National Human Trafficking Prevention Month
Every January, National Human Trafficking Month serves as a way to raise awareness of individuals who are exploited through human trafficking. Human trafficking has become a serious issue in the US, impacting millions of people annually. Below, learn about human trafficking, strategies to recognize and prevent it, and ways to get support for human trafficking and abuse.
When was January named Human Trafficking Prevention Month?
What is human trafficking?
Human trafficking can take many forms, and many people may not always recognize them. In some cases, people who have been trafficked may not recognize that what they are being forced to do is unlawful. The following are some common types of human trafficking.
Forced labor
Some people are forced to perform labor they otherwise wouldn’t want to do. They may be physically forced or coerced into doing this work. Forced labor can occur in numerous industries, both legal and illicit. According to the International Labour Organization, 63% of forced labor occurs in the individual sector.
The Trafficking Victims Protection Act uses an Acts, Means, and Purpose framework to describe forced labor. According to the US Department of State, the
“Acts element of forced labor is met when the trafficker recruits, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains a person for labor or services.” The means part of the framework may include coercion, force, or fraud. Some traffickers may threaten to hold a person’s identification documents, withhold their pay, report them to immigration authorities, harm their reputation, or hurt their family. The purpose part of the framework refers to exploiting someone for labor or services.
Types of forced labor
Two types of forced labor are forced child labor and domestic servitude. In some cases, a child may be in the custody of someone outside the family who benefits from their labor. The child may be unable to rest or go to school due to work obligations.
Domestic servitude refers to a type of forced labor in which a person performs work inside someone else’s home. Foreign nationals may be particularly susceptible to this type of abuse as a result of language barriers, isolation, and threats related to their immigration status. Their abuser may control their basic needs, such as housing, food, or transportation.
Sex trafficking
According to the State Department, sex trafficking “encompasses the range of activities involved when a trafficker uses force, fraud, or coercion to compel another person to engage in a commercial sex act or causes a child to engage in a commercial sex act.” The act, means, and purpose framework can also be applied to sex trafficking, with the exception of child sex trafficking, for which the means element is not required. Sex trafficking can take place on the internet and at closed residences, massage parlors, hotels, or other locations.
Know the signs of human trafficking
The following are some possible signs of human trafficking:
- Fear or submission
- Difficulty finding opportunities to speak one-on-one with a person
- Cohabitation with employer
- Numerous people living in a cramped space
- Answers that seem to be rehearsed
Questions to ask if you suspect human trafficking
If you notice these or other signs, consider trying to talk to the person in question, but only if you are certain that the person’s trafficker won’t notice. If you can be alone with the person, you might consider asking the following questions recommended by the US Department of Health & Human Services:
- Can you leave your job or situation if you want?
- Can you come and go as you please?
- Have you been threatened if you try to leave?
- Have you been physically harmed in any way?
- What are your working or living conditions like?
- Where do you sleep and eat?
- Do you sleep in a bed, on a cot, or on the floor?
- Have you ever been deprived of food, water, sleep, or medical care?
- Do you have to ask permission to eat, sleep, or go to the bathroom?
- Are there locks on your doors and windows so you cannot get out?
- Has anyone threatened your family?
- Has your identification or documentation been taken from you?
- Is anyone forcing you to do anything you do not want?
If you aren’t sure if someone is a survivor of human trafficking, you can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. In an emergency, you can also call 911.
Therapy for those concerned about trafficking, abuse, or violence
If you’re experiencing concerns about human trafficking or abuse—whether as a survivor or someone concerned about another person—you may benefit from speaking to a licensed counselor. A counselor may be able to answer questions about trafficking and address any emotional concerns you’re facing, whether about trafficking or any other topic.
Online therapy to discuss violence during Human Trafficking Prevention Month
If you’re concerned about talking to someone about your concerns in person, you might consider online therapy through a platform like BetterHelp. With online therapy, you can choose a nickname and speak with a therapist via audio, video, or live chat from anywhere with an internet connection. Online therapy also allows you to reach out to your therapist at any time via in-app messaging, and they’ll get back to you as soon as they can.
Research shows that online therapy is effective for a number of mental health conditions. One study found that online therapy was effective for depression, anxiety, and panic disorder, which may be common among people who have experienced or witnessed human trafficking or abuse. A therapist may be able to help you get to the root causes of your concerns, even if they’re unrelated to human trafficking or abuse.
Takeaway
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about human trafficking.
What agency monitors human trafficking?
The Department of State, the Department of Justice, and other federal agencies may collaborate in monitoring human trafficking in the United States.
What day in January is National Human Trafficking Day?
The US Congress established January 11th as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in 2007.
What is the color used to represent Human Trafficking Day?
Blue is the color for National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
What are some common myths about human trafficking?
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the following are some common myths about human trafficking:
- Myth: Human trafficking is only about sex (false).
- Truth: Human trafficking doesn’t always involve sex. Other forms of human trafficking include forced labor, such as domestic servitude.
- Myth: Human smuggling and human trafficking are the same (false).
- Truth: Human smuggling is typically different because a person can voluntarily ask to be taken across a border. However, human smuggling can become human trafficking if a smuggler begins to hold or control people against their will by use of force, coercion, or fraud.
- Myth: Human trafficking only happens to immigrants and those without financial means (false).
- Truth: Human trafficking can happen to anyone regardless of immigration status or financial background.
- Myth: Those who have been trafficked will likely seek help in public (false).
- Truth: Many people who have been trafficked experience may have been threatened with deportation or violence against their families. This threat may impede them from seeking help in public.
What are the five Ps of human trafficking?
According to the Online Anti-Human Trafficking Certificate, the five Ps of human trafficking are as follows:
- Partnership: Partnership includes working with other individuals, organizations, mental health providers, and healthcare professionals to provide support to survivors.
- Prevention: Prevention can include human trafficking resources, the National Human Trafficking Hotline, and public education about risks.
- Protection: Protection looks at protecting human trafficking survivors, ensuring systems in place for survivor identification, and efforts to remove survivors from slavery, child trauma, abuse, exploitation, and other vulnerable situations.
- Prosecution: Prosecution looks at changing laws to protect survivors and potential targets of human trafficking. It can also include upholding current national slavery, abuse, and trafficking laws to protect survivors.
- Policy: Policy changes the way human trafficking is identified and dealt with to ensure survivors are protected and heard.
What color is Human Trafficking Awareness Month?
Human Trafficking Awareness Month in January can be celebrated by wearing blue. Blue represents support of ending slavery, abuse, and trafficking in your community and worldwide.
What are the three pillars of human trafficking?
According to the US Department of State, the three Ps of human trafficking include prosecution, protection, and prevention. These Ps are similar to the five Ps of human trafficking and involve efforts to prevent trafficking from occurring while protecting the health and well-being of survivors.
What is an indicator of human trafficking?
Often, people who are in a trafficking situation are under strict control from someone else and may not be allowed to talk to others on their own. They may appear meek, tired, or withdrawn. In addition, they might not know where they are or have access to their documents or payment forms. Human trafficking survivors who are still being abused may live in tight quarters with many other people in poor conditions. They may be more likely to have a significant debt, which their abuser may use to manipulate them. Some survivors of human trafficking are young, especially women, who might be trafficked for purposes like unconsensual sex work.
How do you identify people currently impacted by trafficking?
People currently stuck in trafficking situations may seem scared and withdrawn and might not be allowed to talk to others. If they are, someone may be watching their every move, ensuring they don’t get access to means to leave. They may also be unkempt or wear old clothing. They may be on edge or constantly looking over their shoulder. These behaviors can also be a sign of abuse.
How can you avoid becoming impacted by human trafficking?
To avoid getting in a situation where you might be trafficked, don’t go to areas of a city you’re not familiar with, especially at night. In addition, don’t go out to people’s homes if you’ve just met them or don’t know them. Avoid meeting up with strangers who promise to help you with an extensive amount of money in return for work. Education can be another helpful strategy, so educate yourself on common tactics used by traffickers.
Pay attention to your surroundings when you’re out alone, and don’t accept random money from strangers. If you notice your car, home, or any other item being marked with a colored flag or another strange item, tell someone immediately and take a picture. You might also file a police report to have this information on file. Be careful when you are alone, and always carry protection items with you.
- Previous Article
- Next Article