Slavery and human trafficking are actions many would like to think took place a long time ago. Yet, despite the Constitution’s Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery, millions of men, women, and children are still held against their will and forced into trafficking around the world. What is just as alarming as these grave human rights violations, is the rate at which we have seen them grow. Every year up to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders, of which 80% are females. Trafficking also occurs in every type of community, oftentimes as an insidious scourge on the community. A focus on legislation in combating the crime of trafficking and lessening its effects is thus vital, particular for women, not only in the United States, but around the world.
Lawyers are in a strategic position to use their skillset to help the survivors, lead critical research and seek reparation. Raising awareness on this issue and increasing training for attorneys will enable trafficked women and minors to be treated as victims, and thereby receive protections, rather than as offenders. Although sex trafficking cases are difficult, the litigation is growing as attorneys are continuing to advance claims in state and federal courts across the country.
