They often limit or block all communication with friends and loved ones and keep any earnings for themselves. This renders victims of trafficking completely dependent on their abusers with their chances of escape significantly diminished from the outset.
Some women and girls still manage to escape human trafficking on their own, finding ways to run and get help. Some ask for help when they've been arrested for sex work. Others will be able to send the occasional text message, email, or phone call.
In the United States, it is most prevalent in Texas, Florida, New York and California. Human trafficking is both a domestic and global crime, with victims trafficked within their own country, to neighboring countries and between continents.
How does human trafficking occur? Usually, a person is recruited, then they are isolated or transported, and ultimately they are forced to provide labour or a service.
If possible, call a hotline that can help get you out of your situation. In the U.S., reach out to the National Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 888-373-7888, visiting their website or texting “BeFree” (233733). Once you escape and get settled, get emotional and mental help.
Mass displacement, conflict, extreme poverty, lack of access to education and job opportunities, violence and harmful social norms like child marriage are all factors that push individuals into situations of trafficking.
The trafficker or “pimp” is sometimes viewed as a romantic partner. In many cases, the trafficker has essentially brainwashed the victim to the point that they believe they truly care about them and are there to keep them safe, while law enforcement and authority figures cannot be trusted. They may be afraid to leave.
Traffickers are adept at identifying people with noticeable vulnerabilities or needs. They may scour specific locations such as bus stations, shelters, or local malls looking for someone without a safe place to stay or who they may be able to charm with their flattery and attention.
Traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to subject victims to engage in commercial sex or forced labor. Anyone can be a victim of trafficking anywhere, including in the United States. Force includes physical restraint, physical harm, sexual assault, and beatings.
They may pose as a boyfriend and use romance to prey upon a young person's vulnerability. They may use violence or physical threats. They may offer business transactions or offers to make fast and easy money. Victims are often recruited by someone they know.
Victims of human trafficking can experience devastating psychological effects during and after their trafficking experience. Many survivors may end up experiencing post-traumatic stress, difficulty in relationships, depression, memory loss, anxiety, fear, guilt, shame, and other severe forms of mental trauma.
Tactic 1: Dehumanization
From the viewpoint of traffickers, victims are little more than commodities. Traffickers constantly tell victims that they're worthless, insignificant and forgotten. Victims are exposed to high levels of emotional distress induced by constant threats, fear, and psychological abuse.
But as is the case in many crimes of exploitation and abuse, human traffickers often prey upon members of marginalized communities and other vulnerable individuals, including children in the child welfare system or children in the child welfare system or children who have been involved in the juvenile justice system; ...
Human trafficking is the second largest and fastest growing criminal industry in the world, second only to drug trafficking. Here are some important facts: Children account for half of the victims of human trafficking. In fact, the average age that a young person becomes involved in sex trafficking is 12 years old.
According to evidence, traffickers will use drugs, force, or emotional and financial tactics in order to lure in and control their victims. They will often try to form strong bonds with these girls by claiming that they love or need them, saying that these sex acts will allow a good future with the trafficker.
Child trafficking is very common in Africa, particularly West Africa, where approximately 100 percent of all human trafficking victims were children.
Human Trafficking Recovery – From Despair To Hope
The recovery statistics for Human Trafficking is staggering – 1 to 2% of child trafficking victims are recovered.
Only one out of 100 people are rescued from human trafficking according to a senior UN official working on the issue. Simone Monasebian is head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in New York.
Today, the Internet provides easy access to a much larger group of potential victims because traditional physical and geographical limitations no longer exist. Traffickers create fake websites or post advertisements on legitimate employment portals and social networking websites.
A predator doesn't fit one specific description; a sex trafficker can be a woman, older male, and even someone from your school or someone who is employed by a larger system. This is why knowing the signs of a predator and knowing how to protect yourselves or children is necessary.
Age of victims (IOM only)
The average age for IOM registered victims of trafficking is 27, and half of all victims are aged between 19 and 33. There is a slight spike in age at 0 and 1 years of age- this is because of the number of children who are born into trafficking.