Human trafficking is...
At its core, human trafficking is the severe exploitation of another person by means of force, fraud, or coercion for some kind of labor, including commercial sex. Human trafficking has a variety of forms but all of them involve the exploitation of one individual by another for some kind of benefit – often economic. Human trafficking involves the denial of a person's human right to freedom and basic dignity.
Forms of Human Trafficking
Both federal and Colorado law breaks human trafficking conduct into two broad categories of labor trafficking, or involuntary/labor servitude, and sex trafficking, or sexual servitude. It is important to note that sex trafficking and labor trafficking are not mutually exclusive categories. Sex trafficking victims are exploited for their labor and labor trafficking victims can experience sexual assault as a part of their victimization.
Labor Trafficking
Labor trafficking refers to the exploitation of an individual to perform labor or services through the use of force, fraud or coercion. Labor trafficking occurs in a wide variety of contexts and industries. Some people are forced to work as domestic servants within a single household. Others are forced to harvest crops, while others experience exploitation while working in factories.
Antonio
Came to America to pursue a promising opportunity.
An account of an organized labor trafficking ring in the restaurant industry.
Sex Trafficking
Sex trafficking involves the exploitation of an individual to engage in commercial sex through force, fraud or coercion. It is important to note that, according to federal and state law, any person under the age of eighteen years of age induced into commercial sex is a victim of sex trafficking and it is not required to prove force, fraud or coercion.
Luke
Was looking for a home and people like him.
An account of a large-scale sex trafficking ring.
Social Compliance for Companies
In the era of globalization, the production of goods in foreign countries has increased at a rapid pace. Unfortunately illegal labor practices persist, either going unchecked or willfully ignored. Lack of accountability and oversight of labor rights has made it more likely that goods imported into the U.S. may be tainted by child labor and forced labor. The importation of goods made with forced labor is a violation of U.S. trade policy that gives an unfair competitive advantage to countries and businesses that do not play by the rules. In turn, such abuses force U.S. workers and responsible businesses to compete on an uneven playing field.
The Comply Chain App was created by the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) and is intended to support the efforts of companies that seek to address these issues within their own supply chains.
Global Data on Forced Labor (2023)
Total Population
27.6 million people in human trafficking
By Sex
57% Male
43% Female
By Type
23% Sex
63% Labor
14% State-imposed
Annual Profits
$236 billion estimated annual profit of forced labor
(73% of this profit are from sexual exploitation)
Source: International Labor Organization, 2023 Global Estimates of Modern Slavery Report and 2024 website & US Department of State, 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report