Even with an estimated 27.6 million victims worldwide at any given time, Human trafficking is not merely the third most lucrative illegal business worldwide. It is not confined to modern slavery or the eleven modalities defined by Article 10 of the General Law to Prevent, Punish, and Eradicate Trafficking in Persons and to Protect and Assist Victims of these Crimes, which came into effect and was published in the Official Gazette on June 14, 2012. These modalities include: 1) Slavery, 2) Serfdom, 3) Forced prostitution or other forms of sexual exploitation, 4) Forced labor exploitation, 5) Forced labor or services, 6) Forced begging, 7) Use of persons under the age of eighteen in criminal activities, 8) Illegal adoption of a person under the age of eighteen, 9) Forced or servile marriage, 10) Trafficking of organs, tissues, and cells of living human beings, 11) Unlawful biomedical experimentation on human beings.

Human trafficking also encompasses the story of «I,» a five-year-old girl from Veracruz. Following the academic setbacks caused by the pandemic, she attended evening tutoring classes where adults tortured her in order to extract her blood and obtain adrenochrome. Adrenochrome is a derivative of oxidized adrenaline that the body metabolizes in high-stress and terror situations. It is believed that consuming it produces a sensation surpassing that of consuming mescaline. «I» was also forced, along with other children, to undress and engage in sexual acts that were recorded and sold.

Human trafficking also includes the story of «E,» a 19-year-old who, while at a bar with her boyfriend, left her drink unattended and later began to feel nauseous and lose control of her body. She went to the bathroom and lost consciousness. She was sold and sexually abused. They call it «Express Trafficking,» and it involves approaching the person in charge, pointing out anyone in the establishment, paying a certain amount to have their drink tampered with, and then sexually abusing an unconscious person in the bathroom.

Human trafficking also includes the story of «N,» a 10-year-old boy who, due to not selling enough candies at the traffic lights to meet a daily quota of 10 USD, was mercilessly beaten by his homeless parents. «N» was run over and lost a leg while desperately trying to meet his daily quota.

Human trafficking also includes the story of «M,» an indigenous 18 year old woman who was promised a job as a domestic worker with a salary of 77 dollars. Upon arriving at the place where she would work, she was informed that she would not receive her salary for two months because she had to cover the transportation costs. Later, she was told that she would have to work an additional 20 months without pay to compensate for accidentally breaking a decorative piece. «E» was pregnant and worked over 12 hours a day without basic freedoms.

We can attempt to categorize, describe, detail, and communicate in order to raise awareness about this crime, which objectifies human beings and uses them as commodities. However, to eradicate it, education and small actions are required—actions that are our responsibility as a society. Actions infused with empathy and devoid of prejudice, extending a helping hand to those in need. These actions can be as small as opening up dialogue and as significant as establishing shelters for survivors. Whether small or large, they are the responsibility of each and every one of us.