The Hard Facts & Truth Regarding Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is the act of recruiting, harboring, transporting and obtaining a person or persons for compelled labor orcommercial sex acts using force, fraud, manipulation or coercion against a person’s will. The goal of traffickers is exploitation, control and enslavement to make a profit. This includes not only sex for sale, but includes domestic servitude, forced marriage, organ removal, exploiting children for begging and forced soldiering for military warfare.

Five characteristics (disguises) of a human trafficker:

1. Perfidious—deception—someone who uses charm and compliments and disingenuous praise; could be a boyfriend, an older manager-type, photographer; a new friend found on social media who “understands” you

2. Provider—someone who offers to take care of victim’s needs; like clothes, food, lodging; or wants like cell phone, purses, parties and spending money

3. Promiser—someone who promises access to great things like an amazing job opportunity or a more glamorous lifestyle

4. Protector—someone who uses physical power or intimidation to protect (control) an individual

5. Punisher—someone who uses violence and threats to control individual when previous disguises have been exhausted.  Threats and fear of violence helps control and maintain the victim

More about Human Trafficking

Some recent facts (according to the UN)

1. The trafficking of women and children is the world’s fastest growing crime

2. 40.3 million people are trapped in forced labor and sexual trafficking (according to International Labor Organization)

3. Of the 40.3 million, 80% are sexually trafficked and 19% involves labor exploitation

4. The most common form of human trafficking is sexual exploitation

5. The average age of someone who is trafficked is 13

6. Traffickers can be women too