Human trafficking steady in US

According to the United States Department of State, “human trafficking” has been used to cover a wide variety of human enslavement where one person holds another in compelled service, or acquires another person for compelled service. This can include forced labor, sexual services, child soldiers, and other forms of enslavement. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, an estimated two million children
are involved in the global sex trade.
Each year, the United Nations releases an annual Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Report. Each country in the United Nations is placed in one of three tiers, based on their compliance with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. Tier 1 placement indicates that a country is in full compliance with the TVPA, and is among the most aggressive countries when it comes to fighting human trafficking in all forms. Tier 2 is reserved for countries in partial compliance, with efforts being made to increase compliance. Tier 3 is for countries not fully in compliance, and who are not making effort to become compliant with the TVPA.
Since 2010, the United States has been at a Tier 1 ranking, though that does not indicate the lack of a human trafficking problem. It is estimated that as many as 17,500 people are victims of human trafficking annually in the United States.
Despite the fact that the United State currently has a Tier 1 rating, Missouri has seen a rise to the sex trafficking statistics.
For more information or help, call 1-888-373-7888, the National Human Traficking Helpline, available 24/7.