Startling statistics reveal that a shocking 95% of individuals trafficked in India are tragically coerced into the deplorable realm of prostitution. Disturbing findings from a 2014 Dasra report bring to light the harrowing truth that around 16 million women in India become victims of sex trafficking, with a distressing 40% of them being adolescents and children. These figures become even more heartbreaking when considering that over 70% of these victims hail from impoverished families and face the additional burden of lacking basic literacy skills

The gravity of the situation becomes even more apparent when considering the alarming numbers shared by the National Human Rights Commission of India. Each year, an estimated 40,000 children are abducted, with 11,000 of them remaining untraced. Disturbingly, children comprise around 40% of the total population of individuals trapped in prostitution.

Human trafficking is a global problem that permeates all corners of the world. It stands as the second-largest rapidly growing industry, surpassed only by drug and weapons trading. This criminal enterprise enslaves and victimizes millions, with an estimated 4 to 27 million individuals falling prey to human trafficking each year.

In India alone, the sex trafficking industry generates an astonishing $9 billion in revenue. According to the report by the Global March Against Child Labor, the overall Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE) industry in the country yields revenues ranging from $30 to $343 billion per year. These figures underscore the sheer magnitude of the economic forces driving this cruel trade.

Globally, an alarming 426 million children currently live in vulnerable circumstances, accounting for nearly one-fifth of the world's children. Heartbreakingly, some of these vulnerable children, as young as 11 years old, resort to prostituting themselves on the streets simply to secure food and a place to sleep.

This somber reality calls for unwavering commitment and concerted efforts to combat human trafficking and protect the innocent lives it preys upon. It is crucial to raise awareness, support organizations dedicated to anti-trafficking initiatives, and advocate for stronger legal frameworks and enforcement to bring an end to this heinous crime against humanity.