2012 Human Trafficking reports

The past few months have been quite busy in the written world of anti-human trafficking efforts with the major organizations and agencies releasing reports and delivering the most recent data and information on the crime of the trafficking in persons. Even though personally I believe that it is hard, if not impossible, to estimate any numbers when it comes to a hidden criminal activity, others seem to be quite obsessed with statistics and numerals. Don’t get me wrong, I do try to read them in their entirety, but I often find contradictory information from one report to another and wonder if it might just be better to admit that we simply don’t know. 

Below is a selection of the most significant, or most discussed, or most criticized, or most (pick any strong verb here) ones.

Trafficking in Persons Report June 2012: Following years of dedicated focus on prosecution and putting traffickers behind bars, this year the report unveils an interest in the protection of the victims. To access the report, click here. 

International Labour Organization [ILO] Global Estimate of Forced Labour: The document includes a comprehensive review of each aspect of this so-called “modern-day slavery” and provides shocking estimates about the levels of rampant exploitation around the globe. To read a summary of the report, click here. 

Polaris Project Annual Report 2011:  The report analyzes data regarding calls received to the national human trafficking hotline [1-888-3737-888]. The document includes information about the types of calls, the callers’ demographics, the type of trafficking situation identified, and other valuable statistics. To read the report, click here. 

The Protection Project 100 Best Practices: Even thought a clear definition of a best practice is never identified and it is not suggested that what works under one set of circumstances might not necessarily work in a different environment, the document does provide a list of valuable efforts taking place around the world. To read about all 100 practices, click here.

-          Krasi