Polaris: Combatting Human Trafficking in the U.S

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I chose an organization that was started in 2002 called Polaris, they set their sights on all aspects of human trafficking mainly in the United States. They feel that trafficking is just another word for slavery and are committed to putting an end to it. “Although slavery is commonly thought to be a thing of the past, human traffickers generate hundreds of billions of dollars in profits by trapping millions of people in horrific situations around the world, including here in the U.S. Traffickers use violence, threats, deception, debt bondage, and other manipulative tactics to force people to engage in commercial sex or to provide labor or services against their will.” (Polaris, 2016) By working closely with those that have been affected directly, Polaris has created tools and a support system to current victims. Crisis centers and hotlines are the basis of information, education, and statistics for not only the organization but …show more content…

The violators prey on the vulnerable such as children, immigrants, and the poor. For the promise of a better life these people are being forced into taking jobs with little to no pay, prostitution, even forced marriages and organ extraction are not unheard of. Victims are robbed of humanity and treated as property or a piece of merchandise, easily used repeatedly for profit. It really is a worldwide issue but the United States is one of the hotspots it seems in recent years. “Here in the United States, between 100,000 to 300,000 American children are at risk of being trafficked each year, according to the Department of Homeland Security, with the average age of a child first being trafficked just 13.”(McCain, 2014) Polaris has helped thousands with their efforts, the work they do is imperative to the fight and does not go unnoticed. The statistics and information gathered by the programs have progressed other organizations in achieving goals in the same

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