Human trafficking awareness campaigns, which sometimes feature lurid warnings that suggest that anyone could be victimized by the insidious crime, don’t actually do anything to combat the problem and actually perpetuate myths about it, HuffPost reports.
Human trafficking is a real problem: of that, there is no doubt. Whether it’s children or adults, whether it’s being coerced into sexual slavery or forced labor, the human and societal toll of this issue cannot be understated.
However, campaigns aimed at raising awareness of the issue paint the wrong picture.
For example, the so-called “warning signs” of human trafficking that sensational posters you may see at an airport or bus station tell you to be on the lookout for are actually rarely present in victims of this crime.