Human Trafficking is a severe form of exploitation of another person involving force, fraud, or coercion for labor or commercial sexual purposes. Trafficking does not require transportation of a person(s) across state or country borders, and may involve U.S. citizens and/or foreign nationals.
Human Trafficking crosses all age, race and socio-economic lines and can happen to anyone although there are some contributing factors that can cause a person to be at risk for trafficking.
These vulnerabilities can include:
- History of sexual abuse, neglect or domestic violence
- Family background in commercial sex
- Displaced by social or natural disaster
- Is part of an undocumented, stateless, or ostracized social group
- Poverty
- Unstable or inconsistent family conditions (i.e., parental absence or neglect, substance abuse, physical/sexual/emotional abuse, multiple foster homes)
- Running away or truancy
- Poor family ties or turbulent relationship with family
- Low self-esteem or self-worth
- Experimenting with risky sexual behaviors or drugs
Human Trafficking: Know It When You See It
- Seems anxious, fearful or paranoid. Avoids eye contact.
- Work but receive little or no pay
- Cannot leave their job to find another one
- Do not have control over their wages or money
- Have no choice about hours worked or under what conditions
- Show signs of physical abuse or injury
- Are accompanied everywhere by someone who speaks for them
- Appear to be fearful of or under the control of another person
- Have health issues that have not been attended to
- May describe moving or changing jobs suddenly and often
- Are unfamiliar with the neighborhood where they live or work
- Are travelling with minimal or inappropriate luggage/belongings
- Lack identification, passport or other travel documents
- Are laborers, domestic servants, or caretakers but never leave the home or workplace
- Are unable to freely contact friends or family
- Are not allowed to socialize or attend religious services
- Have restricted freedom of movement
- Are a juvenile engaged in a commercial sex act
- Are a recent arrival to the United States and do not speak English.