Our Mission

STOP Human and Sex Trafficking. Everywhere.

Human trafficking hides in plain sight. SHaST.org raises awareness, brings communities together in prevention, and connects people with survivor-centered resources.

Learn the Facts Recognize the Signs
Understanding The Issue

What Is Human & Sex Trafficking?

Human trafficking is the exploitation of people through force, fraud, or coercion for labor, services, or commercial sex. It affects people of all ages, backgrounds, and communities, often hiding in plain sight.

Human Trafficking

Human trafficking involves the exploitation of individuals for labor or services through force, fraud, coercion, intimidation, or manipulation.

  • Forced labor
  • Debt bondage
  • Confiscation of identification documents
  • Threats, coercion, and control

Sex Trafficking

Sex trafficking occurs when a person is recruited, manipulated, controlled, or exploited for commercial sexual activity through force, fraud, coercion, or abuse of vulnerability.

  • Grooming and manipulation
  • Commercial sexual exploitation
  • Physical and emotional control
  • Exploitation of minors and adults

Online Trafficking

Traffickers frequently use social media, gaming platforms, messaging apps, and online communities to identify, contact, groom, recruit, and manipulate victims.

  • Fake friendships or relationships
  • Job and modeling scams
  • Online grooming
  • Secretive communication tactics

Digital Grooming Warning Signs

Online trafficking often begins with trust-building, gifts, attention, promises, or emotional manipulation before exploitation occurs.

  • Secretive online behavior
  • Unknown online relationships
  • Pressure to keep conversations private
  • Receiving gifts or money unexpectedly
  • Requests for personal photos
  • Moving conversations to encrypted apps
  • Job offers that seem too good to be true
  • Attempts to isolate from family or friends

Who Can Be Targeted?

Traffickers target vulnerabilities—not a specific type of person.

Youth Online

Young people may be approached through social media, gaming platforms, messaging apps, and online communities.

Runaways

Lack of stable housing and support can increase vulnerability to exploitation.

Migrants

Language barriers, economic pressure, and dependence on employers can create opportunities for traffickers.

Anyone

Human trafficking can affect people of any age, gender, race, religion, or socioeconomic background.

Foster Youth

Youth in foster care may experience instability, disrupted relationships, and a lack of consistent support systems that traffickers can exploit.

Homeless Youth

Lack of housing, food security, and safe support networks can increase vulnerability to exploitation and coercion.

Financial Hardship

Traffickers often target individuals facing economic stress by offering false employment, housing, financial assistance, or opportunities.

Isolation

Individuals separated from friends, family, or trusted support systems may be more susceptible to manipulation, control, and exploitation.

A Triad Strategy for Systemic Change

Combating exploitation requires a unified front built on clear, actionable core pillars.

01 / Education

Arming the public with accurate facts, local reporting resources, and prevention-focused training that helps people recognize risk indicators early.

02 / Interception

Equipping communities, schools, faith groups, businesses, and service providers with awareness tools that help interrupt exploitation before it escalates.

03 / Recovery

Supporting pathways to safety through referrals, survivor-centered care, emergency resources, legal assistance, and long-term restoration support.

The Reality

Human Trafficking by the Numbers

These statistics come from public reports and Hotline data. Hotline numbers reflect reported contacts and identified situations; they do not measure the full prevalence of trafficking.

27M

People Exploited Globally

The U.S. Department of State reports an estimated 27 million people exploited globally for labor, services, and commercial exploitation.

$236B

Illegal Profits Yearly

The ILO estimates forced labor generates $236 billion in illegal profits every year.

112K+

Hotline Cases Since 2007

The National Human Trafficking Hotline has identified 112,822 cases since its inception.

272

Missouri Cases in 2024

Missouri had 696 Hotline signals and 272 cases identified in 2024.

Data That Shows Why Prevention Matters

Education, reporting, and survivor support all work together. When people know what to look for, more victims can be connected to help.

2024 Hotline Signal Types

How people contacted the National Human Trafficking Hotline in 2024.

2024 Hotline Case Requests

Primary requests connected to identified trafficking cases in 2024.

Local Awareness

Missouri is not immune.

In 2024, Missouri recorded 696 Hotline signals and 272 identified cases. SHAST’s work is focused on prevention, early recognition, and rapid connection to trusted resources.

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United States Data

Reported Trafficking Cases by State

Based on National Human Trafficking Hotline case data. This map reflects reported cases, not total trafficking prevalence.

Top Reported States

  • California 1,733
  • Texas 1,360
  • Florida 832
  • New York 570
  • Missouri 272

What You Can Do Today

You do not have to be an expert to make a difference. Awareness, reporting, and survivor-centered support can help interrupt exploitation.

Learn the Signs

Understand behavioral, environmental, and control-based indicators that may point to exploitation.

Share Resources

Make hotline information visible in schools, businesses, faith groups, and community spaces.

Support Prevention

Help fund education, local outreach, printed materials, and survivor-centered support pathways.

Know Where to Report

If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. For confidential support, call 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP to 233733.

Sources & Data Notes

Hotline statistics describe contacts and situations reported to the Hotline. They should not be interpreted as a full measure of trafficking prevalence in any city, state, or population.