Human Trafficking

Human trafficking violates the sanctity, dignity, and fundamental rights of the human person. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security defines it as the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act." Human trafficking appears in "many guises", often taking the form of commercial sexual exploitation, the prostitution of minors, debt bondage, and involuntary servitude. 
 

Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States. It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. Traffickers might use the following methods to lure victims into trafficking situations:

• Violence

• Manipulation

• False promises of well-paying jobs

• Romantic relationships 

Language barriers, fear of their traffickers, and/or fear of law enforcement frequently keep victims from seeking help, making human trafficking a hidden crime.

Traffickers look for people who are easy targets for a variety of reasons, including:

• Psychological or emotional vulnerability

• Economic hardship

• Lack of a social safety net

• Natural disasters

• Political instability

The trauma caused by the traffickers can be so great that many may not identify themselves as victims or ask for help, even in highly public settings.
 

Source: Blue Campaign

Myth: Human trafficking victims are only foreign born individuals and those who are poor. 

Fact: Human trafficking victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. They may come from any socioeconomic group. A socioeconomic group is the social standing or class of an individual or group. It is often measured as a combination of education, income, and occupation. 

Myth: Human trafficking is only sex trafficking.

Fact: Sex trafficking exists, but it is not the only type of human trafficking. Forced labor is another type of human trafficking; both involve exploitation of people. Victims are found in legitimate and illegitimate labor industries, including sweatshops, massage parlors, agriculture, restaurants, hotels, and domestic service. 

Myth: Human trafficking and human smuggling are the same.

Fact: Human trafficking is not the same as smuggling. "Trafficking" is based on exploitation and does not require movement across borders. "Smuggling" is based on movement and involves moving a person across a country's border with that person's consent in violation of immigration laws Although human smuggling is very different from human trafficking, human smuggling can turn into trafficking if the smuggler uses force, fraud, or coercion to hold people against their will for the purposes of labor or sexual exploitation. Under federal law, every minor induced to engage in commercial sex is a victim of human trafficking.  

Myth: Human trafficking victims will attempt to seek help when in public. 
 

Fact: Human trafficking is often a hidden crime. Victims may be afraid to come forward and get help; they may be forced or coerced through threats of violence; they may fear retribution from traffickers, including danger to their families; and they may not be in possession of or have control of their identification documents. 

Source: Blue Campaign

Here are a few organizations working to end human trafficking around the country:  

Blue Campaign is a national public awareness campaign designed to educate the public, law enforcement, and other industry partners to recognize the indicators of human trafficking, and how to appropriately respond to possible cases.

Polaris is leading a survivor-centered, justice- and equity-driven movement to end human trafficking. Since 2007, Polaris has operated the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline, connecting victims and survivors to support and services, and helping communities hold traffickers accountable.