Tag Archives: human trafficking

I take New Year’s resolutions seriously, which is why I am hard at work on my 2012 resolutions now. As I think about changes I’ll make in 2012, I wonder what resolutions we’ll see from business leaders as the new year begins. In particular, the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act takes effect on January 1 and will require business leaders to communicate what they are doing to address slavery and human trafficking. Many do not realize that this is still a 21st-century problem. However, through violence, threats and coercion, victims are forced to work in, among other things, the sex trade, domestic labor, factories, hotels and agriculture. According to the U.S. Department of State, there are an estimated 600,000-800,000 men, women and children trafficked across international borders each year. Of these, approximately 80 percent are women and girls, and up to 50 percent are children. California has been reported to be one of the top four destination states for trafficking victims in the United States.