Trafficking is not just an issue that happens to people in other
countries. The United States is a source and transit country, and is
also considered one of the top destination points for victims of child
trafficking and exploitation. Cases of human trafficking have been
reported in all 50 U.S. States; anyone can be trafficked regardless of
race, class, education, gender, age, or citizenship when forcefully
coerced or enticed by false promises.Child victims of trafficking are recruited, transported, transferred,
harbored or received for the purpose of exploitation. They may be forced
to work in sweatshops, on construction sites or in houses as domestic
servants; on the streets as child beggars, in wars as child soldiers, on
farms, in traveling sales crews or in restaurants and hotels. Some are
forced to work in brothels and strip clubs or for escort and massage
services. Slavery has many forms and names, but it’s still slavery. And it’s still
wrong. Can you imagine being forced to work without pay, trapped,
unable to walk away, subject to violence or the threat of violence, by
another person as they control you? Own you? Isolated, yet hidden in
plain sight. This is reality for those trapped in slavery today. Slavery
is illegal in every single country in the world. Yet it still exists. Many labor victims don’t know they’re victims. They’re told they owe debt and have to work to pay it off.
“If
a trafficker says you have to pay a debt, in the U.S., that's peonage
[debt slavery]. That’s illegal,You can’t be forced to
pay a debt through labor.
According
to the recent USD trafficking report, local gangs are seeing sex
slavery as a bigger money maker than drugs. The study estimates pimps
make nearly $600,000 a year.
Stephan
said common areas for sex trafficking recruitment include malls, high
schools, trolley and bus stops. Local experts said this is happening all
throughout the county and pimps especially target at-risk children and
runaways.
The First thing you can do to help is become informed: Here is a list of ways you can help.
1. BE INFORMED
To spot a potential
victim, you should look to see if she’s looking down and
not making eye contact, and if there’s an older male with her and you
say ‘Hello,’ and she doesn’t respond. Tattooing or branding. Anything
with a money symbol. When it comes to trafficking, perception is usually not reality. You don’t always see chains
and shackles. Often, the chains are psychological.If you see a potential trafficking situation and you believe it’s an emergency, don’t hesitate to call 911.
COMMON SITUATIONS OF CHILD TRAFFICKING
Strip clubs, exotic dancing, pornography
Begging Online ads, chat services and porn sites Escort or dating services Domestic labor (housecleaning, childcare, elderly care)Restaurants or bars The street Factories, sweatshops, or agricultural work Businesses such as hotel/motels, massage parlors, nail salons
Common Work and Living Conditions: The individual(s) in question
- Is not free to leave or come and go as he/she wishes
- 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.)
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
- Avoids eye contact
Poor Physical Health
- Lacks health care
- Appears malnourished
- Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture
Lack of Control
- Has few or no personal possessions
- Is not in control of his/her own money, no financial records, or bank account
- Is not in control of his/her 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 he/she is staying/address
- Lack of knowledge of whereabouts and/or do not know what city he/she is in
- Loss of sense of time
- Has numerous inconsistencies in his/her story
-
POTENTIAL RED
FLAGS
Is under 18 years
old and performs commercial sex acts
Is excessively
monitored or controlled by parents, a supposed guardian or older partner or
“sponsor” who claims to provide for their upbringing and needs, or who insists
on speaking for them or being present at all time
Is unable to give
answers about their schedules or living and work locations/conditions; appears
to possibly work and live in the same building or location
Has numerous
inconsistencies in his/her story; contradictory personal information (age,
place of birth, family life)
Has excessive
security measures at his/her home or work (i.e., security cameras, boarded or
covered windows); constant traffic of men at his/her home or work location
Noticeable change
in dress, jewelry, hair or nails without explainable source of income
Shows signs of
physical or sexual abuse (bruises, cuts, burns, submissiveness, jumpy,
malnourishment); appears fearful, anxious, depressed, overly submissive, and
avoids eye contact
Suffers from
substance abuse problems (alcohol and/or drugs), an array of other
psychological disorders, sexually transmitted diseases, or chronic illnesses
Carries multiple
hotel key cards, lots of money, sharp objects (weapons)
Sudden presence of
an older boyfriend
Tattoo with a name
that is not their own; or that he/she is reluctant to explain
This list is not exhaustive and represents only a selection
of possible indicators. Also, the red flags in this list may not be present in
all trafficking cases and are not cumulative. Learn more at
2. Report Trafficking
1.888.3737.888
ADD THIS NUMBER TO YOUR CELL
Just as “it takes a village to raise a child,” it takes a community
that’s aware and looking out for its children to keep them protected
from child trafficking and exploitation. Be informed and watch out for
the children in your community:
Are you or someone you know being trafficked? Is human trafficking
happening in your community? Recognizing potential red flags and knowing
the indicators of human trafficking is a key step in identifying more
victims and helping them find the assistance they need.
To request help or report suspected human trafficking, call the
National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Or text HELP to: BeFree (233733).
3. Sign A Petition
http://freedomcommons.ijm.org/action-alert/end-slavery-put-your-name-line?_ga=1.56908394.1176019971.1486135244
4. Learn About Statistics
5. Get Some Tools
6. See The Joy you can bring somebody by being Rescued
7. Sponsor a Child
8. Be a conscientious and
informed consumer.
9. Encourage your local
schools to partner with students and include modern slavery in their curricula.
As a parent, educator, or school administrator, be aware of how traffickers target
school-aged children.
to let them know you care
about combating human trafficking, and ask what they are doing to address it.
The Joyful Life
