present participle of traffic; dealing or trading in illegal goods or people
from French trafique, from Italian traffico, possibly from Arabic tafriq meaning distribution
The word 'traffic' originally just meant trade or commerce - it's only in recent centuries that it took on the sinister meaning of illegal trade we associate with it today.
Human trafficking disproportionately affects women and girls, who comprise ~99% of sexual trafficking victims globally. Language around trafficking often erases this gender dimension or uses gender-neutral framing that obscures gendered violence.
When discussing trafficking, specify victim demographics and acknowledge gendered vulnerability. Avoid neutral language that obscures sex-specific harm in sexual trafficking contexts.
["human trafficking (with gender context added)","gendered trafficking violence","sexual exploitation"]
Women's anti-trafficking organizations have led this movement; credit frontline women advocates, survivors, and organizations like Global Modern Slavery Directory led by women.
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