Oct. 4, 2018 | The term brings to mind lurid images of crime and corruption. Human trafficking is defined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as modern-day form of slavery involving the illegal trade of people for exploitation or commercial gain. Trafficking can range from forcing victims into prostitution or involuntary servitude to compelling victims to commit sex acts for the purpose of creating pornography. According to some estimates, approximately 80 percent of trafficking involves sexual exploitation and 19 percent involves labor exploitation. There are approximately 20 to 30 million slaves in the world today. Human trafficking is the third largest international crime industry, behind the sales of illegal drugs and arms trafficking. It reportedly generates a profit of $32 billion every year. Of that number, $15.5 billion is made in industrialized countries like the United States, where between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked into the country each year.

Oct. 4, 2018 | Human smuggling and human trafficking are different crimes. Smuggling is the illegal movement of someone across a border while trafficking is the illegal exploitation of a person. Human trafficking is a difficult crime to prosecute as the victims rarely seek help because of language barriers, fear of the traffickers or fear of law enforcement officials. Traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to lure their victims and force them into labor or commercial sexual exploitation. They look for people who are susceptible for a variety of reasons, including psychological or emotional vulnerability, economic hardship, natural disasters or political instability. Traffickers entice their victims with promises of a good job, educational opportunities, a conflict-free environment or even a loving romantic relationship. The trauma caused by the traffickers can be so great that many may not identify themselves as victims or ask for help, even in highly public settings.

Oct. 4, 2018 | Most people would be surprised to learn of the alarming growth of human trafficking in the United States. Unfortunately, there is no official estimate of the total number of human trafficking victims in the U.S. The Polaris Project, a nonprofit working to combat modern-day slavery and human trafficking, reported a 13 percent jump in identified cases from 2016 to 2017. The organization believes the overall number of human trafficking victims in the U.S. is somewhere in the hundreds of thousands. The average age a teen enters the sex trade in the U.S. is 12 to 14 years old. Many victims are runaway girls who were sexually abused as children. Polaris, which operates the National Human Trafficking Hotline, received more than 26,000 calls in 2017, with over 8,500 cases identified as trafficking. The majority of those cases were women working in the sex trade although some were involved in domestic work, agricultural services and begging.

Oct. 4, 2018 | Would you know if someone was the victim of human trafficking? Recognizing the indicators of this problem is key in helping victims find the assistance they need. Such victims typically are anxious or depressed and exhibit unusually fearful or anxious behavior at the mention of law enforcement. They may appear malnourished or show signs of physical or sexual abuse or physical restraint. A trafficking victim usually has few or no personal possessions and avoids eye contact. They may not be allowed or even be able to speak for themselves, with a third party insisting on being present or translating for them. They often claim to be just visiting a location or have a lack of knowledge of their whereabouts and will have numerous inconsistencies in their stories. Do they show signs of having been denied food, water, sleep or medical care? A person who appears fearful, timid or submissive may be the victim of a human trafficker.

Oct. 4, 2018 | Sadly, sex trafficking exists throughout the U.S., but it is not the only type of human trafficking. Labor traffickers often make false promises of a high-paying job or travel opportunities to lure people into horrendous working conditions. Yet, victims find that the reality of their jobs proves to be far different than promised and must frequently work long hours for little to no pay. Victims can be found in legitimate and illegitimate labor industries, including restaurants, hotels and domestic service. They are often afraid to come forward in fear that they or their families may endure retribution from traffickers. Getting help is often difficult because they are not in possession of or have control of their identification documents. Don’t attempt to confront a suspected trafficker or alert a victim of your suspicions. Instead, contact any local law enforcement officials when you see signs of possible abuse and exploitation.