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Did you know?

Traffickers are typically NOT STRANGERS to their victims. Most victims know, and often TRUST and LOVE, their trafficker.

human trafficking defined

U.S. law defines human trafficking as the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts or labor against his or her will. The one exception involves minors and commercial sex. Inducing a minor into commercial sex is considered human trafficking regardless of the presence of force, fraud or coercion.

+ There is no single method of force, fraud, or coercion.

+ To gain power and control, traffickers may use: intimidation, emotional abuse, isolation, denying, blaming, sexual abuse, physical abuse, privilege, economic abuse, manipulation, and threats.

+ Traffickers prey on the most vulnerable in our community.

 

indicators of trafficking

+ Unusually exhausted

+ Has an older boyfriend

+ Suddenly has expensive items such as designer clothes, hair treatments or manicures

+ Morals and values have slowly expanded

+ New tattoo or “brand”

+ Carries multiple cell phones

+ Secludes herself from friends/family

+ Truant from school, runaway, academic failure

+ Shows signs of trauma, self-harm, disassociating, detached (zoning out)

tools for prevention

+ Talk about sex, sexual abuse and human trafficking; what to do if something doesn’t feel right; remove shame & guilt around exploitation

+ Identify and understand vulnerabilities

+ Let children know they are loved & accepted

+ Advocate for HT curriculum in middle & high school

+ Don’t be a consumer of commercial sex & talk boldly with those who are

+ Normalize counseling as a life resource

+ Learn how to identify and handle trauma responses