In this edition of Community Connection, Monica May touches on a highly ignored global issue. Human trafficking is the world's second largest criminal enterprise next to drugs.

Sabrina Kirkland and Pastor Anthony Davis want Central Florida to understand how starting with a local effort can make an international impact. Through Orlando Rescue & Restore Coalition the pair are taking a stand against this modern day slavery.

Listen here as they share how we can become more aware of human trafficking and how its affecting us all.

Below are four myths from Orlando Rescue & Restore Coalition that may surprise you:

MYTH #1:Human trafficking is the forced transportation of people across borders.
Reality: Forced transportation in the absence of slavery-like labor or commercial sexual exploitation is usually considered the crime of kidnapping. Human trafficking is modern-day slavery through labor or commercial sexual exploitation, and does not require transportation to occur, though transportation may be involved.

MYTH #2: Trafficking victims are only foreign nationals.
Reality: Both the U.N. Protocol and U.S. federal law use definitions of trafficking in persons that do not require crossing of international or state borders. Many trafficked persons are victims of internal or domestic trafficking – trafficking within the borders of a single country, and are themselves nationals of that country.

MYTH #3:Poverty and inequality are the causes of human trafficking.
Reality: While poverty and inequality are important factors in making certain populations more vulnerable to being trafficked, they are not the primary cause of trafficking. Trafficking is a criminal industry driven by 1) the ability to make large profits due to high demand, and 2) negligible-to-low risk of prosecution.  Blaming poverty and inequality alone is not only inaccurate and disheartening, it tends to deflect blame from the key actors that perpetuate trafficking – the traffickers themselves and their customers.

MYTH #4:There’s not much I can do about such a huge issue.
Reality: Together – we can make a huge difference! Making a financial donation, a gift of time, goods, or services, or helping to raise awareness are some of the things collectively that help victims everyday.

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Stop Human Trafficking today...