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A Booming International Crime Industry - The abduction of nearly 300 Nigerian schoolgirls in April has inadvertently brought attention to an ongoing global crisis. Human trafficking is the third largest global crime industry behind illegal drugs and arms smuggling, with traffickers making an estimated $32 billion every year. Keep reading to learn more about this devastating crime affecting communities across the world. — Patrice Peck(Photo: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

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"I Will Sell Them" - More than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls remain missing following the mid-April abduction carried out by Islamic extremist group Boko Haram. In response to a growing international backlash, group leader Abubakar Shekau vowed to “sell them in the market, by Allah.”(Photo: Marty Melville/Getty Images)

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Hashtag Awareness - Waves of outraged individuals decried Shekau’s announcement and the abduction by supporting the #BringBackOurGirls hashtag campaign on social media, demanding the safe return of the young girls. #RealMenDontBuyGirls, a hashtag originally launched in 2011, was also revived. (Photo: Michelle Obama via Twitter)

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Human Trafficking Hits Home - Nigeria might seem a world away from the United States in terms of distance, yet the U.S. State Department reports that 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked (i.e. recruited, kidnapped or bought and forced into labor or sex work or acts) across international borders every year. Between 14,500 and 17,500 are trafficked into the US annually, and subsequently forced into farm work, domestic work, prostitution and more. Overall, an estimated 20 to 30 million people worldwide are enslaved.  (Photo: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

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U.S. Cities by the Numbers - A number of metropolitan American cities have been identified as major trafficking portals. The illegal industry has reportedly become a $290 million business in Atlanta, whereas California is home to three of the FBI’s highest sex trafficking areas in the country: L.A., San Francisco and San Diego. The Dallas-Fort Worth area also ranks high on the list of calls received by the National Human Trafficking Hotline.(Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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It Can Happen to Anyone - Anyone can be a victim of human trafficking. However, of the hundreds of thousands of people trafficked each year, women constitute more than 70 percent of the victims, while children under 18 make up half. Factors that increase risk of trafficking include poverty, lack of education and belonging to a marginalized group. (Photo: Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Getty Images/STOCK

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Black Females at High Risk - Human trafficking also disproportionately affects communities of color. In the U.S., more than 77 percent of victims are persons of color, with Black females making up 40 percent of confirmed sex trafficking victims.(Photo: Photodisc/Getty Images)

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The Children of Asia - The most significant proportion of trafficking occurs among children in Asia. The sex tourism in this region, as well as others, features minors and children of both sexes, a demographic considered ideal as customers seek to avoid contracting AIDS. (Photo: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images)

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The Commodification of Children - Child victims are also maimed to be effective beggars and trafficked for overseas adoption and child military services.  (Photo: Ralph Kerpa/imagebroker/Corbis)

Photo By Photo: Ralph Kerpa/imagebroker/Corbis

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The Fight Against Human Trafficking - As for the ongoing fight against human trafficking, grassroots activism and government intervention varies by country. International standards include the 2003 universal trafficking definition established by the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking Persons. Nonetheless, varying economics, religions, justice systems and cultures make laws difficult to implement and enforce on an international level.  (Photo: REUTERS/John Gress /Landov)

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Your Daughters Are Our Daughters - To address the human trafficking crisis and its devastating impact in Georgia and other communities across the globe, BET News will premiere Stolen Innocence: Your Daughters Are Our Daughters, an in-depth, televised town hall forum airing this Friday and Saturday evening. Keep reading to learn about more national resources and information for victims and witnesses. (Photo: EPA/ROLEX DELA PENA /LANDOV)

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Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program - The Crime Victims Compensation Program (CVCP) helps innocent victims and witnesses of violent crime by helping to ease the financial burden incurred as a result of the victimization. When all other resources are exhausted, they can help cover expenses for medical, mental health counseling, funeral, crime scene cleanup, lost wages and other eligible expenses that are related to the crime. Contact victim services at 800-547-0060.(Photo: Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council)

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GA Cares - Georgia Cares (formerly Georgia Care Connection Office) is an initiative of the Governor’s Office for Children and Families created to serve sexually exploited children. They offer several services, including maintaining a 24-hour hotline at (404) 602-0068 for victim service and response and ensuring that all costs for recovery and treatment are provided for each child.(Photo: GA Cares)

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Out of Darkness - Out of Darkness is an anti-trafficking ministry of Atlanta Dream Center, Inc. Their mission is to reach, rescue and restore all victims of commercial sexual exploitation. They run a 24/7 hotline at (404) 941-6024 with volunteers trained to answer rescue calls. Those volunteers will then activate responders who are trained to make contact with and offer rescue to trafficking victims. Victims will be offered a safe place to stay until they can transition to appropriate restorative services.(Photo: Out of Darkness)

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Street Grace - Street Grace is a faith-based organization leading churches, community organizations and individual volunteers on a comprehensive path to end domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) in Metro Atlanta and throughout the United States. They provide training to educators, staff and administration as well as other initiatives to increase awareness of DMST. (Photo: Street Grace)

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Youth Spark - Youth Spark is committed to identifying and addressing the needs of at-risk children and their families, to give kids a chance for stronger, better and more productive lives — without exploitation, abuse and hopelessness. They work in all corners of the juvenile justice and social service systems, developing innovative direct service programs and creating change in key arenas. Their website provides a helpful Trafficking Resource Hub with research, legislative response, media links and resources. (Photo: Youth Spark)

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Tapestri - Tapestri conducts advocacy and outreach to increase community awareness and provides streamlined access and direct services for foreign-born survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence and sexual assault. As advocates for immigrant and refugee families affected by domestic violence, sexual assault and exploitation, Tapestri Inc. is committed to using education, community organizing, direct services and advocacy to improve the lives of those it serves. Contact the organization at (866) 317-3733.(Photo: Tapestri)

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National Center for Missing and Exploited Children - The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) provides assistance to law enforcement in their efforts to locate non-compliant sex offenders in the U.S. through the Sex Offender Tracking Team. They also provide analytical services to law enforcement in their investigations of child sex trafficking through the Child Sex Trafficking Team. The CyberTipline receives leads and tips regarding suspected crimes of sexual exploitation committed against children. You can reach the CyberTipLine at (800) 843-5678.(Photo: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children)

Photo By Photo: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

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National Human Trafficking Hotline (Polaris Project) - The National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) is a national, toll-free hotline, available to answer calls and texts from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. Call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at (888) 373-7888 or text BeFree (233733) to obtain local referrals, safety planning information, or to report a human trafficking situation. Interpreters are available for up to 170 different languages for those callers that require interpretive services. All calls are strictly confidential.(Photo: Polaris Project)

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National Sexual Assault Online Hotline - The RAINN (Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network) provides free, anonymous help and high-quality support services online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 800-656-HOPE (4673). Additionally, the National Sexual Assault Hotline provides help by phone to victims, survivors and loved ones across the country. They provide short-term crisis intervention and support, answers to questions about sexual assault, basic information about medical issues, and resources that can assist with the reporting process.(Photo: RAINN)

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Office for Victims of Crime - The U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) provides a national resource center for all categories of crime victims, including human trafficking. Their website provides numerous national and local resources for crime victims, advocates, crime victim rights, grants and funding. (Photo: Office for Victims of Crime)

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The National Center for Victims of Crime - The National Center for Victims of Crime is a nonprofit organization that advocates for victims' rights, trains professionals who work with victims, and serves as a trusted source of information on victims' issues. They have a number of resources available to assist victims of crime including a Connect Directory, which provides contact information for victim service providers throughout the country. (Photo: National Center for Victims of Crime)