The Scope of Global Human Trafficking:

• 27 million men, women, and children in the world today live under the bonds of slavery (National Geographic). This means that there were more slaves in 2004 than were taken from Africa during four entire centuries of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.
• In 1850, a slave in the Southern United States cost the equivalent of $40,000 today. A slave today costs an average of $90. (Kevin Bales, Free the Slaves)
• Each year, more than 2 million children are exploited in the global commercial sex trade (UNICEF).
• Human trafficking is the world's 3rd largest criminal enterprise, after drugs and weapons (U.S. Department of State). The total market value of illicit human trafficking is estimated to be in excess of $32 billion (UN).
• Approximately 80% of trafficking victims are women and girls, and up to 50% are minors (U.S. Department of State).

Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation in Cambodia:

• South Asia and Southeast Asia are home to 77% of the entire world's victims of forced labor. (U.S. Department of State).
• In 2007, 38% of girls working in sexually exploitive conditions in Cambodia had entered the industry because their virginity had been bought (World Vision). Both local Cambodians and foreign sex tourists will pay anywhere between $800 and $4000 to have sex with virgins (U.S. Department of State.)
• In Cambodia, as many as two-thirds of individuals in commercial sexual activity report being forced to join the sex industry (World Vision).
• As many as 40% of those in the sex industry are children (ECPAT).
• Only 25% of Cambodian women and girls reportedly trafficked into Thailand were taken there by a stranger; two-thirds were trafficked by someone they knew - a family member or someone from their community (World Vision).

What can we do here in Cambodia?

Report such instances of injustice to the International Justice Mission (IJM) at their website at http://www.IJM.org or call them locally at (023) 991-420.  If you have information concerning forced prostitution or the sexual exploitation of minor children please make a referral.

International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. IJM lawyers, investigators and aftercare professionals work with local governments to ensure victim rescue, to prosecute perpetrators and to strengthen the community and civic factors that promote functioning public justice systems.

19 March 2010