27 million – that is the number of people worldwide who have been bought, sold, and smuggled into slavery.  Studies estimate that 600,000 to 800,000 are trafficked annually across the word. 15,000 to 18,000 persons are trafficked in the United States alone each year: 70% of whom are women, and 50% are children.  Of those women, the majority come from East Asia and the Pacific.  Of those children, Sacramento is one of the top cities targeted by the FBI for the trafficking of children.  These facts illustrate that human trafficking is not only a global phenomenon, but it is a local one.  And unfortunately, it largely remains a hidden one.  In fact, a victim of trafficking may look like many of the people you see every day.  Through outreach and education, My Sister’s House hopes that together we can look beneath the surface of this pervasive, reprehensible and invisible practice, so that victims may be identified and empowered, and others may be prevented to falling prey.

What is human trafficking?

What are some examples of human trafficking?

Prostitution, sex tourism, and pornography are often what come to mind when one thinks of human trafficking.  But a person can also be a victim if he or she is forced into other situations, including, but not limited to:

• Servile marriage
• Domestic servitude
• Factory work
• Agriculture work
• Construction
• Hotel and tourist industries
• Food service
• Other service sectors