Today is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
4.5 million people worldwide are trafficked into sex work and 16.4 million people suffer from other forced labor. According to the U.S Department of State, there are more people in slavery today than during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.
Here at LIRS, we encounter foreign-born victims of trafficking through our children’s services program. Some children are trafficked for labor, others for sex work. In each case, LIRS child specialists and our local partners ensure that these children receive the social and immigration services they critically need to start rebuilding their lives.
Maya is one of those children who received our support. She was sexually abused and forced into running illegal drugs for a woman she called “Mother” in her native Honduras. She escaped to the United States, hopping trains and buses until she arrived at the border, where we took her into our care. See her story, below.
Maya’s Story from LIRS on Vimeo.
Take action and advocate for the protection of victims of trafficking. Urge your member of Congress to support legislation that protects those fleeing trafficking through our Action Center.