DEFINING 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.

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.