Human Rights & Equity Committee
January was National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, but in our industry, trafficking prevention is an everyday objective. On January 15, 2025, the Human Rights and Equity Committee (HRE) attended the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Anti-Trafficking Symposium in Arlington, Virginia.
One of the first things discussed at the symposium was the difference between trafficking and smuggling. Smuggling is a voluntary act. It is classified as a crime against the border because it is transportation-based and requires border crossing. Trafficking is an involuntary act that is a crime against a person. This crime is exploitation-based, and no border crossing is required. Citizens or foreign nationals can commit trafficking crimes.
When it comes to trafficking, any person can be a victim of this crime. It does not matter their age, race/ethnicity, gender identity, nationality, immigration status, cultural background, socio-economic class, or level of education among some of the criteria. Trafficking can be found in both legitimate and illegitimate industries, and it can also intersect with other criminal activities such as drug trafficking, human smuggling, and/or money laundering. The trafficker in these cases can range from a relative, family friend, partner, gang, or a transnational criminal organization, to name a few.
At the symposium, it was reported that 27.6 million individuals globally have fallen victim to human trafficking. Out of the 27.6 million, 77% is labor trafficking, and 23% is sex trafficking. When it comes to human trafficking, we tend to think of sex trafficking, but the data tells us that more people are trafficked for forced labor. As an example, out of 317 reviewed cases in 2024, only 65 individuals were trafficked for sex, while the other 238 were trafficked for forced labor. The data also informs us that in 2024, out of the 317 cases, 161 individuals identified as female, while 156 identified as male. This information is relevant because it reminds us that any gender is susceptible to trafficking, the margin of difference between genders is very small, and trafficking does not only affect one gender.
How does human trafficking connect to aviation? Currently, human traffickers are using air travel to transport their victims, among other means of transportation. When relating to international human trafficking cases, data tells us in 80% of those cases, traffickers crossed official points of entry via air travel. Out of 104 survivors that were interviewed, 38% of them indicated that air travel was used as their means of trafficking. Survivors also indicated that air travel was not only limited to commercial flights but also included private planes.
Some indicators to look out for include the individual being unaware of where they are, where they are going, where they have been, or how they will get to their final destination. These individuals will also have no control of identification, important documents, tickets, boarding passes, money, and/ or a cell phone. Another indicator will be this individual having no freedom of movement or social interaction. If someone is traveling to obtain a job but they have no specific information on what it is, what they will be doing, who they will be working for, etc., this will also be an indicator of trafficking. If the individual does not know the person that purchased their ticket, who is picking them up, or is wearing improper clothing for the weather or travel route, this will also be an indicator of trafficking.