Although it is important to stay informed about human trafficking, there are many challenges that make it a much more complicated issue than many think. Here’s what you should be aware of with respect to the accuracy of statistics around human trafficking and the often-overlooked complexities it entails.
Difficulties in Obtaining Accurate Information
There are a multitude of studies on human trafficking that deduce quantitative conclusions about the issue. However, human trafficking is notoriously underreported. As shocking as the numbers are regarding how many people are trafficked among other information in the space, it is likely that this is only a fraction of the actual problem because of the lack of reporting in the space.
One of the main reasons human trafficking is massively underreported is due to many victims not willing or able to come forward or speak out. To learn more about why victims don’t come forward, check out our blog, Why Victims of Sex Trafficking Don’t Just Self-Identify?
Many reports on human trafficking also have an incredibly small sample size or an incredibly biased sample size. For example, if an organization conducting a report works primarily with survivors who are young women, that demographic will likely make up a large portion of their sample size for the research.
Even in the United States which is considered a leader in the fight to end human trafficking, cases are known to be massively underreported. Because this crime is massively underreported, the studies conducted on victim attributes are unlikely to depict a true representation of the population.
Mass Circulation of Misinformation
Though the information deducted from research in the human trafficking space is useful in trying to understand the big picture, it does not on its own present an accurate representation of the space.
The issue does not only lie in the research itself, but in people’s understanding of that research. This is best understood in the following way: if a research study case details that the average age of the survivors of sex trafficking from the study was 19 years of age, someone may take that as the overall average age of a victim of sex trafficking is 19 years old. It is important to acknowledge that studies only look at samples of people, and although they may gather important data, they don’t necessarily represent the entire group of true victims. In addition, more research still needs to be conducted to understand each issue that falls under the larger umbrella of human trafficking. If only bits and pieces of the puzzle are examined, we are will never be able to examine human trafficking in a way that optimally allows us to fight it.
One example of niche research done that has widely circulated and misrepresented the full issue of sex trafficking is the concept of the average age of a trafficking victim. For example, NCMEC states the average age of a child sex trafficking victim reported to their organization was 15 in 2019; however this information was misinterpreted to be the average age of sex trafficking victims overall is 15 and circulated across social media. Because of the sheer number of unreported cases as well as the other issues in researching the topic, there have been many different reports addressing the average age of victims. Though this research as previously mentioned does contribute to the bigger picture, looking at it as a complete, definitive understanding of the problem is detrimental.
It is difficult, if not impossible, to determine what an average victim looks like in terms of demographics because of the issues of research in this space. Realistically, we cannot nor should we specify an average age or typical demographic attribute of victims, because people of all ages and backgrounds are victimized and those definitive statements often skew public perception of the problem. Older adults to children only months old have been reported as victims of sexual exploitation. In Operation Cross Country XI, an agent recovered a 3-month-old child and her 5-year-old sister. Additionally, in some cases, children are born into sex trafficking.
The data is not there to back up any claim of the overall average attributes of any given victim. One study may give one piece of information while another says something completely different.
Human Trafficking as a Trending Topic
More so, in the human trafficking space, it is not uncommon for a misinformed statistic or other piece of information to widely circulate, particularly when sex trafficking is a trending topic in that there is a scandal or other large story in the news and media. This notion of human trafficking essentially being an on-and-off trending topic is another issue. Often times, information that inaccurately represents the issue of human trafficking but goes viral can garner a lot of attention and spread a misunderstanding of the problem. It is wonderful to see an interest in the fight to end human trafficking, but it is harmful when misinformation circulates so intensely. It’s important to be conscious and cautious of the information you are sharing about human trafficking, and research a variety of sources as you come to your own conclusions on the topic.
Interested in learning more about human trafficking? Check out our educational blog series!
Stay connected to Marinus Analytics! Follow us on Linkedin and Twitter.
Do you want to learn more about human trafficking, bring awareness to the issues, or join the fight to end it? Sign up for our FREE Guide to Joining the Fight Against Human Trafficking where we delve into the importance of big data for human trafficking investigations; provide educational resources including books, documentaries, and podcasts; sources to turn to for reliable information; and give you examples of how you can raise awareness and take action no matter your time constraints, comfort level, or skillset.