Children are recruited and used as soldiers in armed conflict across the world. Minors are abducted or enlisted by force, manipulation, or coercion. Many victims face threats to their family or join out of desperation, thinking this is their best chance of survival. Victims are used for various purposes, such as: fighting on the frontlines, participating in suicide missions, being forced to work as spies/messengers/lookouts, managing camp as cooks or servants, and even becoming camp “sex slaves.”

While the term child pornography is widely used by the public, it’s actually evidence of child sexual abuse. Join us in rejecting this term. Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) is any representation or depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a child. This form of abuse often occurs with individuals in a position of authority like a trusted family member, coach, or teacher.

Also known as bonded labor, individuals are exploited to pay off a debt. The victim is paid below a fair wage, while the trafficker disproportionately adds to the debt for items such as shelter or food. The debt continues to increase and often becomes generational debt that is passed from one generation to the next. Children are forced into a lifetime of slavery as they attempt to pay off the debts of their parents while accruing more debt in the process.

Around the world vulnerable individuals are forced into domestic work (e.g. involuntary servants, housekeepers, maids, care takers, etc.) with the promise of a bright future. This form of trafficking is often difficult to detect due to victims operating and living inside a private residence. Once taken captive, it’s very difficult for them to leave and return to their home country. Many experience sexual exploitation as well.

There are traffickers around the world who exploit members of their own family for profit. Often times, victims are groomed, abused, and then sold or traded by a family member for things like drugs or money. Victims are most often children and are at times unaware they’re being abused or even trafficked.

Forced labor occurs when vulnerable men, women or children are forced to work against their will to avoid violence, arrest, or harm to their family. Victims often struggle in poor living conditions, are abused mentally, physically, and emotionally, and work for limited or no pay at all. The victims of this type of trafficking are often exploited for other forms, such as: sex trafficking, debt bondage, and child recruitment for armed conflict.

This is defined as vacation or travel with the purpose or added intent of participation in the purchase of sexual acts and prostitution. This underground industry frequently involves the abuse of children and exploits their inability to refuse consent. Sex tourism is rampant in countries that lack protection for minors and other vulnerable individuals.

Organ harvesting is a broad category of exploitation that includes several illegal activities, of which the main goal is to profit from the sale of human organs and tissue, for the sole purpose of transplantation. Brokers will exploit vulnerable and economically desperate communities to fulfill donor match requests. Due to the loss of vital organs and poor medical practice there are little to no survivors.