a region; 80% of the estimated 800,000 being forced into this modern day slavery each year are women and children. The vast majority of victims end up being sexually exploited.

Human Trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal industry in the world, with annual revenues estimated to be over $30 billion. In Canada, foreign trafficking for prostitution is estimated to be worth $400 million annually. Human Trafficking is a crime against humanity and a crime that affects everyone.

Human Trafficking is a world-wide problem. You can make a difference by learning more about Human Trafficking and becoming a part of Compassion in Action. Together we can help Stop the Traffic.

Be part of the solution:

Learn about the Causes of Human Trafficking

Learn about the Signs of Human Trafficking

Learn more about Human Trafficking from other sources

Get Invovled in Compassion in Action 2:  Stop the Traffic

(based on information from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)