Col, you know that I don't get totally bent out of shape on most of your posts. I'll tweak you a bit, chide you a bit, and let it slip. But human trafficking is a continuing tragedy around the world. And based on security briefings I used to get regarding overseas travel while I was with the U.S. Navy, I'm going to side with Pat on this one. She is correct that people in general - ALL OVER THE WORLD - do not fully appreciate the extent to which trafficking occurs. There are countries where it is well-known, but equally there are countries where it is not recognized as a problem.
Part of that relates to those cultures where women are relegated to 2nd-class citizen roles. Part of it relates to the abject poverty in so many of the emerging nations. Between forced labor trafficking and sex trafficking, women are predominantly the victims, where even pre-teen young women and girls are sold. Nor do they have many choices.
You may indeed be one of the more erudite citizens who better appreciates how often it occurs, and for that knowledge I congratulate you. But Pat's concern is legitimate and the crime in question is horrific. If you took umbrage with her comment, then take umbrage with mine, too. Just know that human trafficking is so widespread as to be almost an epidemic. And it happens in the UK, too.
Based on a relatively recent (but not after 2020) U.N. report, only 29% of the member nations of the U.N. report more than 10 convictions a year. Another 17% report between 1 and 10 convictions per year. That means that 54% of the U.N. members either don't have laws against that crime (22%) or don't have the means to deal with the crime. Conviction rates run less than 50% even in the U.K. for the period covered by the report's detailed history - from 2004-2007, where they had complete legal histories.