ENDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING
To keep the fight to end human trafficking at the forefront of the national security agenda, the Administration released a new “National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking.” Globally, an estimated 25 million people are subjected to human trafficking and forced labor, which is responsible for an estimated $150 billion annually in illicit profits. It erodes the safety and health of communities and transportation networks, the security of the nation’s borders, the strength of the nation’s economy, and the rule of law (fact sheet).
As human trafficking disproportionately impacts some of the most vulnerable and undeserved members of society, the updated plan responds by addressing the needs of such individuals, families, and communities. As such, it reflects the Administration’s commitments to gender and racial equity. The plan also reflects the Administration’s commitment to workers’ rights and ending forced labor within global supply chains.
The plan remains grounded in an integrated federal response and close collaboration with state and local governments, the private sector, and non-governmental partners and retains a central focus on foundational pillars: prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnerships (see Department resources).