In 2013 the UN General Assembly designated July 30th as the World Day against Trafficking in Persons to raise awareness about the severity of human rights violations that trafficking victims endure, and to recognize that human trafficking is a crime that affects countries around the world.But this global day of recognition reflects a very local problem. Human trafficking occurs in Solomon Islands; it happens in our local communities and across borders and it traps people in conditions of slavery and exploitation.Human trafficking is the recruitment, transport, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons for the purpose of exploitation. It is often done by tricking people, lying to or deceiving them, and sometimes occurs by force or threat. Exploitation refers to controlling another person and using him or her to make money or for free labour. Forms of exploitation include sexual exploitation and forced prostitution, domestic servitude, slavery, forced labour and even forced commercial marriage, among others. Victims of trafficking are treated as possessions - bought, sold and traded into horrible conditions, with no choice to leave. But, a person cannot be a possession, and a child should never be a commodity.Since the mid-1990s, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has assisted more than 85,000 victims of trafficking to return safely home. IOM is committed to supporting efforts to strengthen global coordination on trafficking, utilizing its global footprint and expertise.In the lead up to the 30th July 2016, IOM, in collaboration with the Solomon Islands Immigration Division hosted an anti-human trafficking training for law enforcement agencies, funded by the US Department of State. The aim was to teach officers to identify and protect victims, investigate crimes and prosecute offenders, but also to promote partnership for a coordinated response to the crime. In his opening remarks on 26 July 2016, RSIPF Commissioner of Police, Frank Prendergast noted “I do believe Solomon Islands has a human trafficking problem. We need to improve our ability to recognize this crime in order to address it effectively. Victims need to be protected and communities need to be aware of the risks. Prevention is as important as response.”Poverty, the desire for greater economic opportunity and humanitarian emergencies can make communities vulnerable to trafficking. Many victims are deceived about the nature or conditions of work in the destination country or city; others, including women and children are, unfortunately, sold by family members. Nicole Hoagland, IOM Programme Coordinator notes “Estimates in terms of number of victims of trafficking vary. We know more than 20 million people are victims forced labour. But it’s not about statistics – it is about people, it is about communities. Human trafficking is a social, political and economic issue. It cannot be tackled by law enforcement alone. It requires a comprehensive and complex response – one which reflects and addresses the often nuanced nature of the crime.”So while law enforcement actors step up efforts to combat the crime, service providers are also calling for communities to unite to tackle the issue. Kim Abbey from Seif Ples notes that Solomon Islands has a chance to change its course on human trafficking within its borders. A 2007 report from the Christian Care Centre spoke about the child sexual exploitation happening in Makira, we read stories of young children going to market whenever the fishing trawlers came into town and then how young boys could not understand why the young girls were allowed aboard the boats but not them. We read in the 2015Save the Children Report that over 100 unregulated logging companies exist then we see stories in our newspapers about loggers being repatriated to their home countries, brought to Solomon Islands with the promise of earning good money for their families but forced to work long hours with little to no pay. We have friends and family who have been offered jobs in other countries that seem “too good to be true”. We meet house girls, foreign and too young to be away from their parents, promised a job and to be cared for, neglected and forced to sleep with the boss. We hear of women running brothels filled with foreign women, taxis that courier young girls to men, we hear of hotspots around town and certain beaches. We have become familiar with terms such as ‘Solair’ and ‘Solfish’. Don’t let the familiar cause you to become complacent, these are incidences that surround us and each one is marked by human suffering. Everyone has a responsibility to report incidences, on this World Day against Trafficking in Persons July 30 and every other day of the year we issue the challenge that – if you see something, say something. If you or someone you know is experiencing violence or sexual assault call Seif Ples 132 or call 999 if you are in immediate danger.In light of the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, let us come together and admit the challenges we face, stand up for those vulnerable and take action to make Solomon Islands a country where persons involved in trafficking can no longer operate.