According to the U.S. State Department, 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every year, of which 80% are women. We would like you to meet a few of the women who are standing up and fighting back to help stop human trafficking and save lives from the devastating exploitation and abuse of this horrific industry. 

In December of 2013, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed July 30 as "World Day Against Trafficking in Persons." According to the Global Report on Trafficking in Persons prepared by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, every country in the world is affected by human trafficking—either as a country of origin, transit, or destination for victims. In addition, children make up almost one-third of all human trafficking victims worldwide, with women and girls comprising 71% of all victims.

Recently, our team in Benin received an anonymous call about six minor girls located at the border who seemed scared and were accompanied by a suspicious-looking adult male. 

Most of us are fully aware of what human trafficking is. We know it exists in all corners of the globe, trapping innocent lives in a reality of unimaginable abuse and exploitation. In spite of our awareness, however, it's such an immense global issue, that most of us don’t know what to do about it or how to even begin to combat it. We feel overwhelmed and incapacitated, so it's just easier to ignore the issue and look the other way. However, at Love Justice, we have witnessed time and time again how one person can make a tremendous difference in this fight.

Love Justice exists to fight the world's greatest injustices and to empower lives with hope and freedom. We believe that human trafficking is one of the greatest injustices that exists today, and we are on a mission to end it. 

Most of us view freedom as a basic human right. In today’s contemporary society, the topic of slavery conjures up thoughts formed strictly in the past tense and historical references of battles fought long ago. The sobering reality, however, is that behind closed doors and in the dark recesses of humanity lurks an unspeakable reality of abuse and bondage that exists across the globe. In fact, modern-day slavery not only exists, but flourishes in the form of human trade for profit and exploitation.

Recently, our Africa leadership team spent some time in Uganda traveling to our various monitoring stations and getting a clearer picture of both the successes and challenges our staff are facing there on a daily basis. As one of the more recent countries where we have expanded our work, it was an encouraging experience.  

We are in the initial stages of expanding our anti-trafficking work into Kenya. Recently, part of our leadership team traveled there to help oversee staff training and to evaluate the results of our preliminary efforts there. The team began their travels in Mombasa, which is on the coast of Kenya. The town is known for being a popular tourist destination with its exquisite white sands and turquoise blue seas. However, human trafficking in the forms of forced labor and prostitution is a prevalent problem amidst the backdrop of this picturesque town and the country as a whole. 

Zimbabwe is a country in turmoil. It has a history of political and economic unrest that continues to plague its people today. In addition, Zimbabwe has been a focal point for human trafficking throughout the years.  Today, the steady deterioration of the country's economic status continues to cause concern and unrest among its citizens. This uncertainty can prompt people to look for employment opportunities in other countries, resulting in an increased potential for innocent lives to become victims of trafficking. 

Benin is a West African country with a population of around 10 million people. Ranking among the world's poorest countries, its shore includes what used to be known as the Slave Coast, which was the departure point for captives to be shipped across the Atlantic. Today, it is still a source, transit, and destination country for women, children, and men subjected to forced labor and human trafficking. According to a report by the U.S. Department of State, the most identified victims are Beninese girls subjected to domestic servitude or human trafficking.