Why we need to be aware of human trafficking, by Holly Hancock

There is not enough awareness about human trafficking around the world. Most people in the world do not know much about human trafficking or how to handle the situation. Human trafficking is defined as the illegal movement of people, typically for the purposes of forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation. We need to see why citizens are not learning the signs and why children are not learning about this topic in school. We should want to know why the news does not cover this story and how we can push for human trafficking laws.

To protect their family, parents should watch their children more closely. If we teach our children and communicate with them, they will understand the dangers that they could be in. For example, parents need to teach their children to not walk away from them while they are grocery shopping. When walking down an aisle, children get distracted by all the toys and books. If we do not explain to them what can happen and why they should not walk away, then they can become lost or kidnapped. This can happen within two minutes of losing one’s child in the store. Another example would be to walk next to your child, and do not let them walk behind you. This is a really bad habit that I see all the time. While a person is just walking forward, anything could happen to his or her children. They could fall, walk away, or even start talking to strangers. These are ways that your child could become a victim of human trafficking.

In addition, high schools and colleges should have a program on human trafficking. Students  may be careless if there’s no human trafficking awareness program in schools. All kinds of programs, such as D.A.R.E, cancer and suicide programs, are taught in high schools all across the country. Having a human trafficking program can also help girls who are 13 and older to be more thoughtful on this topic. This is important because human traffickers often go for early adolescents.

Most importantly, the news should honestly focus on human trafficking more than some other topics. It seems like one has to do research on the computer to know what is happening. For example, news anchors talk about the Grammys, auto shows, and sports. Those topics can be talked about any time and are not very important. Human trafficking should be shared on the news so the public knows where exactly victims are being trafficked. We think it only happens overseas, like Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. However, human trafficking is also prevalent in the United States. Statistics show that Michigan ranks fifth in the nation in human trafficking. South Dakota is in the number one spot right now.

In addition to seeing human trafficking on the news, we need to realize how we actually support human trafficking in our daily lives. Stores sell provocative clothes as well as magazines on how to be sexy. Consider Cosmopolitan magazine, which you can pick up from the Barnes & Noble book store in Livonia. The writers are telling girls to look a certain way and how to get a man’s attention. These messages may help girls become more appealing targets for human traffickers. What these girls do not understand is that human trafficking is the second largest criminal industry in the world, and that more 27 million people are in slavery today, more than at any other time in history. 

We need to be aware of human trafficking and support the laws against it. For example, there is a law against soliciting under-age prostitutes. This increases the penalties for soliciting sex from minors and makes this crime a felony. Let us help enforce these laws and spread the word about human trafficking so we can stop this criminal act.