Trafficking in persons is a human rights violation
that occurs around the world. Human
trafficking involves the recruitment and movement
of individuals—generally by force, coercion,
or deception—for the purposes of criminal
exploitation or abuse.1 Statistics on trafficking
are notoriously difficult to obtain, although the
International Labor Organization has estimated
that approximately 12.3 million people are in
situations of forced or bonded labor, half of
whom are believed to be women and girls.