What is Human Trafficking?
Human Trafficking is modern-day slavery and involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Millions of men, women and children are trafficked into forced labor situations and into the sex trade worldwide. Human Trafficking is: sex exploitation, forced labor, debt bondage, child bride, child soldier and organ harvesting. Human trafficking is different from human smuggling. Trafficking is exploitation-based and does not require movement across borders or any type of transportation. Who are victims? Who is at risk? Trafficking victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. Trafficking victims can be men or women, young or old, American or from abroad, with or without legal status. Traffickers prey on victims with little or no social safety net. They look for victims who are vulnerable because of their illegal immigration status, limited English proficiency, and those who may be in vulnerable situations due to economic hardship, political instability, natural disasters, or other causes.
(referenced from The Blue Campaign, Homeland Security).
“What can I do to help?”
Human trafficking is often "hidden in plain sight."
There are a number of red flags, or indicators, which can help alert you to human trafficking. Recognizing the signs is the first step in identifying victims. If you see something you feel is wrong call 911. If it's not a problem there is no harm done. If it is... then you have made a difference in a life.
Some indicators include -
Behavior or Physical State:
1. Does the victim act fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense or nervous/paranoid?
2. Does the victim allow someone else to speak for them?
3. Does the victim show signs of physical and /or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture?
4. Has the victim been harmed or deprived or food, water, sleep, medical care, or other life necessities?
5. Does the victim have few or no personal possessions?
Social Behavior:
1. Can the victim freely contact friends or family?
2. Is the victim allowed to socialize or attend religious services?
3. Does the victim have freedom of movement?
4. Has the victim or family been threatened with harm if the victim attempts to escape?
Work Conditions and Immigration Status:
1. Does the victim work excessively long and/or unusual hours?
2. Is the victim a juvenile engaged in commercial sex?
3. Was the victim recruited for one purpose and forced to engage in some other job?
4. Is the victim's salary being garnished to pay off a smuggling fee?
5. Has the victim been forced to perform sexual acts?
6. Has the victim been threatened with deportation or law enforcement action? Is the victim in possession of his/her own travel documents? If not, who has control of them?
Minor Victims:
1. Is the victim a juvenile engaged in commercial sex?