Although slavery is thought to be a thing of the past, a form of slavery is thriving in the United States and all around the world. It goes by the name of human trafficking.
Each year, about 40 million people worldwide fall victim to human trafficking, according to the International Labour Organization. Although human trafficking is thought to be a problem of developing nations, the issue is present in the United States, as well. Thousands of human trafficking cases are documented locally, with countless others going unreported.
Not only is human trafficking morally unacceptable and unethical but it also violates several state and federal laws in the United States. Even though human trafficking victims are often from vulnerable populations, they have successfully brought lawsuits against perpetrators and those who profited from their trafficking.