Human Trafficking
Facing the Reality and Tragedy
Reality
When I began writing Montana Grace fourteen years ago, I had just started researching the dark world of human trafficking. With each step, I met new people and learned new things about the horrors that millions of adults and children face in the world of human trafficking.
Delving into the darkness brought me face to face with all the facets involved. The victims and their horrific stories, the good people working to rescue and dismantle the world of human trafficking, but most of all, the realization of the influential people behind it all, governments, politicians, media, and many more. Human trafficking is big business, and where there is big money, there is corruption.
Facts and Stats
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Approximately 40.3 million people being trafficked worldwide
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24.9 million: the number of people trafficked for forced labor in the private economy. (Private economy includes: private individuals, groups, or companies in all sectors except the commercial sex industry).
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4.8 million: the number of people trafficked for forced sexual exploitation.
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The average lifespan of a trafficking victim is seven to ten years from when they started.
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Women and girls are disproportionately affected by human trafficking, accounting for 71 percent of all victims. In addition, 25 percent of victims are children in forced labor, sex trafficking, and even forced marriage.
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The average age of domestic sex trafficking victims is fourteen years old.
* Stats from safehorizon.org
** Stats from togetherfreedom.org/trafficking-facts-statistics/
Fighting Back
Throughout my writing of Montana Grace, I was blessed to meet and interview numerous people and organizations. They are the warriors who have taken up the mantle of fighting back against human trafficking. They spend their days rescuing the victims and putting their own lives and livelihoods at risk by going up against the powerful people profiting from the human trafficking industry. Some may question my use of the word "industry," but that's precisely what it is. It is an industry built on the enslavement of men, women, and children for profit.
You Are Epic
EPIC Girl exists to empower girls to reach their full potential through educational programs, mentoring, counseling, and community activities. We focus on defining our past and recognizing how it can shape us but not allowing it to define our future. At EPIC Girl, we believe every girl is one meaningful connection away from becoming the hero they are meant to be.
Visit EpicGirl.net
Stacia Freeman
Founder, EPIC GIRL
Freedom to the Oppressed
Freedom’s Promise exists to bring freedom to the oppressed by demonstrating the love of Jesus Christ, preventing human trafficking, and restoring communities. We are on a mission to move people from vulnerability to THRIVING as we restore communities and prevent human trafficking.
Visit freedomspromise.org
Tiffany Atkinson
President, Freedom's Promise
Eradicate Sexual Exploitation
We are a faith-driven organization collaborating with faith, business and community leaders providing a comprehensive path to end the sexual exploitation of minors. CSEC involves the recruitment, harboring, transportation, and/or the obtaining of a child under the age of 18 for the purpose of a commercial sex act.
Street Grace mobilizes community resources – financial, human, and material – to fight CSEC through prevention, protection, policy and pursuit.
Visit streetgrace.org
Bob Rodgers
President, Street Grace
We Rescue Children
We offer freedom and healing to survivors of human trafficking and exploitation through direct intervention and aftercare.
To shine a light worldwide on the global issue of child sex trafficking and exploitation, and in so doing rescue more children from slavery and assist law enforcement to seek justice for those who violate children. We place survivors on a path to recovery by partnering with vetted aftercare providers.
Visit ourrescue.org
