04
HUMAN TRAFFICKING 101
What is Human Trafficking?
Human trafficking is a hidden crime which entails force, fraud, or coercion in order to lure a person into performing a labor or commercial sex act. This is also known as modern day slavery.
One would believe since slavery was abolished in that this would not be so in the 21st Century, however it is estimated that globally there are 21 million victims of human trafficking. It is documented that of these millions of victims; 68% were forced labor victims, 26% were children and 55% were were and girls.
Types of Human Trafficking
The leading organizations in human trafficking education have identified the following types of human trafficking: sex trafficking (child sex trafficking), forced labor (child labor), and domestic servitude.
Over the years, we have also seen an increase in the sex trafficking industry due to drug dealers changing to become pimps because drugs can only be sold once; unfortunately a person considered a property becomes a reusable commodity.
It sad to know, this is the world in which we live in today. People were not created to be commodity.
05
SIGNS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING
“The most dangerous and successful conspiracies take place in public, in plain sight, under the clear, bright light of day...” – L. Neil Smith
Recognizing key indicators of human trafficking is the first step in identifying victims and can help save a life. Here are some common indicators to help recognize human trafficking:
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Does the person appear disconnected from family, friends, community organizations, or houses of worship?
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Has a child stopped attending school?
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Has the person had a sudden or dramatic change in behavior?
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Is a juvenile engaged in commercial sex acts?
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Is the person disoriented or confused, or showing signs of mental or physical abuse?
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Does the person have bruises in various stages of healing?
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Is the person fearful, timid, or submissive?
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Does the person show signs of having been denied food, water, sleep, or medical care?
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Is the person often in the company of someone to whom he or she defers? Or someone who seems to be in control of the situation, e.g., where they go or who they talk to?
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Does the person appear to be coached on what to say?
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Is the person living in unsuitable conditions?
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Does the person lack personal possessions and appear not to have a stable living situation?
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Does the person have freedom of movement? Can the person freely leave where they live? Are there unreasonable security measures?
Not all indicators listed above are present in every human trafficking situation, and the presence or absence of any of the indicators is not necessarily proof of human trafficking.
https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/indicators-human-trafficking
06
WHAT TO DO
“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
― Robert F. Kennedy
Human trafficking does not only happens overseas or in third world country; its actually happening right here in our own backyard.
Last year, the National Human Trafficking hotline reported 31,659 cases in an eight year span in the United States. In 2016 only there were 7,572 human trafficking cases; 550 of those cases were in the state of Florida. Florida therefore ranks third in the nation in human trafficking following closely behind Texas which had 670 reported cases. The NHTRC derived these statistic based on phone calls, emails, and webforms. there were a total of 1, 623 calls made to the hotline where those cases were identified.
The bottom line is if you see something, say something. If you suspect there maybe a possible scenario of human trafficking occurring, pick up your phone and dial 1-888-373-7888.
If you know that person is in immediate danger call your local police.