Human trafficking is said to be the largest growing criminal activity in the world. It is quickly becoming more lucrative than drug sales, simply because the product traffickers sell is not a consumable product. When a trafficker sells a girl, he can sell her again, and again, and again. It is easy to see how human sex trafficking has become a multibillion dollar industry.
It is estimated there are approximately 27 million slaves in the world today. While most people assume those who fall victim to such heinous crimes are from third world countries, reality shows many of the victims come from our own cities and neighborhoods. According to the United States Department of Justice, as many as 300,000 children are at risk of sexual exploitation each year in the United States.
We hear these staggering statistics and feel helpless to do anything to stop it, but we’re not. We need to educate ourselves on the issue. Below is a sampling of organizations that fight this issue on the front lines. Whether you’re interested in the fight for tougher penalties for pimps and johns or looking for a way to invest in rescued girls, there’s a place for you.
- Wellspring Living’s “mission is to confront the issue of childhood sexual abuse and exploitation through awareness, training, and treatment programs for women and girls. Wellspring Living’s vision is to serve locally, influence globally.”
- Out of Darkness runs “a 24/7 hotline with volunteers trained to answer rescue calls. Those volunteers will then activate responders who are trained to make contact with and offer rescue to trafficking victims. Victims will be offered a safe place to stay until they can transition to appropriate restorative services.”
- 4Sarah is an “organization whose mission is to empower change in the life direction of women and girls who are adult entertainers, prostitutes, escorts or victims of sexual exploitation by offering a holistic approach as well as an educational, emotional, physical and spiritual support system.”
- “Not For Sale fights human trafficking and modern-day slavery around the world. Through international work on the ground and in mainstream supply chains, we proactively target the root causes of slavery while engaging and equipping the movement for freedom.”
- youthSpark. is a “campaign to stop the prostitution of children. Our campaign is addressing the issue through our four-tiered strategy of research, prevention, intervention and education.”
- “Street GRACE mobilizes community resources – financial, human and material – to help individuals and organizations effectively fighting CSEC through advocacy, prevention and restoration. It is the goal of Street GRACE to create a powerful movement that unites Christian churches with a wide array of public, private and non-profit entities in order to bring about the end of commercial sexual exploitation of children.”
- “Polaris is one of the leading organizations in the global fight against human trafficking and modern-day slavery. Named after the North Star “Polaris” that guided slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad, Polaris is transforming the way that individuals and communities respond to human trafficking, in the U.S. and globally.”
- “NightLight is an international organization committed to addressing the complex issues of commercial sexual exploitation through prevention, intervention, restoration, and education. NightLight’s mission is to do “whatever it takes” to effect change within the global sex industry. Our local offices in Atlanta, Bangkok, Branson, and Los Angeles build relationships with victims of commercial sexual exploitation and those who are at-risk and provide hope, intervention, rescue, and assistance by offering alternative vocational opportunities, life-skills training, and physical, emotional, and spiritual development to those seeking freedom.”
- “The A21 Campaign stands for Abolishing Injustice in the 21st Century. When confronted with the horrific statistics surrounding human trafficking, it is easy to agree on the fact that ‘someone should do something.’ The A21 Campaign was born when the decision was made to raise our hand and be that “someone.” It was a decision of ordinary people who decided to take responsibility regarding the issue of human trafficking. Our website is full of resources that will equip you to raise your hand and become that ‘someone’ willing to do ‘something’ to help abolish injustice in the 21st Century.”
- Rise Up Ministries is “a division of Justice Ministries, Inc. Justice Ministries is an organization committed to combating sex trafficking and sexual exploitation of women. Rise Up focuses on Awareness, Prevention and Support to woman and girls who are being sexually exploited. Our ministry includes teen events, strip club outreach and Hope Line. We are located in Charlotte, NC.”
- Change Purse “encourages hope through raising awareness and by financially supporting faith based organizations that provide hope, healing and restoration, through their direct work with victim and survivors of sex trafficking. Change Purse donates profits generated through collecting donated purses that are new or like-new condition and selling them via the online store, awareness events, and home parties.”
- Restore One’s “purpose is to “open shelters that offer faith-based recovery programs, free of cost to male survivors of domestic minor sex trafficking. Restore One recognizes the need for shelters specific to boys who are victims of DMST. “