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Modern-day slavery

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Imagine being kidnapped and forced to work against your will - trapped into slavery with no one, seemingly, to rescue you.

The reality is, nearly 18 thousand victims are trafficked across borders and into the United States each year.

Human trafficking one of the world's largest criminal industries, and is the fastest growing.

Traffickers trap people through fear and confinement. But victims can be spotted -- often by physical injuries or their inability to move around freely.

Wade Horn, HHS' Assistant Secretary for Children and Families:

"If anybody believes that they think they know of a situation where someone is a victim of human trafficking or just simply wants to get more information about this problem, they can call our toll free number at 1-888-373-7888." (17 seconds)

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: November 10, 2005

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