WHAT IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING?
Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery that involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to control another person for the purpose of providing commercial sex or labor services against their will. Any person under the age of 18 years old engaged in commercial sex is considered a trafficking victim, even if there is no evidence of force, fraud or coercion. Traffickers use a variety of tactics to attract and manipulate their victims and maintain control through violence, threats, blackmail, deception, debt bondage and loss of freedom.
Victims are most commonly lured through hope of finding security, love, employment or educational opportunities. Some victims are kidnapped or taken by physical violence. Human trafficking victims come from a variety of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. However, those most vulnerable to being targeted by traffickers are runaway and homeless youth, victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, social discrimination and war or conflict. Traffickers often share a similar cultural background as their victims, which facilitates their ability to understand and exploit vulnerabilities.
Sex trafficking occurs in all venues within the sex industry including pornography, strip clubs, massage parlors, brothels, escort agencies and street prostitution. Labor trafficking can be found in a variety of labor setting including domestic work, farms, factories, and small businesses. Human trafficking is driven by a high demand for cheap labor and commercial sex. Traffickers see this criminal enterprise as low risk, high reward as humans can be bought and sold over and over whereas drugs can only be sold once.
There are many anti-trafficking statistics quoted from organizations and agencies but most of the statistics are outdated or inaccurate. You can view many of these statistics here.
Victims are most commonly lured through hope of finding security, love, employment or educational opportunities. Some victims are kidnapped or taken by physical violence. Human trafficking victims come from a variety of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. However, those most vulnerable to being targeted by traffickers are runaway and homeless youth, victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, social discrimination and war or conflict. Traffickers often share a similar cultural background as their victims, which facilitates their ability to understand and exploit vulnerabilities.
Sex trafficking occurs in all venues within the sex industry including pornography, strip clubs, massage parlors, brothels, escort agencies and street prostitution. Labor trafficking can be found in a variety of labor setting including domestic work, farms, factories, and small businesses. Human trafficking is driven by a high demand for cheap labor and commercial sex. Traffickers see this criminal enterprise as low risk, high reward as humans can be bought and sold over and over whereas drugs can only be sold once.
There are many anti-trafficking statistics quoted from organizations and agencies but most of the statistics are outdated or inaccurate. You can view many of these statistics here.
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If you would like to complete an online training about domestic servitude, please click here.
If you would like anti-trafficking resources and collateral to share in your community, please visit the Blue Campaign website.
If you would like anti-trafficking resources and collateral to share in your community, please visit the Blue Campaign website.
If you suspect signs of human trafficking, contact your local law enforcement and
contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-3888. You can also text BeFree (233733).
contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-3888. You can also text BeFree (233733).
