Human Trafficking

       

    

               WHAT DOES HUMAN TRAFFICKING MEAN?                    

                

         The United States Department of Homeland Security states that "Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act." (Department of Homeland Security, 2022)

       The United States Department of Justice states that "Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons or modern-day slavery, is a crime that involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts. The coercion can be subtle or overt, physical or psychological." (Department of Justice, 2020)

In a broader definition, the United Nations defines sex trafficking as “The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation.” All three of these definitions ultimately mean the same thing. An innocent woman, man, or child is being exploited in some way form which can ultimately lead to their death, mental instability, etc. . When an individual hears about human trafficking they often limit it to just sex trafficking however, this isn't always the case. Human trafficking covers the exploitation of labor as well as domestic servitude. It also includes debt bondage meaning that you are exploited for your debts. 

HUMAN TRAFFICKING STATISTICS

    According to the International Labour Organization or ILO which is a specialized organization within the United Nations, there are about 40.3 million individuals worldwide currently being human trafficked.

                                                                        

WHO IS AFFECTED AND HOW

Anyone can be affected and it can happen in any community regardless of the victim's age, race, gender, or nationality but people of color, indigenous communities, immigrants, people who identify as LGBTQ+ and people living in poverty or foster care or are struggling with addiction, trauma, abuse, and unstable housing are at a comparatively higher risk for trafficking. (UT Health Houston, 2021)

These individuals are at a higher risk as some individuals don't have a family to look after them so it goes unnoticed when they are missing. Individuals who are poor don't have the means to get necessities which is how they are bribed with job offers that are subtly used by traffickers. Racial disparity is also a thing that results in people of color and indigenous communities being trafficked more due to the inequality and prejudice against them.

The video above is the story of Rebecca Bender who is a human trafficking survivor                                               

THE SIGNS AND HOW TO SPOT THEM

• The individual has no contact with friends or family 
• Individuals whose communication and movements are being monitored
• Workers who have long hours and are unpaid or paid very little 
• Having zero access to money or personal documents
• Being branded with tattoos 
• Having a controlling partner or friend 
• The individual is not allowed to be alone  
• Has bruises or signs of physical injury
• Lack of personal possessions 
• Young children working in places such as restaurants 
• Avoiding eye contact or social interaction 
• Living with a large group of people

The video above is a TedTalk on a physician who eventually learned how to spot victims                        

WHAT IS CIVIC ENGAGEMENT?

According to Youth, "Civic engagement involves “working to make a difference in the civic life of one’s community and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values, and motivation to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes. (Youth, 2020 )

The Institute For Local Government states "This is an extremely broad term that includes the many ways that community residents involve themselves in the civic and political life of their community. It encompasses volunteering as a local Little League coach, attending neighborhood or community-wide meetings, helping to build a community playground, joining a city or county clean-up effort, becoming a member of a neighborhood watch group or local commission – and much more." (Institute For Local Government, 2012)

Both of these definitions are close to mine as I define civic engagement as a society working together to accomplish a goal that will help the community whether it's having a community clean-up or volunteering at an event such as a food drive. 

Spreading awareness and having educational events on Human trafficking can make a difference in society. 

WAYS TO HELP

• Know the signs
• Does the individual seem to have monitored communications and movements? 
• Report a Tip
• Contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline regarding a trafficking situation. Call 1-888-373-7888, text HELP to BEFREE (233733), or email help@humantraffickinghotline.org
• Spread the word 
• Educate yourself on human trafficking red flags and indicators so you can spread awareness
• Volunteer 
• There are local anti-trafficking organizations and programs that offer services to victims and survivors 
• The link below will allow you to find an organization near you
• Referral Directory | National Human Trafficking Hotline 
• Register for Training
• The National Human Trafficking and Technical Assistance Center provides access to training and technical assistance to advise and increase the public health response to human trafficking
• The link below will allow you to contact the National Human Trafficking and Technical Assistance Center if you are interested in training and technical assistance
• Training and Technical Assistance | The Administration for Children and Families (hhs.gov)

WHY DID I WRITE ABOUT THIS TOPIC?

    I wrote about this social issue because I think it's important to spread awareness. I feel like people never speak about human trafficking even though it's a huge issue. I strongly believe this is a topic that needs to be discussed so individuals can be better educated allowing room for preventative measures. 

       "You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know"

                                                    - William Wilberforce

                                            

                                              WORKS CITED

What is human trafficking? What Is Human Trafficking? | Homeland Security. (n.d.). Retrieved April 18, 2022, from https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/what-human-trafficking

What is human trafficking? The United States Department of Justice. (2020, October 13). Retrieved April 18, 2022, from https://www.justice.gov/humantrafficking/what-is-human-trafficking

The scale of human trafficking. STOP THE TRAFFIK. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2022, from https://www.stopthetraffik.org/about-human-trafficking/the-scale-of-human-trafficking/

Civic engagement. Civic Engagement | Youth.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2022, from https://youth.gov/youth-topics/civic-engagement-and-volunteering

What is public engagement? - ca-ilg.org. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2022, from https://www.ca-ilg.org/sites/main/files/file-attachments/what_is_public_engagement_jan_2012_1.pdf?1395852191

School, M. G. M. (2021, January 15). Human trafficking...what is it, who does it affect, where is it happening. Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Retrieved April 19, 2022, from https://med.uth.edu/psychiatry/2021/01/15/human-traffickingwhat-is-it-who-does-it-affect-where-is-it-happening/

10 ways you can help end trafficking. The Administration for Children and Families. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2022, from https://www.acf.hhs.gov/otip/about/ways-endtrafficking