SEE SOMETHNG ~ SAY
SOMETHING
"What can I do? I do not know anything about Human Trafficking".
~Learn the signs
~Be aware
SOMETHING
"What can I do? I do not know anything about Human Trafficking".
~Learn the signs
~Be aware
Indicators of Human Trafficking
Recognizing key indicators of human trafficking is the first step in identifying victims and can help save a life. Here are some common indicators to help recognize human trafficking:
- Does the person appear disconnected from family, friends, community organizations, or houses of worship?
- Has a child stopped attending school?
- Has the person had a sudden or dramatic change in behavior?
- Is a juvenile engaged in commercial sex acts?
- Is the person disoriented or confused, or showing signs of mental or physical abuse?
- Does this person have bruises in various stages of healing?
- Is the person fearful, timid, or submissive?
- Does this person show signs of having been denied food, water, sleep, or medical care?
- Is the person often in the company of someone to whom he or she defers? Or someone who seems to be in control of the situation, e.g., where they go or who they talk to?
- Does the person appear to be coached on what to say?
- Is the person living in unsuitable conditions?
- Does the person lack personal possessions and appear not to have a stable living situation?
- Does the person have freedom of movement?
- Can the person freely leave where they live?
- Are there unreasonable security measures?
Not all indicators listed above are present in every human trafficking situation, and the presence or absence of any of the indicators is not necessarily proof of human trafficking.
**Source: Department of Homeland Security
**Source: Department of Homeland Security
Trafficking Facts
Prostitution
Women, especially young girls can make a trafficker one hundred times the amount in revenue that he paid for each women/child. It is the same for men/boys, with approximaely 1/3 of the victims being male. With threats on their lives, broken spirits, and the use of drugs, the females have no choice in performing sex for money. Sex acts could be as many as fifty or more times a day. There is no assurance that they will not be beaten and tortured during the acts. Many receive transmitted diseases such as HIV, herpes, or other STD's. "It takes a slave to get a slave" is a common theme among traffickers. They use the females who have been held for a long period of time and show little to no risk of trying to escape to lure others into their nightmare. According to experts, one in three runaways end up in trafficking situations.
Forced Labor
According to the International Labour Organization, there are almost 21 million people are victims of forced labor – 11.4 million women and girls and 9.5 million men and boys. Almost 19 million victims are exploited by private individuals or enterprises and over 2 million by state or rebel groups. Of those exploited by individuals or enterprises, 4.5 million are victims of forced sexual exploitation. Forced labor in the private economy generates $150 billion in illegal profits per year. Domestic work, agriculture, construction, manufacturing and entertainment are among the common, as well as food industries. Many traffickers claim the victim must work to pay off their travel, they may have their families threatened, or turned over to immigration. Traffickers always keep passports, ID’s Visa Card, etc.
Organ Harvesting
Illegal organ harvesting is growing rapidity across the globe on the black market. According to Decoded Science, the rate for specific organs such as kidneys, liver, lungs, intestines, eyes, and bone marrow (all the most sought after), go to the one who has the most money. In developing poor countries, people will agree to have organ harvested for small amounts of money. Traffickers either talk victims into the procedures by promising payment that does not occur. Victims and trafficked slaves are forced by captives to have the surgery and then are often left to die, or die from exposure to unsanitary conditions. According to The World Health Organization, America is one of the top countries that import illegally gained organs. There are many players in the black-market network. The trafficker who cons or forces the donor, the person who transports organs, doctors who perform both removal and transplant, and finally the person receiving the organ (if they are even aware).
Boat Trafficking
Often, boats of refugees are hijacked escaping persecution from their homeland, while on the journey to a better life ......which never comes. They are taken hostage. Separated from other family members, those that have family to pay ransom are held until ransom is paid, which is never enough to guarantee release . Those victims that do not are held in remote locations and then sold into slavery. Men usually are sold into hard labor trades, while women are sold into sexual prostitution. Traffickers have boats in the water and report back the location of the refugees (also known as sea slaves). Boats are also used to transport victims with literally hundreds aboard. Some die from the elements, while others jump to their deaths in deep waters rather than suffer their fates.
Caged Humans
Once captured, victims are taken to an isolated location to be held captive until their fates are determined. Victims are occasionally placed in cages for detainment. Many human trafficked victims have died being left to starve to death in cages, including men, women, and children. This is especially true for those who pose a threat to traffickers, such as combative men or high spirited females. In either case, the prisoners most likely would receive forced drugs.
We hope this helps to bring attention to Human Trafficking. In its many forms, this modern day slavery is one of the greatest human rights atrocities in the world. We all need to work together to end these atrocities.
Ranked by Polaris Project / Reported by BBC News
