Human trafficking increases worldwide

Trafficking in persons is one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world.

It is estimated that 20.9 million people are victims of human trafficking. Fifty-five percent of victims are females and 26 percent of victims are children under 18 years of age.

The United States government enacted the Trafficking Victims Protection Act in 2000.

This law defines severe forms of trafficking as sex trafficking, in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud or coercion; in which a person induced to perform such acts has not attained 18 years of age; or the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage or slavery.

Trafficking in persons typically involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to compel a person to provide labor, services or commercial sex. TIP also includes forced prostitution, forced labor and debt bondage. 

It is Department of Defense policy to deter activities of its service members, civilian employees, indirect hires, contract personnel and command-sponsored dependents that would facilitate or support TIP, domestically and overseas.

This includes activities such as pandering, prostitution and patronizing a prostitute even though such activities may be legal within a host nation country, but are in violation of Title 10, United States Code, Chapter 47 of The Uniform Code of Military Justice.

TIP is a grave violation of human rights and a worldwide criminal threat to security, civil rights and stability, as well as a direct threat to our national foreign policy goals.

Military personnel, civilian personnel and contractors may come across victims while serving abroad or in the United States.

Sex trafficking locations include bars and brothels, dance clubs and strip clubs, massage parlors and spas and escort services. Labor trafficking locations include food services, domestic services, janitorial services, driving services, construction and hospitality.

If you believe you have witnessed a trafficking operation or believe a person is being trafficked, you should report that information to your chain of command, security forces, Office of Special Investigations or Inspector General.