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Around the world, the issue of human trafficking remains very much prevalent, even though it often hides in plain sight.

Here in the United States, countless lives are routinely hurt or even destroyed by human trafficking. Yet, in spite of this, the general public tends to lack a true understanding of the extent to which trafficking happens and exists; this includes in their own communities.

Groups like Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) and Slavery Free World remain hard at work to end trafficking. OUR has operated overseas and domestically to rescue trafficking survivors and bring perpetrators to justice.

Here in America, various states are employing more frequent measures to educate individuals, businesses, and other community members about human trafficking.

This includes how to not only recognize trafficking, but also report it to the authorities and potentially save lives.

Sadly, despite more attention toward human trafficking, this iteration of modern-day slavery is growing. Germany is one of many places documenting rising cases of human trafficking.

What to know about the rise of human trafficking in Germany

According to German law enforcement officials, 2021 saw a 10% rise in human trafficking cases from those documented in 2020.

Tragically, it's a known reality that all cases of human trafficking are not formally documented in real-time. Therefore, the true rise of Germany-based human trafficking remains unknown.

Nevertheless, German officials claim from 2020 to 2021, a 23% rise in children suffering from human trafficking occurred. This includes not just the distribution of child pornography, but also adults forcing children into prostitution.

German police allege in child trafficking cases, 15 is the average age of those victimized. Meanwhile, the average age for perpetrators of child trafficking stands at 37.

More harrowing information

Germany documents in cases of adults forced into sex work, more than nine in ten of them are women. Many circumstances of forced sex work involve older men first romancing women, then later trafficking them.

This is common in human trafficking, with men in this capacity often known as the "Romeo pimp."

Other documented cases of human trafficking in Germany involve the exploitation of human labor. This commonly occurs in roles of home cleaning, office cleaning, elder care, construction work, etc.

Anyone who wishes to report what they believe to be human trafficking can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline via phone at 1 (888) 373-7888 or by text at 233733.