Many headlines, articles and even conversations in regards to human trafficking refer to it as if it’s some sort of epidemic. It’s a problem that each country struggles with, even nations like the United States. It happens in cities and towns and everywhere in between. It’s probably happening in the nearest small town and nearest big city from your location. However, many of these conversations act as if there is a possible way to “end” human trafficking. To make it a non-existent issue, as if that were possible.

An epidemic is something that can be conceivably cured. There is an imaginable end in sight, even if it’s not in our lifetimes. Many good people want to believe that human trafficking, as a crime in general, could conceivably be outlawed and eventually eradicated like smallpox. A valiant goal, no doubt.

However, this presents a fundamental misunderstanding of what human trafficking is. Calling to end human trafficking is akin to calling for an end to murder. Most everyone could get on board with that, but it’s not a realistic goal to strive toward.

As far as homicide is concerned, you could conceivably shut down large organized criminal groups that conduct violence; you could also promote education in certain areas and you could bolster mental health efforts across the country. Everyone has their own methods they would like to use to curb violence throughout the nation, but no one thinks that murder will ever end, we just have to create a space where it is as minimized as possible.