Some days ago I was thrilled to be invited to a luncheon honoring Luis CdeBaca, the United States’ Ambassador-at-Large and Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.

On a program that Ambassador CdeBaca signed for me, he wrote, “Adriana – thank you for all of your hard work to fight modern slavery!” And, I couldn’t help but wonder, what is this hard work to which he alludes? What am I do doing to combat this horrific crime? Do I even really understand what it is? In realizing that the answers to these questions were overwhelmingly in the negative, I was compelled to do some quick background research.

As his brief biography released by the State Department specifies, “In May 2009, Ambassador Luis CdeBaca was appointed by President Obama to coordinate U.S. government activities in the global fight against contemporary forms of slavery.”

The last four words of the description of CdeBaca’s employment never cease to be shocking – “contemporary forms of slavery.” That this terminology exists today to describe a major issue confronting our world is unbelievable and even more so is the reality that it is closer than we think.

The organization that sponsored the Luncheon Mosaic Family Services, Inc. (mosaicservices.org) defines the term human trafficking as “the recruitment, harboring, transporting, or procurement of a person for labor or services for the purpose of involuntary servitude, slavery, or forced commercial sex acts.” This crime robs a person of his or her humanity and liberty. He or she is forced to labor in unfathomable conditions with no compensation. The State Department estimates that anywhere from 14,500 to 17,500 people are brought to the United States to be exploited sexually or in labor. Texas has become both a corridor and a final destination for thousands of victims.

This happens right here. In Dallas. For example, when the Super Bowl was held at the new stadium in Arlington, not only did excited fans flock to the city, but so did “their entertainers,” primarily young women forced to sell their bodies for others’ profit and enjoyment.

Unfortunately, the issue has further complications. Just like I was unaware of the prevalence of this hideous crime, often so too are its victims. Though forced into this modern slavery, they do not know to call it “human trafficking”, nor to whom it can be reported or how. They do not know that there is a way out. In this way, victims are truly enslaved

In thinking about this, I could not help but see the same pattern that is repeated at every perpetuation of a major human rights abuse – the mass rejection of the humanity of a person, the stripping of his or her dignity as such. I am enraged that this continues to occur in our proximity. Immediately, my thoughts went to what is often my initial reaction (for better and for worse), “What can I do about this?”

Having been pondering this question for a few days, I realized that on a very personal level, I have a duty to do the exact opposite of what each of these human rights abuses does. If each of these crimes strips a person of his or her humanity, then I am obligated to respect and defend the humanity of each person. This may seem like an odd response, but to protect, above all else, the dignity of the human person is a way of life.

This ideology permeates not just large, prestigious service projects, but our quotidian rapport with each person we encounter. When was the last time that I really listened to the response when I asked someone how his or her day was going? I am not sure. When was the last time I took a moment to smile at a waiter at a restaurant? Or to look someone in the eyes and meaningfully wish them a good day? These are the precise human moments that are lost in the hustle and bustle of our busy days. Well, perhaps it is also here that our desensitization to the people around us begins to occur.

By this I do not mean that we are then going to commit atrocious crimes, and hope that I am not minimizing the horrors of human trafficking by my minuscule new resolution. However, this is something that I know I can work on and that seems to address the same root issue. This is how I will do my part to defend the rights of each person, every day, in every moment.

As the Embrey Human Rights Program tasks us, “There is no such thing as a lesser person.”

Adriana Martinez is a senior majoring in political science, French, public policy, and history. She can be reached for comment at [email protected]