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Human Trafficking

Gems Uncovered / What It Is / Human Trafficking

Human Trafficking Is:

Pimps & Traffickers

A trafficker/pimp is any person who causes an adult (using force, fraud or coercion) or any minor to engage in commercial sex in order to profit from the exploitation of that individual.

The buyers of sex from juveniles can be anyone – professionals, students, tourists, military personnel, a family member. Because buyers often pay in cash and may interact with a victim for as little as five minutes, buyers are increasingly difficult to identify. To view information about buyers in your state, visit: demandingjustice.org

Grooming

When the trafficker has gained a woman or child’s trust and love, he or she starts the “grooming” process. Traffickers worldwide practice this breaking-down process to achieve complete control over someone through a combination of physical, mental, and emotional means.

This process includes beatings, gang rape, confinement, torture, emotional abuse and insults, renaming and creating new identities, document confiscation, burning personal items, forced sexual education and pornography, and isolation. – See more at: About Sex Trafficking

How do traffickers or pimps recruit victims?

Many pimps often use a “lover-boy” technique to recruit girls from middle and high schools. A lover-boy will present himself as a boyfriend and woo the girl with gifts, promises of fulfilled dreams, protection, adventure – whatever she perceives she is lacking. Traffickers use social media sites to recruit teenagers. After securing her love and loyalty, he will force her into prostitution.

 

Recognize the Signs

Are you or someone you know being trafficked?

Is human trafficking happening in your community?

Is the situation you may have encountered human trafficking?

The following is a list of potential red flags and indicators of human trafficking to help you recognize the signs. If you see any of these red flags:

Contact: National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline: (888) 373-7888 for specialized victim services referrals or to report the situation.

Learn More: Reporting potential human trafficking situations

The presence of these red flags is an indication that further assessment may be necessary to identify a potential human trafficking situation. This list is not exhaustive and represents only a selection of possible indicators. Also, the red flags in this list may not be present in all trafficking cases and are not cumulative. Indicators reference conditions a potential victim might exhibit.

Common Work and Living Conditions:

  • Is not free to leave or come and go as he/she wishes
  • Is in the commercial sex industry and has a pimp / manager
  • Is unpaid, paid very little, or paid only through tips
  • Works excessively long and/or unusual hours
  • Is not allowed breaks or suffers under unusual restrictions at work
  • Owes a large debt and is unable to pay it off
  • Was recruited through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of his/her work
  • High security measures exist in the work and/or living locations (e.g. opaque windows, boarded up windows, bars on windows, barbed wire, security cameras, etc.)

Poor Mental Health or Abnormal Behavior:

  • Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid
  • Exhibits unusually fearful or anxious behavior after bringing up law enforcement
  • Avoids eye contact

Poor Physical Health:

  • Lacks medical care and/or is denied medical services by employer
  • Appears malnourished or shows signs of repeated exposure to harmful chemicals
  • Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture

Lack of Control:

  • Has few or no personal possessions
  • Is not in control of his/her own money, no financial records, or bank account
  • Is not in control of his/her own identification documents (ID or passport)
  • Is not allowed or able to speak for themselves (a third party may insist on being present and/or translating)

Other:

  • Claims of just visiting and inability to clarify where he/she is staying/address
  • Lack of knowledge of whereabouts and/or of what city he/she is in
  • Loss of sense of time
  • Has numerous inconsistencies in his/her story