What is Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking is the oppression of human beings against their will and under duress for the purpose of enslavement and exploitation. It exists in nearly every country, victimizing millions of men, women and children. It is a lucrative and organized crime reaching all sectors and industries, and it is happening right here in our own communities and neighborhoods. It is time to act against this crime. For more information visit our Fact Sheet.

 " A 69-year-old Puget Sound area man pleaded guilty in federal court in March of 2004 to charges of having sex with two Cambodian boys and trying to have sex with children in foreign places. He is the first person in the U.S. to have pleaded guilty under the PROTECT Act of 2003 which aims to combat the international child-sex trade.”

  One of the main goals of the Freedom 5K is to spread awareness about human trafficking. You have the power to help spread that knowledge by telling people what you are doing and why you feel they should support your efforts by sponsoring you as a runner. In the drop menu to the left you will find important information about human trafficking, ways it affects Washington State, and resources available. 

Ten Quick Facts

1)     Human trafficking is defined as the recruitment and transportation of persons within or across boundaries by force, fraud, or deception for the purpose of exploiting them economically.

2)     Today there are 27 million people enslaved, more than at the peak of the African Slave Trade.

3)     Slavery has been outlawed in every country but still occurs everywhere.

4)     Human trafficking is now considered the third largest and fastest growing illegal activity in the world, making it a $32 billion a year business.

5)     The average price of a slave is $90 US dollars.

6)     Eighty percent (80%) of victims are women and fifty percent (50%) are children.

7)     Every minute two (2) more children are forced into slavery.

8)     One million children are forced to work in the sex industry every day.

9)     It is estimated that more than 200,000 people are enslaved in the US today.

10) Every year the slave population in the US grows upwards of 17,000.

-         They are locked up

-         They don’t know where they are

-         They have been beaten or raped

-         They distrust or have false information about the authorities

-         They are ashamed 

-    They are traumatized

-         They have bonded with their trafficker

-         They have been forced to take drugs leaving them addicted

-         They don’t know where help is available

-         They have nowhere to go (Especially if they have come from another country and have been separated from their community)

Trafficking victims rarely have the ability or opportunity to remove themselves from their situation and are 100% dependent on being identified and found. They need help from concerned individuals within the community to be rescued...which places the responsibility on you and me.