Within the haze of a dust-filled construction site, the shadows of a dimly lit nightclub, the heavily perfumed scents of a massage parlor and the digital realm within our computer screens, a dark reality unfolds every day. In these seemingly ordinary places across our country, traumatic events of human trafficking are constantly occurring, unnoticed.
Human trafficking is the act of using force, deception or coercion to pressurize an individual into engaging in commercial sex acts or labor against their will. Victims, spanning age and gender, come from various backgrounds and locations. The two commonly identified forms of trafficking are labor trafficking and sex trafficking.
Labor trafficking involves exploitative practices like bonded labor, where victims work to repay undefined loans, often exceeding the borrowed sum. Forced labor confines individuals to work against their will, intimidating victims with violence and punishments. Child labor, affecting 246 million globally, threatens children's development and education due to its hazardous conditions. Children are often forced into harmful activities such as coerced enlistment for armed conflicts, pornography, unlawful weapon trade, prostitution and various illegal undertakings.
Sex trafficking is when someone is forced or tricked into selling sex against their will. Victims of sex trafficking go through different situations, like being pressured after romantic relationships or tricked with promises of jobs such as modeling. Sadly, some even face coercion from their own parents, being forced into selling sex and enduring these situations for different lengths of time.
According to the Polaris Project, a survivor-centered movement aimed at ending human trafficking, there were 10,359 reported instances of human trafficking to the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline in 2021 alone. These incidents involved 16,554 individual victims. It is worth noting that a significant number of human trafficking cases go unreported, as victims are afraid of potential retaliation from their traffickers, putting themselves and their families at risk.
To prevent trafficking, individuals can take a few simple measures. Online, where traffickers often recruit victims, it's crucial to be extra cautious. Add only familiar faces to your friends list and avoid sharing personal details that traffickers could exploit. Steer clear of sending explicit photos, especially to strangers, and verify the legitimacy of self-proclaimed professionals on the internet.
My organization, Young Voices for Change (youngvoicesforchangefl.org), is working to fight against human trafficking through our upcoming event, “Pickleball for a Purpose.” In collaboration with Rethreaded, an organization dedicated to empowering survivors of human trafficking, participants in this pickleball tournament have the chance to sponsor one hour of group therapy, licensed mental health counseling, or development and training for survivors of human trafficking — all for just $25 per team. The event is set to take place at Fort Family Regional Park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 24. For any questions, please contact myself at vadbanks@gmail.com or Mia Tiller at 904-426-8252. Join us in breaking the cycle of trafficking by signing up for the tournament and supporting this crucial cause! Sign up link: https://forms.gle/HxWRPjGf4R8CVpmZ9.
Banks Vadeboncoeur is a student at Ponte Vedra High School.
