P ITCHFORK THE ‘Rescuing Hope’ in the digital age

Dylan Buehner Business Manager

The image of a human trafficker for most is a sketchy guy in a white van outside a middle school or daycare. But this is a surface-level profile of a tiny part of global trafficking rings. Only around three percent of worldwide cases of trafficking were by force. For that three percent of victims, the image of said white van is all too real.

For most victims, they were roped into human trafficking through seemingly innocent ways. Around 37 percent of victims are “recruited” through online means. An additional 23 percent of victims had pre-existing relationships with their traffickers.

Traffickers prey on the weakest in society. They go for the marginalized, ostracized, and isolated individuals all around the world. They pretend to be people they are not, luring vulnerable people into their traps and exploiting them for personal gain.

Most victims are first approached by a trafficker between the ages of 12-14. 91 percent of victims were enrolled in middle or highs chool during their abuse. Trafficking is a real problem in the US and numerous states, and spreading awareness of the causes and signs of trafficking is critical.

The Georgia government, along with organizations like Rescuing Hope, have used the HB287 bill to educate students on the topic.

Continue to pg. 4 for “HB287”