National Human Trafficking Prevention Month Highlights Global Crisis

Healthcare Professionals Play a Critical Role in Addressing the Multi-Dimensional Problem

January is recognized as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, with January 11th being National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. This is a global issue with an estimated 27 million people worldwide being victims of human trafficking and forced labor.
Human trafficking is a lucrative crime, generating $150 billion in profits each year. It exploits society’s most vulnerable, with 32% of victims being children. It includes trafficking for forced labor, sexual exploitation, forced begging and military conscription.
Human trafficking is a major public health problem. Healthcare professionals play a critical role in responding to the injuries and intersectional trauma experienced by human trafficking victims. They are often the only public servants to meet trafficked individuals while they are being trafficked.
Human trafficking is a multi-dimensional problem that disproportionately impacts marginalized communities. Traffickers often prey upon members of marginalized communities and other vulnerable individuals, including women, children, migrants, and people of color.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers multiple strategies from a public health lens to prevent human trafficking. These include removing barriers to health and healthcare access, educating healthcare providers about the nuances of human trafficking, and promoting policies that reduce barriers to receiving affordable, quality care.