What’s Human Trafficking?
Definition of Human Trafficking
Using force, fraud or coercion to cause someone to engage in a commercial sex act, or to obtain labor against a person’s will. For anyone under the age of 18, they are considered a victim even if there is no fraud, force or coercion. Labor trafficking involves taking a person’s bodily organs from them against their will.
What are Vulnerabilities?
Vulnerabilities are anything that make someone more susceptible to coming under the control of a trafficker. These could include prior sexual abuse, history of family violence, poor self-esteem, unstable family relationships, poverty, homelessness, drug/alcohol addiction, etc. Although some populations are more vulnerable than others, anyone at any time could come under the control of a trafficker. No-one is exempt. Trafficking doesn’t discriminate.
Signs of Human Trafficking
- Unusually long work hours, or unusual hours, for little or no pay
- A person is unable to come and go as they please.
- Unusual sleeping arrangements (several mattresses on the floor)
- A lot of people in a cramped space, lack of furniture, etc.
- Lack of ID or someone else is holding their documents
- Lack of personal possessions
- Unfamiliarity with the area they are in may suggest they are being moved around a lot
- Unusual amounts of security that appears to be for the purpose of keeping people in, rather than out.
- Stunted development
- Cuts and bruises, looking malnourished or deprived of sleep
- Tattoos that look more like a branding
- Inappropriate or provocative dress
- Someone else speaks for the person
- Person seems nervous and doesn’t look you in the eye, always looks to spokesperson
- Significant other is much older than person in question
- A statement about owing their employer a large sum of money