Soroptimists Stop Trafficking

Soroptimist International of Salt Lake recognizes today, January 11, as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.


In establishing this day, the U.S. Senate acknowledged that the techniques used by traffickers to keep their victims enslaved severely limits self-reporting, thereby acknowledging the imperative for increased public awareness and advocacy on behalf of the voiceless women and girls being held captive.

Statistics

• Human rights groups estimate that anywhere from 12.3 to 27 million people are currently living as slaves.

• The UN estimates the total market value of exploitation of humans to be $32 billion, with about $10 billion from the initial sale of individuals.

• Each year, between 800,000 and 900,000 people are trafficked across international borders.

• 75 percent of those trafficked are trafficked into the commercial sex industry.

• 80 percent of trafficking victims are women and children trafficked for sexual exploitation

Soroptimist Website

The Soroptimist website at www.soroptimist.org provides an abundance of information about sexual trafficking and what individuals can do to stop it. Information includes a white paper on sexual trafficking, frequently asked questions, and a document called “What I Can Do to Stop Sexual Slavery.”