Issue 1, April 2005 - Human trafficking affects hundreds of thousands of lives every year, and especially those of young women and girls. Literally enslaved, these victims suffer a physical and emotional toll that is heartbreaking. The good news is that the international community is paying more attention than ever. Learn what governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and concerned citizens are doing to combat trafficking--on the social, economic, educational, and legal fronts.

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Big profits and little risk drive this criminal industry, which sees as many as 2 million women, men, and children trafficked each year.

If there is one consensus on human trafficking, it is this: as a cross-border problem, it cannot be solved without international cooperation.

Much of the newfound zeal to combat trafficking has been sparked by the efforts of non-governmental organizations, who are increasingly focusing on prevention, protection, and prosecution--the 3 Ps.

“From that day on my misery started: he was sending around 50 clients a day, sometimes even more. I did not understand what was happening. I had no right to be sick, I had no right to refuse or choose.”

Governments, corporations, and consumers should all be doing more to stop human trafficking, says the Polaris Project.

AED believes that, with positive economic and social development, much can be done to help empower Southeast Asians to continue to combat the causes of human trafficking.

Putting a stop to human trafficking requires giving voice to the needs and challenges of ALL trafficked persons, argues Project Hope International, a group with programs in the U.S., Cambodia, and Thailand.