Today there are nearly 21 million victims of forced labor and human trafficking worldwide, a global industry which generates an estimated $32 billion-a-year in illegal profits. Victims include men, women and children. The United States is widely regarded as a destination country for modern day slavery. The U.S. Department of State estimates that 14,500 to 17,500 victims are trafficked into the United States each year, not to mention those that are trafficked within our borders. California– a populous border state with a significant immigrant population and the world’s ninth largest economy – is one of the nation’s top four destination states for the trafficking human beings (State of CA, Office of the Attorney General).
Human trafficking exists and is prevalent in our Central Valley. Central Valley Against Human Trafficking (CVAHT) provides comprehensive trauma-informed client services to victims and survivors of labor and/or sex trafficking. Help is available to all victims and survivors regardless of age, gender or immigration status. Additionally, advocacy, outreach, training, and public awareness are provided to a six-county region including: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced and Tulare.
Since 2010, Central Valley Against Human Trafficking has identified 407 Victims of Human Trafficking. Of these, 147 victims were identified in 2016.
Increased outreach and training efforts have dramatically increased the number of victims identified and served to date.
Central Valley Against Human Trafficking plans to continue efforts to connect survivors of trafficking to valuable resources with a goal to end trafficking in the Central Valley.
Want to get involved or learn more? Click to open the CVAHT page.