Human Trafficking:
The only way you will see it is if you look.
The Problem
The Realities of Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is widespread and occurs throughout the United States, with California claiming the title as the most impacted of all U.S. states. Human Trafficking has quickly become one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing criminal enterprises, indiscriminately preying upon the young and the old, men and women, spanning across all socio-economic backgrounds.
Human Trafficking Is Defined As:
THE ACT OF...
recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing, or obtaining a person for labor, services, or commercial sex acts
...BY MEANS OF...
force,
fraud,
or coercion
...FOR THE PURPOSE OF...
exploitation, involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, slavery, or any commercial sex act involving a minor
Where Does Trafficking Happen?
Human Trafficking Victims Can Often Be Found In These Places
- Any Online Person-to-Person Platform
- City Streets
- Hotels and Motels
- Massage Businesses
- Strip Clubs
- Escort Services
- Truck Stops
- Domestic Homes
- Restaurants
- Farming / Landscaping
- Factories
- Construction
- Janitorial Services
Myth vs Reality
Human Trafficking Happens Everyday
Reality: Human trafficking is often confused with human smuggling, which involves illegal border crossings. In fact, most victims of human trafficking are recruited and trafficked in their own hometowns and their own homes.
Reality: 80% of trafficking victims are female and 50% are children. However, men and women of all ages are trafficked.
Reality: Traffickers may be a part of large criminal organizations, gangs, or drug cartels. However, many other traffickers are small business owners and individuals, and some trafficking is committed by family members of the victims.
Reality: 80% of human trafficking survivors in the United States are U.S. citizens, and most human trafficking in the U.S. occurs in New York, California, and Florida.
Reality: It can and often does. It hides in plain sight in our neighborhoods.
Human Trafficking Occurs All Around Us
Spot the Red Flags
that indicate sex trafficking might be happening.
- Is overly sexual for their age or situation
- As a victim, is kept isolated physically, emotionally, and socially
- As a minor, is accompanied at night or falters in giving an explanation of who they are with and what they are doing
- Has someone else holding their Identification documents
- Has multiple phones or social media accounts
- Works long or excessive hours, or is always available on demand
- Has physical injuries or branding such as name tattoos on the face or chest, tattoos about money and sex, or pimp phrases
- Defers to another person before giving information
- Is overly fearful, submissive, tense, or paranoid
- Signs of unusual wealth without explanation—new jewelry, shoes, phones without any known form of income
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