What Is Human Trafficking? 
Technically the law states: Human trafficking is a serious federal crime with penalties of up to imprisonment for life. Federal law defines “severe forms of trafficking in persons” as: “(A) sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age ; or (B) the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude , peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.” [U.S.C. §7102(8)] In short, human trafficking is modern-day slavery.
At its very core: Human Trafficking is the devaluing of human life to a sell-able commodity. It is manifested in the complete disregard for the value and dignity of human life assigned by the Creator – being made in the image of God. (Genesis 1:26-27)
How big of a problem is this? Or How many people are enslaved worldwide?
It is estimated that around 12 million people are enslaved worldwide (report from the International Labour Organisation, 2005). The actual figure may be much higher because a great deal of slavery is hidden. Some estimates put it at over 20 million. The largest numbers are in poor Asian countries and Latin America. However, it is thought that some 350,000 people are enslaved in industrialised countries. Many of the victims are women and children.
© 2006 Church Mission Society and Citizenship Foundation. Materials may be copied or altered for educational purposes.
What Is the Extent of Human Trafficking in the United States?
Contrary to a common assumption, human trafficking is not just a problem in other countries. Cases of human trafficking have been reported in all 50 states, Washington D.C. , and some U.S. territories. Victims of human trafficking can be children or adults, U.S. citizens or foreign nationals, male or female. According to U.S. government estimates, thousands of men, women, and children are trafficked to the United States for the purposes of sexual and labor exploitation. An unknown number of U.S. citizens and legal residents are trafficked within the country primarily for sexual servitude and, to a lesser extent, forced labor. It is estimated that 15-17,000 people are trafficked into the United States each year.
What are the reasons for modern slavery?
The main reason is poverty. There is a huge pool of poor people throughout the world who are powerless and have no jobs. Because of changes in the world many of these have drifted to the outskirts of large cities. They can easily be exploited and used by those who want to make profit out of them. Another important reason is that governments allow slavery to go unpunished even though it is illegal everywhere. Sometimes this is because of corruption or because governments don’t want to offend business people, sometimes because they are just not interested and have no respect for people’s human rights. Modern slavery is part of the globalised world. It is a huge business in which enormous profits can be made from areas like agriculture, mining, construction and prostitution.
© 2006 Church Mission Society and Citizenship Foundation. Materials may be copied or altered for educational purposes.
How can we identify victims of trafficking in our communities?
Victims of trafficking may look like many of the people you help every day. You can help victims of trafficking get the assistance they need by looking beneath the surface for the following clues:
- Evidence of being controlled
- Evidence of an inability to move or leave job
- Bruises or other signs of battering
- Fear or depression
- Non-English speaking
- Recently brought to this country from Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America, Canada, Africa or India
- Lack of passport, immigration or identification documentation
Other sites with information on identifying victims of trafficking:
RescueAndRestore.com
US Dept. of Health and Human Services
How Does Human Trafficking Affect Our Schools?
Trafficking can involve school-age children-particularly those not living with their parents-who are vulnerable to coerced labor exploitation, domestic servitude, or commercial sexual exploitation (i.e., prostitution). Sex traffickers target children because of their vulnerability and gullibility, as well as the market demand for young victims. The average age of entry into prostitution is 12 to 14 years old and traffickers (also called “pimps”) are known to recruit at schools and after-school programs.
Recruitment can take multiple forms, including:
1) kidnapping;
2) solicitation by other women or girls recruiting on behalf of the sex trafficker;
3) the “loverboy” approach of appearing genuinely interested in a romantic relationship while gradually coercing the victim into prostitution.
Especially for school teachers: How Do I Identify a Victim of Human Trafficking?
A victim:
- Has unexplained absences from school for a period of time, and is therefore a truant
- Demonstrates an inability to attend school on a regular basis
- Chronically runs away from home
- Makes references to frequent travel to other cities
- Exhibits bruises or other physical trauma, withdrawn behavior, depression, or fear
- Lacks control over her or his schedule or identification documents
- Is hungry-malnourished or inappropriately dressed (based on weather conditions or surroundings)
- Shows signs of drug addiction
- Additional signs that may indicate sex-related trafficking include:
- Demonstrates a sudden change in attire, behavior, or material possessions (e.g., has expensive items)
- Makes references to sexual situations that are beyond age-specific norms
- Has a “boyfriend” who is noticeably older (10+ years)
- Makes references to terminology of the commercial sex industry that are beyond age-specific norms; engages in promiscuous behavior and may be labeled “fast” by peers
How Do I Report a Suspected Incidence of Human Trafficking?
In cases of immediate emergencies, it is best to call your local police department or emergency access number.
You can report suspected trafficking crimes or get help by calling the national 24/7 toll-free Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888. This center will help you determine if you have encountered a victim of human trafficking; identify local resources available in your community to help victims; and coordinate with local social service providers to help protect and serve victims so they can begin the process of rehabilitation and restoring their lives. When appropriate, the Resource Center makes referrals to local organizations that assist victims with counseling, case management, legal advice, and other appropriate services, as well as to law enforcement agencies that help trapped victims reach safety.
For sexually exploited or abused minors, particularly those who are U.S. citizens, call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST to be connected with the most appropriate assistance in your area, or you can also report incidents at http://www.cybertipline.org.
You can report suspected instances of trafficking or worker exploitation by contacting the FBI field office nearest you, or by contacting the Department of Justice’s Human Trafficking Office at 1-888-428-7581
How Does the United States Help Victims of Human Trafficking?
The U.S. government supports a victim-centered approach. It funds a national public awareness campaign and a number of nongovernmental organizations that assist victims. The U.S. government seriously pursues human trafficking cases and prosecutes the traffickers. A summary of services for certified victims of trafficking is listed below:
Local service providers can assist with this menu of services in a variety of ways!
Examples:
Christian Women’s Job Corp Program,
Mosaic Family Services.
We value your input and suggestions.
Your comments and recommended resources are welcome in the comments box below.
Recent Comments