Human Trafficking

Question 1

What is Human Trafficking?

Answer 1

• A form of modern-day slavery
• Victims of trafficking exploited for commercial sex or labor purposes
• Traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to achieve exploitation
• Tied with illegal arms for 2nd leading criminal industry, only behind drug trafficking.
• Fastest growing criminal industry

Question 2

Definition: Sex Trafficking

Answer 2

Commercial sex act induced by force, fraud, or coercion, in which the person performing the act is <18yo.

-Victims may be found working in massage parlors, brothels, strip clubs, escort services, etc.

Question 3

Definition: Labor Trafficking

Answer 3

Using force, fraud, or coercion to recruit, harbor, transport, obtain or employ a person for labor or services in involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery

• Victims can be found in domestic situations as nannies, maids, sweatshop factories, janitorial jobs, construction sites, farm work, restaurants

Question 4

Definition: Force

Answer 4

• Rape, beatings, constraint, confinement

Question 5

Definition: Fraud

Answer 5

• Includes false and deceptive offers of employment, marriage, better life

Question 6

Definition: Coercion

Answer 6

• Threats of serious harm to, or physical restraint of, any person; any scheme, plan or pattern intended to cause victims to believe that result in failure to perform an act would result in restraint against them; or the abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process

Question 7

Who are victims of trafficking?

Answer 7

• Approximately 800K-900K victims internationally trafficked across international borders.
• Between 18-20K victims trafficked into US annually.
• More than half of victims trafficked into US are thought to be children; victims are probably about equally men and women.
• Victims can be trafficked into the US from anywhere. Victims have come from, among other places, Africa, Asia, India, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Russia, and Canada.
• Often kept isolated
• May be watched, escorted, or guarded by traffickers and may be “coached” what to say
• Victims do not seek help due to fear
• Both US citizens and non-citizens are affected (victims of trafficking can apply for special visas or receive other forms of immigration relief.) (Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000)

Question 8

Trafficking Victims: Understanding to Mindset

Answer 8

Frequently victims:

• Do not speak English
• Confined to room or small place to work, eat, and sleep
• Fear, distrust healthcare providers, government, and police (Fear of being deported)
• Unaware that what is being done to them is a crime
• Do NOT consider themselves victims
• Blame themselves for their situations
• May develop deep loyalties, positive feelings toward trafficker as coping mechanism
• May try to protect trafficker from police
• Sometimes victims do not know where they are, b/c traffickers frequently move them to escape detection
• Fear for safety of family in home country

Question 9

Human Trafficking: Myths

Answer 9

• All prostitutes are willing participants
• All immigrants smuggled into the US enter willingly.
• All participants involved in human trafficking are criminals

Question 10

Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking

Answer 10

• While trafficking is largely hidden social problem, many victims are in plain sight if you know what to look for.
• Is victim accompanied by another person who seems controlling?
• Does person accompanying victim insist on giving information to health providers?
• Signs of physical abuse?
• Is victim submissive or fearful?
• Is there difficulty communicating because of language or cultural barriers?
• Is there common health problems experienced by trafficking victims?
• victim have ID?

Question 11

Health Issues Associated with Victims of Human Trafficking: Causes

Answer 11

• Inhumane living conditions
• Poor sanitation
• Inadequate nutrition
• Poor personal hygiene
• Brutal physical and emotional abuse
• Dangerous workplace conditions
• General lack of quality medical care

Question 12

Health Issues Associated with Victims of Human Trafficking: Conditions

Answer 12

• STDs, HIV/AIDS, Pelvic pain, rectal trauma, urinary difficulties
• Unwanted pregnancy from rape or prostitution
• Infertility
• Chronic back, hearing, CV, or respiratory problems
• Weak eyes