Human Trafficking – Hiding in Plain Sight
According to the International Labor Organization (ILO) 24.9 million people are victims of forced labor. Tactics used by recruiters and their associates are often the same tactics used by batterers and mirror dynamics of domestic violence. Traffickers lure their victims with false promises of economic opportunity, withholding identification, work authorization, travel documents, demanding repayment for a real or alleged debt, using or threatening to use violence, monitoring and surveillance activities. In 2016 there were 29.1 million cases of labor trafficking globally. Victims were forced to work in a factory, on a farm or as a domestic worker. 9.2 million victims were men, 10.9 million were women and 3.3 million were children. 4.8 million were sex trafficking victims. 3.8 million were adults and 1 million were children.. Globally 99% of the victims were women and girls. For reflection:  what can you do to be sure you don’t use the services of someone who is trafficked? Information contributed by Mary Ann Lause.  .Interested in joining the Peace and Justice Ministry?  Call Saralou Hendrickson at 314-440-2020