There is an alarming rate of human trafficking cases across the United States, with more than 10,000 reports of alleged human trafficking cases in 2021, according to the Human Trafficking Hotline (Hewitt, 2023). This is data that has been reported. Human trafficking is extremely underreported, and many cases are swept under the rug. Vulnerable youth are typically targeted and victimized. According to the U.S. Department of State, the following are also targets and victims of human trafficking “juvenile justice systems, including foster care; runaway and homeless youth; unaccompanied foreign national children without lawful immigration status; individuals seeking asylum; American Indians and Alaska Natives, particularly women and girls; individuals with substance use issues; racial or ethnic minorities; migrant laborers, including undocumented workers and participants in visa programs for temporary workers; foreign national domestic workers in diplomatic households; persons with limited English proficiency; persons with disabilities; LGBTQI+ individuals; and victims of intimate partner violence or other forms of domestic violence”. 

There are two general forms of human trafficking in the United States; labor and sex trafficking, both of which are forced.

How can we raise more awareness on this complex and controversial topic? We can not just hope for change. We need to do something about it, we need to spread awareness. We can start in schools, human trafficking should be taught to educators and students. California was the first state in 2017 to require human trafficking education for students and teachers. Youth being a primary target, it is crucially important for educators to learn about the risk factors and warning signs of trafficking occurring in their own communities. 

Further, it may not only raise awareness but perhaps it might stop & spot an ongoing trafficking situation. Being able to identify signs of risks can greatly help trafficked youth. Furthermore, schools can be a great starting point since schools are known as safe havens, providing them with a caring support structure and safety and security. Youth need that sense of love that they might not have at home, that being said viewing schools as havens can potentially deter youth from being lured by human traffickers.

Youth that have been trafficked or are currently experiencing, generally experience trauma, with this in mind, some things can trigger past trauma. “Triggers may include words, tone of voice, facial expressions, smells, feelings or postures that are embedded in a child’s mind”. Educators comprehending the triggers might help them assert those triggers and help the student further down the road. 

Not only can teaching students about human trafficking help them understand what it means. It also can help them identify if they are experiencing it themselves or might know someone who might be. Furthermore, it “ teaches kids that traffickers are not just strangers or people belonging to another race or ethnicity. Traffickers are often friendly, charismatic, well-dressed, and seemingly wealthy, and they may appear to be kind and warm. They may also be close family members and caregivers who exploit children in their care”. 

Human trafficking is a worldwide issue, it is happening right in front of us and we are not doing anything about it. Not only does human trafficking ge​nerate billions of dollars in profits by victimizing millions of people in the United States and around the world. Thousands of innocent people, children, are stripped of their basic human rights. Sign this petition to encourage school districts to include human trafficking in schools' curricula and educate educators/academic staff on this severe matter.