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Human trafficking is a $32 billion-a-year industry. Human trafficking is the action or practice of illegally transporting people from one country or area to another, typically for the purposes of forced labor or sexual exploitation. The “handlers” often deceive their victims with false promises of a better life. They threatened their victims with harm either towards themselves or their families. Some victims are fed misleading information and are manipulated into working in inhumane, unacceptable and illegal conditions. There are two types of trafficking: sex trafficking and labor trafficking.
Human trafficking is a $32 billion-a-year industry. It is on the rise and is in all 50 states. At least 4.5 million of trafficked persons are sexually exploited. Up to 300,000 Americans under 18 are lured into the commercial sex trade every year. Per the Polaris Project, globally, it is estimated that there were 20.9 million human trafficking victims in 2018. Of those, 68% are in forced labor, 55% are female, and 26% are children.
NEITHER ARE ACCEPTABLE!
This past weekend, I marched with my daughter in her first protest. The march was in protest against human trafficking. The number of people that showed up to give their support was absolutely amazing. The crowd marched from City Hall to the Statehouse.
When we approached the Statehouse, we were met by a person standing behind a podium. She looked like your average person. But she had a story to tell. Her story was about the horrors she once witnessed and faced earlier in her life. But she was lucky to find a way out. She had commented on how many women and children are trafficked. The stats were staggering. She told us victims are drugged and then become addicted and feel they have no way out. Others are beaten and threatened that if they try to leave they will die.
As we stood listening to her story, I felt a series of emotions. I was sad for her, happy for her, confused and many others. I thought about my daughter and her friends who at any time could be potential victims. Continuously I was thinking to myself, who could do this to another human being and what are they thinking that makes them even believe they have so much power over others?
Next, they introduced victims, now survivors, and provided each of them with educational scholarships. The pride of the women’s face to see all of the support standing in front of them was priceless. There were all ages, shapes, sizes, heights, etc. Human trafficking does not discriminate.
What was chilling to me is that it seemed as if the list of survivors kept going and going. One name right after another kept pouring from the mouth at the podium. This was the reason why we were there. More than 50 heroines stood before us. Each one had a smile and a story. The once deep and crowded area had huge voids. Not because they left the march, but because they were now standing in front of us.
As I looked at each individual, I wanted to hug each and every one of them. They had gone through so much more than any person should ever have to endure. They had been stripped of their most basic rights of food, rest, water, dignity, and self-love. Their bodies, minds, and souls have been violated. And by whom?
Traffickers come from all backgrounds. They could be a teacher, pastor, police officer, firefighter, politician, family member, family friend, businessmen, and many other types. This is what makes it difficult to notice them.
Human trafficking is everywhere in every state, city, you name it, it is there. Here are your top cities that are infamous for human trafficking: Houston Texas, Washington DC, New York, Atlanta Georgia Los Angeles California, Orlando Florida, and Miami Florida. Please do not underestimate that this can happen in your own backyard.
Unfortunately, it is an international problem as well. If you travel be aware of the top countries that are notorious for human trafficking. The top countries that are infamous for such abuses are Pakistan, Thailand, China, India, and Bangladesh. Each is in the top 10 for countries with the largest number of trafficking victims around the world. India is at the top of the list with 14 million victims, China comes in second with 3.2 million victims, and Pakistan comes in at third with 2.1 million victims.
So why do I write this? Awareness! Awareness! Awareness!
What Are The Potential Red Flags For Human Trafficking?
- Comes on very strongly and promises things that seem too good to be true – i.e. promises extremely high wages for easy work or new clothes or other material things.
- Expects that you will agree to the employment or relationship on the spot, and threatens that otherwise the opportunity will be lost.
- Is unclear about the terms of employment, location of employment and/or the company details/credentials. Partner/employer denies access to information about your rights. This is a sign that your rights are about to be violated!
- Denies contact with friends or family or attempts to isolate you from your social network. This is a huge sign!
- Constantly checks on you and does not allow you access to your money.
- Asks you to do things outside of your comfort zone such as performing sexual favors for friends.
- Displays signs/characteristics of a dangerous person including attempts to control movement and behaviors, exhibits jealousy, lash out or delivers punishment in response to noncompliance, is verbally/emotionally/physically abusive.
- Uses threats or displays of violence to create a culture of fear
What Are Some Safety Tips To An Abusive Relationship?
Some relationships with signs of abuse and control, as well as those with promises of a better life, may have the potential to develop into situations of human trafficking. Check out my blog on love bombing for more tips.
- If your partner asks you to do things you are uncomfortable with (forceful sex or sex acts, videotaping sexual activity/nudity, engaging in commercial sex or sex acts with his/her friends/strangers, abusing drugs/alcohol, etc.), let your partner know that it makes you uncomfortable and inform a trusted friend or relative.
- Make sure a trusted friend/relative knows where you are when with your partner, especially if you are traveling with this person or going to an unfamiliar location.
- Maintain access to all of your documents (driver’s license, ID card, birth certificate, passport, or visa), your bank account, and all-important phone numbers and do not provide this information to your partner if you do not feel comfortable.
Here Are Some Safety Tips If You Are Trying To Leave A Human Traffic Situation
I by no means am an expert to human trafficking. The provided tips are from the humantraffickinghotline.org.
In some cases, leaving or attempting to leave a trafficking situation may increase the risk of violence. It is important to trust your judgment when taking steps to ensure your safety.
- If you are ever in immediate danger, the quickest way to access help is to call 9-1-1.
- If you are unsure of your current location, try to determine any indication of your localities such as street signs outside the residence or place of employment, or newspapers/magazines/mail that may have the address listed.
- If it is safe to go outside, see if the address is listed anywhere on the building.
- If there are people nearby and it is safe to speak with them, ask them about your current location.
- Plan an escape route or exit strategy and rehearse it
- Keep any important documents on or near you to be ready for immediate departure.
- Prepare a bag with any important documents/items and a change of clothes.
- Keep a written copy of important numbers on you at all times in case your phone is taken or destroyed at any point. Memorize important numbers/hotlines
- Think about your next steps after you leave the situation.
- Contact trusted friends or relatives to notify them or to ask for assistance if you feel comfortable.
- Contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline 24-hour hotline at 1-888-3737-888 to obtain local referrals for shelter or other social services and support. The Hotline can also connect you with specialized law enforcement referrals. However, if you are ever in immediate danger, contact 9-1-1 first.
- During violent or explosive situations avoid dangerous rooms
- Examples of Dangerous Rooms: kitchen (knives, sharp utensils, pots), garage (tools, sharp objects), bathroom (hard surfaces, no exits), basement (hard surfaces, no exits), rooms where weapons are kept and rooms without an exit.
- Examples of Safer Rooms: front room, yard or apartment hallway where a neighbor might see or hear an incident.
- Develop a special signal (lights flickering on and off, a code word, code text message, hand signal, etc.) to use with a trusted neighbor, relative, friend or service provider to notify them that you are in danger.
- It is important to proactively communicate what action steps you would like taken (call 9-1-1, check-in, pick the children up, etc.).
- If you have children who are also in the trafficking situation, explain to them that it isn’t their responsibility to protect you, and make sure that they know how to call someone for help, where to hide during a violent incident, and practice your plan of departure with them.
- No one asks to be trafficked into the system of labor or sex. To avoid it at all costs, please have confidence in yourself and know that you have self-love, value, and worth. Never let anyone take that away from you. Even when you feel your worst and think you are no one, or that no one cares for you, keep the mindset of caring for yourself. Because you will find others that do care about you. It may not be your family. It may not be your friends. But there are people out there that care about you. You just may not have found them yet.
And with every bad day, think of how many good ones there have been. Bad times do not last forever if you do not let them. A mind is a powerful tool!
So, to conclude, I want to wish all of the survivors out there the best in their newfound life to come, I wish the victims be found and loved, and I wish that all are aware and do their best to prevent this tragedy from happening to the next victim.
If you feel you might be witnessing a trafficking event or feel that someone may be being trafficked please do not hesitate to call or text the following:
1-888-373-7888 or text “help” to BeFree (233733). Please place this number in your contacts.
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