The Latest News The Policy Circle Team is Reading
We’ve gathered articles, videos and analysis to dive-deeper into timely topics about the policy issues and opportunities that impact us all. Explore below and if you have additional news you think we should share, send us an email.
Combatting Human Trafficking
The last week in August, federal and state agents found 13 missing children, thought to be victims of child sex trafficking and child exploitation and recovered 26 children believed to be endangered. Nine people were arrested on kidnapping and sex trafficking charges.
According to the U.S. Marshals Director Donald Washington, around 380,000 of the 420,000 missing children the FBI has reports of are considered endangered runaways; of those, one in six is “is likely to become the victim of sex trafficking.” In the Atlanta area alone, “roughly 300 young girls…are lured into trafficking every month.”
It’s difficult to believe that any form of human trafficking could happen in our own backyards, but it does. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are victims of human trafficking around the world, and tens of thousands are victims right here in the United States. Furthermore, because trafficking is frequently underreported, these estimates most likely represent only a small fraction of the actual cases.
In an economic downturn, individuals are more vulnerable to human trafficking, which has only been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some estimates show a 40 percent increase in the number of cases reported in the month following shelter-in-place orders going into effect.
What can you do?
Join us on September 22nd at 12pm CT to explore what is being done around the world and here in the U.S. to combat this global challenge, including tackling poverty and inequality. Explore our Human Trafficking Policy Brief to learn more about the combined efforts to recognize and prevent human trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute traffickers ensures the safety of every community and every individual.
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