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March 16, 2025
More than a million people live in conditions of modern slavery in the U.S. today, according to the Global Slavery Index. At least 240,000 of those are victims of sex trafficking, according to other studies, an average of about 4,800 per state. The National Human Trafficking Hotline (Home | National Human Trafficking Hotline) has received about 7096 hotline calls and other types of reports from Maryland since its inception in 2007. It found 1,825 human trafficking cases involving 3,322 victims in Maryland during that period. The Hotline has received about 8751 hotline calls and other types of reports from Pennsylvania since 2007. It found 2,308 human trafficking cases involving 4,806 victims in Pennsylvania. Human trafficking is a term that refers to both sex work and other forms of exploitation, including forced labor. Much exposure to substance abuse, sex abuse or violence, known as Adverse Childhood Experiences (or ACEs), can be a catalyst for trafficking. There are criminals seeking to enslave others for profit on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border. An immigrant from Mexico who was forced into a life of sex slavery stressed the importance of keeping an eye out for people who might be subtly displaying signs of enslavement, like downcast eyes or an evident lack of financial independence in the presence of another, older person, for example. He said: “It isn’t just young people from dysfunctional families who become susceptible to traffickers. Watch out for those kids who seem to be doing so well in life that the adults around them just assume they don’t need to be looked after,”. “Keep an eye on your kids. And if you don’t educate your kids, some trafficker out there will be happy to.” The Executive Director for the Alliance to End Human Trafficking said that the demand for the sex trafficking business is so vast in the United States today that “believe it or not, it’s present in every ZIP code.” Here's the link: Thousands are victims of human trafficking in Maryland SARC (The Sexual Assault/Spouse Abuse Resource Center) is Harford County’s lifeline to victims, potential victims, and survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse and stalking. Here's their link: SARC - Protecting Victims, Survivors, Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence, Stalking & Child Abuse