July 30th is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. This date is recognized by the UN for the 21 million people currently in forced labor. Human trafficking is always a crime, committed with the intention to exploit; in conflict situations, characterized by violence, brutality, and coercion, traffickers can operate with even greater impunity. Trafficking in armed conflict has taken on horrific dimensions – child soldiers, forced labor, and sexual slavery.
Human trafficking is a crime that exploits women, children, and men for numerous purposes including forced labor and sex. Every country in the world is affected by human trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit, or destination for victims. Traffickers the world over continue to target women and girls. The vast majority of detected victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation and 35 percent of those trafficked for forced labor are female. Conflict further exacerbates vulnerabilities, with armed groups exploiting civilians and traffickers targeting forcibly displaced people.
Data also shows that trafficking happens all around us as the share of persons trafficked within their own country has doubled in recent years to 58 percent of all detected victims, according to the 2022 UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons.
Despite many countries having national trafficking laws in place which are in line with the UN Trafficking in Persons Protocol, people continue to be trafficked. What is more, in many countries, victims may still be criminalized while the impunity of traffickers prevails.
Therefore, on the 2023 World Day UNODC is focusing on “Reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind”. The call encourages everyone to take action to prevent this heinous crime.
Trends in the total number of detected trafficking victims, average number of detected victims per country, and number of reporting countries, by year, 2003-2016
Resources for Victims of Human and Sex Trafficking Guide
Here are five tips to organize your fundraising efforts and stop human trafficking:
Trafficking is an issue widely misunderstood. Even donors, the public, policymakers, and even people working in the space itself are unaware of what trafficking really looks like. So be prepared to both inform and fundraise simultaneously. Spending so much time on education may seem like a lot of work – and it is – but good fundraisers can start with meaningful conversations which can turn into long-term donations. Learn the indicators of human trafficking so you can help identify a potential trafficking victim and understand the situation. Human trafficking awareness training is available in the Blue Campaign.
To some, trafficking may seem like a niche issue. In reality, human trafficking is a cross-cutting issue involving human rights, peace, and security, women’s issues, violence against children, health, education, etc. When looking for information and support, it may be necessary to cast a wide net. Do not be afraid to reach out to other groups for support.
People involved in trafficking face a myriad of issues – trauma, stigma, poverty, lack of legal standing, and much else. When working with these people, take great care in protecting their privacy. This may include anything from their names and addresses to medical records. If you want to take their picture or share their story in a case study or other marketing purposes, make sure you ask their permission. Going farther, make sure they understand exactly how their information will be used. Also, share with them if/how it could put them at risk. Making any possibly identifying images or information publicly available could make these people even more vulnerable to others.
Research in stopping human trafficking shows just how much of the trade is based on supply and demand. In your proposal, be very clear to the donor that your organization understands the economic forces at work, and have designed projects that will have a lasting impact. Do this well, and you will also get points for sustainability!
Human trafficking is a problem that affects every country in the world. Due to the border-hoping nature of this issue, no one organization or even one country can address this issue alone. It is very important to consult with other anti-trafficking organizations and defenders around the world. So, be open to sharing news, updates, stories, and policy changes.
Alta Alonzi is a writer and researcher focusing on international development funding and grassroots NGOs. She works with the fundraising consulting company Philantropia conducting research for clients ranging from small NGOs to UN organizations. She also works closely with FundsforNGOs running training webinars, contributing resource guides, and updating the Premium donor database.
