Human Trafficking

What is it?

• "Human trafficking is the business of stealing freedom for profit. In some cases, traffickers trick, defraud or physically force victims into providing commercial sex. In others, victims are lied to, assaulted, threatened or manipulated into working under inhumane, illegal or otherwise unacceptable conditions. It is a multi-billion dollar criminal industry that denies freedom to 24.9 million people around the world." definition via https://humantraffickinghotline.org/what-human-trafficking.

Vulnerability

• Human Traffickers often use certain risk factors to their advantage to cause dependency in their victims. Some of these factors may include, but isn't limited to; mental health diagnoses, recent migration, substance use, being a runaway or homeless youth, and more. Although these are common risks to trafficking, anyone can fall victim regardless of race, gender, and ethnicity. Human Traffickers themselves also range in all demographics, some using privilege, wealth, and power as means to control their victims, and others in the same social and economic status as their victims.  

How the control works

• Human Traffickers use many control tactics, with the most common being physical and mental abuse and threats, isolation from those you trust, and economic abuse. In order to secure control, they create promises and trust between them and the victim. This can include promises of fixing and addressing their needs/wants. Psychological trauma, shame, emotional attachment, and physical threats to themselves or family can cause survivors fear in escaping the situation. 

What are the signs?

Common Work and Living Conditions: The individual(s) in question

• Is not free to leave or come and go at will

• Is under 18 and is providing commercial sex acts

• Is in the commercial sex industry and has a pimp / manager

• Is unpaid, paid very little, or paid only through tips

• Works excessively long and/or unusual hours

• Is not allowed breaks or suffers under unusual restrictions at work

• Owes a large debt and is unable to pay it off

• Was recruited through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of his/her work

• High security measures exist in the work and/or living locations (e.g. opaque windows, boarded up windows, bars on windows, barbed wire, security cameras, etc.)

• Is living and working on site

• Experiences verbal or physical abuse by their supervisor

• Is not given proper safety equipment

• Is not paid directly

• Is forced to meet daily quotas

Poor Mental Health or Abnormal Behavior

• Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid

• Exhibits unusually fearful or anxious behavior after bringing up law enforcement or immigration officials

• Shows signs of substance use or addiction

Poor Physical Health

• Shows signs of poor hygiene, undernourishment, and/or fatigue

• Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture

Lack of Control

• Has few or no personal possessions

• Is frequently monitored

• Is not in control of their own money, financial records, or bank account

• Is not in control of their own identification documents (ID or passport)

• Is not allowed or able to speak for themselves (a third party may insist on being present and/or translating)

Other

• Claims of just visiting and inability to clarify where they are staying/address

• Lack of knowledge of whereabouts and/or do not know what city he/she is in

• Appear to have lost sense of time

• Shares scripted, confusing, or inconsistent stories

• Protects the person who may be hurting them or minimizes abuse

- https://humantraffickinghotline.org/human-trafficking/recognizing-signs

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"Note: According to federal law, any minor under the age of 18 engaging in commercial sex is a victim of sex trafficking, regardless of the presence of force, fraud, or coercion.

If you believe you are a victim of human trafficking or may have information about a potential trafficking situation, please contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911."