Addressing Human Trafficking: From the Pandemic to Healing Pathways

It may seem unfathomable that millions of people are living in bondage in our modern society. Nevertheless, the reality is that many victims of modern slavery are often hidden in plain sight under the guise of being domestic workers, consensual sex workers, or legitimate employees. Human trafficking is the use of coercion, force, or fraud to obtain some form of a commercial sex act, profit, or labor from the exploitation of another individual. Human trafficking may also include actions such as organ trafficking, forced marriage, and debt bondage. It’s important to note that individuals, businesses, and even governments can be involved in human trafficking activity. Corruption, poverty, human rights inequalities, war, and illiteracy heavily influence the presence of human trafficking worldwide.

Although the outward signs of a publicly acceptable trade in human beings have vanished, the practice of slavery itself continues. Nearly 160 years after Lincoln's proclamation, the number of people living in bondage has since skyrocketed in modern society. During the 400 years of the transatlantic slave trade, 12.5 million Africans were shipped to the New World. Globally, the estimated number of enslaved people in 1860 was 27 million. The U.N.'s International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that 50 million men, women, and children currently live in conditions of servitude worldwide. Human trafficking is the fastest-growing and third most lucrative criminal activity globally, with an estimated annual revenue of $150 billion. Though the dynamics of slavery have shifted since its prohibition hundreds of years ago, the goal to profit from the exploitation of other human beings remains. The masters who once governed enslaved people have been replaced by pimps and traffickers who pose as trusting companions, spouses, and employers to lure in their victims.

My work in human trafficking began during the pandemic. As a nursing student, I encountered Spanish-speaking patients struggling to communicate their medical concerns. Drawing from my need to aid patients experiencing language barriers, I stepped in as a regular translator for Spanish-speaking patients despite my limited fluency. This experience illuminated a systemic issue that disproportionately impact immigrant populations, which heightens the risk of trafficking in these vulnerable populations.

From this experience, I applied for a scholarship through the U.S. Department of State to study Spanish through immersion. I attained Spanish fluency and used this skill to aid survivors of human trafficking. I began volunteering as an anti-human trafficking researcher and advocate.

At the University of Maryland SAFE Center, I co-developed a program helping survivors of human trafficking obtain education to secure employment in the healthcare field. This program offers a pathway to a brighter future through financial independence, a challenge that many survivors experience.

I have also worked on trauma-informed training initiatives to equip professionals with the skills to identify and support trafficking victims. Furthermore, as a nurse, I have provided care to children who were survivors of human trafficking.

Studies indicate that 88% of trafficking survivors report passing through the healthcare system unrecognized. Considering this gap, my goal is not only to advocate for policies that combat human trafficking, but to integrate healthcare systems as a means of rescuing survivors and using the education system as a means of prevention. I envision building a school specifically designed for survivors of human trafficking, providing them with education, vocational training, and holistic support to help them rebuild their lives.

This school would also serve as a model for integrating anti-human trafficking education into school curricula globally, raising awareness from an early age. By aligning healthcare, education, and policy efforts, we can create sustainable, systemic solutions that both prevent trafficking and provide healing pathways for survivors.

Ultimately, I seek to ensure that victims of human trafficking are not only seen but supported in their journey toward empowerment and recovery, transforming their futures and contributing to the broader fight against exploitation. If you are or someone you suspect is a victim of human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 for assistance. You can also research anti-human trafficking organizations in your area to get involved in the fight against modern-day slavery today!