In general terms, human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud or coercion of an individual to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act (Blue Campaign).
Human trafficking is a major problem internationally and in the United States (Polaris Project or Polaris, 2018). In the United States, it occurs in all areas of the country: cities, suburbs and rural areas.
Every year, thousands of human trafficking cases are reported in the United States, but many more go undetected because human trafficking is a hidden crime. Victims might be afraid to come forward or the public and professionals may not recognize the signs, even if it's happening right in front of them. (Blue Campaign).
Note that while the term “modern slavery” has been and continues to be used to generally describe human trafficking, WVFRIS avoids use of this term in this context in its publications due to concerns that it may be considered exploitative. For further explanation, see the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) blog, Reconsidering the Use of the Terminology ‘Modern Day Slavery’ in the Human Trafficking Movement (Harrison, 2018).
The information in this section is drawn from a WVFRIS Sexual Assault Services Training Academy (SASTA) course, Human Trafficking 101 for Advocates.