effects of human trafficking essay

Human Trafficking: Process, Causes and Effects Analytical Essay

Introduction, the trafficking process, causes of human trafficking, effects of human trafficking, works cited.

Human trafficking can be described as an illegal trade that deals with the selling and buying of human beings just like other kinds of trade. The human being are bought and sold for the purposes of forced labor or commercial sex (Strickland, 1). Human trafficking is a new term for slave trade and the victims are either sold by their family members or scrupulous business people who want to get money for the desire of being wealthy.

After drugs and arm dealing human trafficking comes third in international crime rankings worldwide. This kind of trade involving human beings is illegal but people use dubious means to continue their dealings. It is very hurting to know that some corrupt law enforcement authorities who are supposed to protect the general public against such inhuman practices are the same people involved.

The enslaved people who may also be referred to as the victim are trafficked by being deprived their basic human rights. They are forced or enticed by being given false promises which are never fulfilled by the traffickers (Murphy, 1). They are promised good employment opportunities in neighboring countries but when they get there they are they are forced to work in brothels while others work in factories and agricultural farms.

The good salaries they had been promised they are no longer given and incase they are paid it is either too little to meet their needs or they are offered travel documents by corrupt law enforcement authorities and on arrival to their destination their travel documents taken away from them.

In this case they are forced to work there and do not have the necessary documents required to travel back to their homes in case of maltreatment. Likewise women and young girls are assured jobs that are well paying but on arrival to the Promised Land things are totally different.

They are forced to prostitution or sex trade where the victims are sexually harassed and the traffickers paid money the abuse. To make the matters worse they are abused and the money goes to the pockets of these greedy people as they are left empty handed after all the humiliation they go through. The victims are deprived the chance of going back to their homes or even communicating with their loved ones and relatives.

The traffickers take advantage of the high levels of poverty among people. It is quite obvious that a poor person is willing and ready to do anything for them to get some money to maintain themselves (Laner, 1). Others also rent out a person’s labor for them to be able to repay a loan or debt.

Ignorance or lack of awareness also causes human trafficking. People travel across borders looking for greener pasture with little or no knowledge about traffickers and their operations. Such kinds of people are usually prone to falling victims of this illegal and exploitive kind of business activity (Strickland, 1).

Other people are enticed by the material expectations. They desire high living standards and consumer products that are out of their reach. They envy what they see from others and wish them too were in the same social status with those they envy. This desire for achieving what they don’t have renders them vulnerable and hence traffickers take advantage of such people.

People with very little or no proper level of education are standing higher risk of being trafficked. This group of people has very few employment opportunities due to their limited education. They thereby migrate to search for employment opportunities and that is when they get trafficked and exploited.

Corrupt and weak law enforcement authorities play a major role in the lucrative trade of human beings (Hart, 20). Immigration and other law enforcement authorities are paid by the traffickers to overlook these criminal activities which it is their duty to fight such vices by protecting innocent human beings.

The authorities may also collude with the traffickers by providing delusive information on their travel documents and other identification documents to migrant workers leaving them defenseless to trafficking. In circumstances when such incidences of human trafficking are reported to the public administrators little or no action is taken. Instead if the culprits being arrested and charged in court they bribe the law enforcers and walk away scot free.

Young girls and women are lured into marriage by the traffickers who pretend to be tourist (Kloer, 2). They then promise them to take them to their countries to live with them there. On arrival to the foreign land they are abandoned in brothels to work as sex slaves and threatened not to leave. The military is also well known for sexual abuse in areas where they are sent to serve the public during times of unrest.

This activity results in threat to human health. The victims are exposed to high risks of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and other STDs (Murphy, 2). This does not only affect the victims but also spreads to the sex clients and their spouses and the children given birth thereafter. For those victims that are taken into forced labour may also suffer from diseases caused by overworking and improper living conditions.

Deprivation of the basic human rights is another problem the victims face. They live in conditions in which none of them likes to be associated with. They are denied the rights of communication with their relatives and other people. They also do not enjoy their work because they are forced to do it and that was not the work they had been promised earlier on. These people would work as beasts of burden where they worked beyond the normal working hours and the working conditions very severe.

Many victims lack trust and confidence in the law enforcement authority. They believe they are serving in slavery because of their weak and corrupt laws in their countries (Delta, 1). What hurt the victims most was the fact that the same people in charge of protecting their lives and ensuring that such incidences do not happen to them are the involved in the dealings.

Some people suffer mentally by being traumatized after the humiliation they go through in the name of the good jobs they had been promised. The victims also have the fear of being unsafe around everyone they come across. Those who manage to get their freedom tend to think that all people around them can do the same to them.

In a nutshell human trafficking is a vice which should be done away with in our societies. To put an end to this wicked behavior it is a collective responsibility for the country as a whole. The government should start by punishing the law authorities that have been participating in the exercise and put in place tough repercussions for those found guilty.

The general public should also be eliminated about the effects of being involved and stop being so desperate in search for employment opportunities. If all this is done people will live in a friendly environment where such activities are a thing of the past.

Delta, S. (2010). Human Trafficking Facts. Web.

Hart, J. Human Trafficking . The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. New York, 2009.

Kloer, A. (2006). End Human Trafficking. Web.

Laner, S. (2005). Human Trafficking. Web.

Murphy, S. (2006) Human Trafficking and Immigrant Smuggling . Web.

Strickland, D. (2008). Human Trafficking. Web.

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1. IvyPanda . "Human Trafficking: Process, Causes and Effects." October 25, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/human-trafficking/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Human Trafficking: Process, Causes and Effects." October 25, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/human-trafficking/.

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5 Essays On Human Trafficking You Can Access Freely Online

Every country faces specific human rights issues, but human trafficking is a problem for every place on the planet. Wherever there’s poverty, conflict, a lack of education, or political instability, vulnerable people are at risk. Human trafficking is the world’s fastest-growing criminal industry. Sexual exploitation brings in most of the billions of dollars of profit, but forced labor also generates wealth. The universality of human trafficking doesn’t negate the fact that the issue is multi-faceted and as a multitude of root causes . Certain countries are more dangerous than others and certain people groups are more vulnerable. To learn more about specific human trafficking issues and solutions, here are five essays you can read or download for free:

“Human Trafficking and Exploitation: A Global Health Concern”

By: Cathy Zimmerman and Ligia Kiss

While labor migration can be beneficial to workers and employers, it’s also a hotbed for exploitation. In this essay from PLOS, the authors argue that human trafficking and the exploitation of low-wage workers have significant negative health impacts. Because of the magnitude of human trafficking, health concerns constitute a public health problem. Thanks to certain business models that depend on disposable labor, exploitation is allowed to flourish while protections are weakened. The essay states that trafficking initiatives must focus on stopping exploitation within each stage of labor migration. This essay introduces a special collection from PLOS on human trafficking and health. It’s the first medical journal collection on this topic. It includes pieces on child sex trafficking in the United States and the slavery of sea workers in South East Asia. Cathy Zimmerman and Ligia Kiss, the guest editors and authors of the first essay, are from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

“Introducing The Slave Next Door”

By: Jen Birks and Alison Gardner

Published in a special issue of the Anti-Trafficking Review on public perceptions and responses to human trafficking, this essay focuses on Great Britain. According to the essay, there’s been a shift in what the public thinks about trafficking based on local reporting and anti-slavery campaigns. British communities are starting to realize how prevalent human trafficking is in their own backyards. The essay takes a closer look at the media and campaigns, how they’re representing cases, and what people are doing with the information. While specific to Britain, it’s a good example of how people can perceive trafficking within their borders.

Jen Birks is an Assistant Professor in media at the Department of Cultural, Media, and visual Studies at the University of Nottingham. Alison Gardner is at the School of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Nottingham with a Nottingham Research Fellowship. She is part of the university’s Rights Lab.

“My Family’s Slave”

By: Alex Tizon

One of The Atlantic’s biggest stories of 2017, this essay tells a personal story of modern slavery. At 18-years old, Lola was given to the writer’s mother and when they moved to the United States, Lola came with them. On the outside, Tizon’s family was, in his words, “a poster family.” The truth was much darker. The essay sparked countless reader responses, including those of people who were once slaves themselves. Reading both the criticism and praise of the essay is just as valuable as the essay itself.

Alex Tizon died at age 57 years old before his essay was published. He had a successful career as a writer and reporter, sharing a Pulitzer Prize while a staff member at The Seattle Times. He also published a 2014 memoir Big Little Man: In Search of My Asian Self.

“Vietnam’s Human Trafficking Problem Is Too Big To Ignore”

By: Thoi Nguyen

In November 2019, 39 Vietnamese people were found dead in a truck container. They were identified as victims of a human trafficking ring. In Nguyen’s article, he explores the facts about the severity of human trafficking in Vietnam. For years, anti-slavery groups have warned the UK about a rise in trafficking, but it took a tragedy for people to start paying attention. Nguyen discusses who is vulnerable to trafficking, how trafficking functions, and Vietnam’s response.

Freelance journalist Thoi Nguyen is a member of Chatham House and a member of Amnesty International UK. In addition to human trafficking, he writes about the economy, finance, and foreign affairs. He’s a specialist in South East Asian geopolitics.

“History Repeats Itself: Some New Faces Behind Sex Trafficking Are More Familiar Than You Think”

By: Mary Graw Leary

This essay highlights how human trafficking isn’t only a criminal enterprise, it’s also an economic one. Leary looks specifically at how businesses that benefit (directly or indirectly) from slavery have always fought against efforts to end it. The essay focuses on government efforts to disrupt online sex trafficking and how companies are working to prevent that from happening. Human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry, so it makes sense that even legitimate businesses benefit. Knowing what these businesses are is essential to ending trafficking.

Mary Graw Leary is a former federal prosecutor and currently a professor of law at The Catholic University of America. The Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission’s Victim Advocacy Group, she’s an expert in exploitation, missing persons, human trafficking, and technology.

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About the author, emmaline soken-huberty.

Emmaline Soken-Huberty is a freelance writer based in Portland, Oregon. She started to become interested in human rights while attending college, eventually getting a concentration in human rights and humanitarianism. LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights, and climate change are of special concern to her. In her spare time, she can be found reading or enjoying Oregon’s natural beauty with her husband and dog.

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Causes and Effects of Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a global, complex, and heartbreaking issue.

For approximately 50 million people, it’s not some obscure, disconnected concept that’s hard to comprehend; it’s a reality they’re forced to live in daily. If we want to effectively contribute to the eradication of modern slavery , we must first understand what causes human trafficking and the effects of human trafficking on those involved. Only then can we start making strategic moves to stop this crime and truly help those in need.

What causes human trafficking?

The root cause of human trafficking is traffickers 1.

Traffickers prey on others’ weaknesses, unfortunate circumstances, unfamiliarity, and inexperience. Traffickers are trained to identify vulnerability and use expert manipulation tactics to persuade and control their victims. They identify a void and offer to fill it.

Vulnerability creates opportunity for traffickers

Individuals living in difficult conditions can become desperate, and that desperation makes them vulnerable. While the following categories do not cause human trafficking, they do create a state of vulnerability and ideal opportunities for traffickers to strike.

The Truth about Sex Trafficking

Download our free eBook today.

Conditions That Create Vulnerability

Unemployment, displacement, lack of knowledge or experience, broken families, cultural practices, what are the effects of human trafficking.

Human trafficking can have physical, emotional, and psychological effects on anyone involved. It has the power to impact someone’s life forever. Here are some common ways human trafficking affects victims and perpetrators. As you read through this section, keep in mind that many traffickers also experience trauma because of what they see and do to others, and many traffickers have been victimized themselves at some point in their lives.

Effects of human trafficking on the victims

Mental trauma, physical trauma, lack of independent living skills, effects of human trafficking on the trafficker(s), cheap labor, escape from victimization, what you can do to help.

Here at The Exodus Road, we believe we all have a role to play in creating a free world. There are numerous ways YOU can help   fight human trafficking in your own community .

• Bring awareness to your social circles so your friends and family know more about trafficking
• Volunteer with a local counter-trafficking organization
• Host a fundraiser
• Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline if you notice suspicious activity
• Be a friend to someone who is alone and vulnerable
• Donate to an organization that works on the front lines.   The Exodus Road works with local police to find and free modern slaves and provide aftercare to survivors.

Donate to The Exodus Road today.

No action is too small. N ever underestimate the difference you can make in someone’s life through one small act of kindness.

This article was originally published in November of 2018.

Micah Hartmann

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Impact of Human Trafficking on Survivors

The impact of human trafficking on victims and survivors varies depending on the type of trafficking and the specific situation.  But research has identified a range of issues that victims and survivors may experience.

Victims of trafficking are often exposed to harsh and extreme physical conditions, including excessive work, work without proper protection and equipment or the use of force by their traffickers. In addition, victims may be exposed to health risks, such as HIV/AIDS, infections, and substance abuse. They often experience serious mental health risks due to being trafficked that result in anxiety, insecurity, fear, and trauma. Several studies indicate high levels of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in survivors. Trafficking can also lead to cognitive impairment, memory loss, depression, and even suicide.

Trafficked minors are even more vulnerable due to their age. Trafficking of any kind greatly impacts the healthy development of a child’s emotional, physical, and overall psychological development.

Victims are also vulnerable to social ostracism. They often become isolated from their social circles, leaving them unable to engage with their community or reach out for help. When trafficked internationally, victims may be unable to ask for help or try to flee due to language limitations, geographic barriers and lack of cultural familiarity.   

Trafficked persons are sometimes forced to engage in illegal activities as a direct result of their victimization.  If law enforcement fails to properly differentiate between a victim and a criminal, survivors can be prosecuted and convicted for a situation they were forced into. Having a criminal record can make moving forward after being trafficked much more difficult, preventing survivors from renting an apartment, getting a job, or receiving financial aid towards education.

Additional Resources:  -UNODC and UNGIFT: An Introduction to Human Trafficking: Vulnerability, Impact, and Action.

– International Migration: Economics of Human Trafficking.

– Child Development Perspectives: The Impact of Trafficking on Children: Psychological and Social Policy Perspectives

-American Psychological Association: Report of the Task Force on Trafficking of Women and Girls

-US Department of State: Addressing the Internal Wounds: The Psychological Aftermath of Human Trafficking

-UNODC and UNGIFT: Anti-Human Trafficking Manual for Criminal Justice Practitioners Module 3: Psychological Reactions of Victims of Trafficking in Persons

– World Health Organization: Human Trafficking: Understanding and Addressing Violence Against Women

– US Department of State: Protecting Victims from Wrongful Prosecution and Further Victimization

LOOKING FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES?

Search our multilingual global database for resources and films on all forms of human trafficking, all over the world.

Human Trafficking Essay Topics, Outline, & Example [2024]

“People for sale” is a phrase that describes exactly what human trafficking is. It also makes for an attention-grabbing title for an essay on this subject. You are going to talk about a severe problem, so it’s crucial to hook the reader from the get-go.

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

A human trafficking essay is an assignment where you discuss causes, effects, or potential solutions to the problem of modern slavery. A well-written essay can help raise awareness of this complicated issue.

In this article by our custom writing experts, you will find:

• 220 human trafficking essay topics;
• a writing guide;
• an essay sample;
• helpful info on human trafficking.
• 🔝 Top 10 Topics
• ❓ What Is Human Trafficking?
• ✍️ Topics for Any Essay Type
• 📝 Essay Outline
• 📑 Essay Sample
• ✏️ Frequent Questions

🔝 Top 10 Human Trafficking Essay Topics

• History of slavery.
• Slavery in literature.
• Human trafficking awareness.
• Modern slavery: legislation.
• Cultural background of traffickers.
• Globalization and human trafficking.
• Human trafficking vs. human rights.
• Modern slavery and kidnapping.
• Human trafficking rates by country.
• Human trafficking effects on the economy.

❓ What Is Human Trafficking?

The United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime determines human trafficking as the recruitment, transportation, harboring, or receipt of persons for the purpose of sexual slavery, exploitation, forced labor, organs removal, etc.

According to the recent reports of the Council of Europe,  human trafficking rates have reached epidemic proportions . Millions of people are being trafficked for different reasons, primarily for sexual exploitation and forced labor. Women and children are the primary victims of human trafficking , which makes the problem especially acute.

One of the most worrying factors that directly impact the increase in trafficking rates is the growing number of refugees and migrants. It’s the largest seen since WWII, and it has intensified during the last years.

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Types of Human Trafficking

Before you start writing your essay, it’s essential to review the forms of human trafficking. Knowing them will help you see the bigger picture. Here are the most common ones.

Additionally, victims of human smuggling and child trafficking are often involved in various kinds of labor. While sexual exploitation is one of the major reasons for trafficking, it’s not the only one. These are also serious problems that you can focus on in your essay.

According to Polaris Project, there are 25 types of modern slavery . Among them are:

• Manufacturing in sweatshops;
• Agricultural work;
• Food and cleaning services;
• Beauty and massage salons.

Note that each of these practices has unique traits. It means there are specific methods of recruitment and control associated with them. Make sure to take all essential features of human trafficking into account when writing your essay.

The History of Human Trafficking

If we go back in time, we can see that human trafficking has a long history. Here are some of its milestones:

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As you now know, human trafficking is inextricably linked to other crimes against human rights. And the eradication of this phenomenon depends on both governments and ordinary citizens.

What Is Being Done to Stop Human Trafficking

In recent decades, a lot has been done to curb slavery. The United Nations General Assembly has established the World Day against Trafficking in Persons on July 30 . It was done to raise awareness of the situation and promote and protect victims’ rights.

One of the essential frameworks used to combat human trafficking is the 3P: prosecution, protection, and prevention .

Sometimes “ partnership ” is added as the fourth P. Since human trafficking became a pandemic, it requires a combined effort of people working together to overcome this problem. You can learn more about the 3P paradigm from this article by the US Department of State .

You may ask, “What can I do?” Here are some ways in which anyone can help fight human trafficking:

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• In each country, there is a hotline where you can report on a known case of human trafficking or an attempt at recruiting.
• Be attentive to various kinds of controversial proposals and promises of a better life.
• Try to avoid bad company.

These recommendations may seem simple, but they can help you stay away from danger, spread awareness, and even save lives.

Before you start writing a human trafficking essay, you need to find a compelling topic. Check out the following list of topics and prompts and choose a subject that interests you.

✍️ Human Trafficking Topics for Any Essay Type

Human Trafficking Argumentative Essay Topics

• We should let survivors inform the public about the dangers of trafficking .
• State laws should protect the rights of trafficking survivors.
• Victim behavior is not the reason for the actions of criminals.
• Present medical facts about the ability of humans to survive a trauma .
• What psychological techniques do criminals use to lure victims?
• School is a safe haven for children from disadvantaged families.
• High social status is not a guarantee of protection against traffickers.
• Deception as a tool for controlling victims of modern slavery .
• Family can provide significant support to a victim of human trafficking .
• Physical violence and threats are the chief tools for controlling traffickers.
• Health workers should follow safety rules when rescuing trafficking victims .
• Countries providing financial advantages for anonymous economic activities should be held accountable.
• Psychologists should comply with ethical standards when assisting victims of trafficking.
• Countries with high trafficking rates should develop maps showing hotspots.
• Victims of modern slavery are not to blame: justification from the criminal perspective.
• Whom should we hold responsible for what happens to the victims in captivity?
• Will economic support for vulnerable groups help reduce the level of human trafficking?
• Prolonged captivity reduces the chances of adaptation after release.
• Exercise and physical activity help victims of trafficking to overcome trauma .
• Medication alone is ineffective in combating PTSD among trafficking victims.

Human Trafficking Argumentative Essay Prompts & Tips

• Who is responsible for human trafficking—the government, police , or society? There is no sufficient progress in stopping human trafficking . This is mainly due to the absence of an unequivocal opinion about who is responsible for the situation. Give your own ideas in this essay.
• The need to inform the public about human trafficking . Demonstrate the necessity to convey this information to the masses. You can also suggest ways of doing it.
• Immediate assistance for the victims of modern slavery . Show why it is important to provide psychological aid to rescued victims. What is the role of nurses and community organizations in it?
• Psychological help to victims of human trafficking: group therapy . Group therapy is based on awareness and acceptance of trauma. These actions are the basis of PTSD treatment . Decide whether it’s the optimal solution for victims’ psychological rehabilitation.
• Countries with widespread human trafficking should develop appropriate laws. Legislation changes are a crucial element of an integrated approach. In this essay, provide a list of existing laws and possible new regulations.
• The devastating impact of modern slavery. Describe the disastrous consequences that victims of human trafficking face. Find stories describing their lives in various media. How did they become victims? What happened to them after release from captivity?
• Tightening police measures as a way to stop human trafficking . Women and children are especially vulnerable targets for traffickers. Demonstrate the need to enable the police to protect them better.
• The high rate of trafficking indicates a high crime rate in a country. Determine which countries have the highest human trafficking rates. What are the related crimes observed there? Is there a correlation?
• The use of technology to catch criminals and traffickers. In this essay, discuss technologies that can help officials stop traffickers. For instance, satellite imagery allows identifying places of victims’ detention.
• International financial law is one of the best ways to stop human trafficking . Would the right to disclose anonymous bank accounts help reduce such crimes? What new laws and agreements are required to allow this?

For an argumentative essay, you need to conduct extensive research and present evidence to support your claim (check out our argumentative essay guide to learn more.) Here are the main steps:

Human Trafficking Persuasive Essay Topics

• An anti-trafficking tax will help decrease the modern slavery rates.
• Is preventing new cases of slavery more critical than saving victims?
• Modern slavery is a serious problem that the CIA should address.
• Ignoring human trafficking is the same as neglecting Nazism .
• Forced labor is an economic problem as it is caused by poverty.
• Border control no longer solves the problem of forced labor.
• Should producers of weapons pay an anti-trafficking tax?
• Imprisonment for paying for escort services will stop human trafficking .
• Will stricter gun control laws help stop human trafficking?
• Victims of human trafficking should receive lifetime financial compensation.
• Human trafficking is a national problem that requires coordination of efforts.
• Treatment of human trafficking victims is a responsibility of society as well as psychologists.
• Two-year state-funded hospital treatment will help survivors to cope with the trauma .
• Are social networks a determining factor in the spread of human trafficking?
• Assess gender disparity in using the labor of human trafficking victims.
• Did the political polarization of society lead to an increase in people smuggling?
• Immigration laws are an effective means of combating modern slavery.
• Human traffickers’ family members capable of domestic violence should share responsibility with criminals.
• Civil and human rights protection laws do not sufficiently address human trafficking.
• People smuggling is not a crime from the criminals’ perspective: is this statement true?

Tips & Persuasive Essay Prompts Related to Human Trafficking

• The President must take personal responsibility. The problem of human trafficking is more acute than ever. It requires the immediate intervention of the President and Vice President. For example, they can declare the upcoming year the year of the fight against human trafficking.
• Criminals guilty of human trafficking should be kept in special prisons . The government should create special jails for rapists and human traffickers with a stricter regime. Moreover, we should prevent these criminals from becoming part of society again. Is this proposal fair?
• Trafficking should be punished with life imprisonment . Today, life imprisonment is mainly reserved for murder. Should human trafficking be penalized to the fullest extent?
• Can self-defense lessons help to avoid the risk of being captured by traffickers? Do you agree that schools should introduce a martial arts training system?
• State laws should permit surveillance in regions with high trafficking rates. Debate whether security is more important than the right to anonymity. Should the government allow the police to access people’s data ?
• Public organizations that help the survivors should take official responsibility. If non-governmental associations take it, they can receive financial support. It will help them cooperate more effectively with the police. Do you agree?
• The existence of human trafficking in a country: deontology, utilitarianism and egoism. The United States is officially a democracy . However, the human trafficking rates show that America is close to a feudal society. Criminal ties among the upper class also enforce it.
• Fines as a way to motivate social workers and patrol officers to fight human trafficking. Many activists and police officers work in areas with high human trafficking rates. Do you agree that governments should fine them? Would a system of moderate fines motivate them to be more responsible?
• People who cannot pay rent are easy targets for traffickers. The government should prevent homelessness to combat human trafficking. For instance, it can compensate for the rent of vulnerable demographics.
• Homelessness as the main reason for being captured by traffickers. Homelessness deprives a person of protection. States with the highest human trafficking rates should start building shelters for the homeless. The state should provide them with food, clothing, jobs, and education. This way, traffickers won’t capture them into slavery.

A persuasive essay aims to convince the reader to share your opinion. You can do it by citing facts and statistics (check out our persuasive essay guide for more info.) Here’s how to write it:

Human Trafficking Informative Essay Topics

• How do international organizations fight modern slavery?
• Human trafficking in developed African countries.
• Outline the demography of human trafficking in the US .
• How does society stigmatize trafficking survivors ?
• Fair trade as a way to combat modern slavery.
• Sex trafficking from a feminist perspective.
• The role of photography in the fight against forced labor.
• Fighting human trafficking on the dark web .
• Media coverage of human trafficking : ethical aspects.
• Review how anyone can help combat human trafficking .
• Association of human trafficking with social insecurity.
• How can medical institutions provide safety to victims of trafficking?
• Review the political and economic effects of human trafficking in the US.
• What lessons can the US learn from the trafficking situation in Eastern Europe?
• Forced labor and higher education in the US: programs for survivors.
• What US laws protect victims of slavery and define criminal activities?
• Review government statistics on forced labor in the US over the last five years.
• Which American states have the highest human trafficking rates?
• Modern slavery in the Arab world : from ancient times to modern days.
• Using technology to combat forced labor: the latest solutions.

Tips & Informative Writing Prompts for Human Trafficking Essays

• Measures that governments can take to reduce human trafficking . Review legal and informative measures to combat modern slavery. You can base this essay on reports from official government agencies.
• Human trafficking: types, symptoms , and effects. For this essay, present the kinds of trafficking according to the official categorization. It includes divisions according to age, gender, and type of forced labor. You can also describe the symptoms commonly found in victims.
• The history of human trafficking : from ancient times to the 21 st century. Start by describing ancient cultures that used forced labor. Alternatively, you may focus on the history of slavery in the US . Include the latest statistics on reported cases of human trafficking.
• Human trafficking and fundamental humanistic values. Outline humanistic values that are violated by forced labor. Back it up with arguments drawn from the works of famous humanists.
• What are the consequences of human trafficking for victims? Describe the trauma that people develop while in captivity. Use reports from national and global organizations. What physiological symptoms are associated with adaptation after release?
• How does the US deal with the problem of reporting on forced labor? Present ways of communicating the risks of human trafficking. Base this essay on government anti-trafficking reports. Include a list of trafficker indicators and other red flags.
• Environments that put a person in danger of becoming a victim of human trafficking. These include unemployment , homelessness, and the absence of immigration status. You can base this essay on data from governmental reports.
• Informing the population as means of reducing human trafficking rates. Does informing people actually reduce the number of potential victims? Review the best informing strategies used by community organizations.
• Why are migrants the most vulnerable population group in terms of human trafficking? In this essay, provide information on migrants’ life circumstances. Mention the aspects that make them the most vulnerable demographic. Examples include unemployment and insecurity before the law. You can also present the most common schemes by which traffickers capture migrants.
• New approaches to mitigating the effects of modern slavery in psychotherapy . Describe what methods therapists use to help slavery victims. You can present a list of optimal practices for restoring the integrity of survivors’ personalities. For this essay on human trafficking, use scientific articles and reports from practicing therapists.

An informative essay should educate the reader on something they didn’t know before. Have a look at this outline:

Topics for an Expository Essay on Human Trafficking

• Assess social adaptation methods for victims of sexual slavery.
• Social adaptation of men who worked for traffickers in captivity.
• Police memo: evidence sufficient to detain a trafficker.
• Describe how to identify a trafficker based on 7 criteria.
• Power of the image: photo reports on human trafficking.
• Anonymous story of a sexual slavery survivor.
• Present a psychological and demographic portrait of a trafficker.
• Describe the conditions of human traffickers’ detention.
• Dealing with trauma in children who have been in labor slavery.
• Human trafficking in the Southern and Northern states.
• How to restore citizenship and documents after release from captivity.
• How can human trafficking survivors get free medical care ?
• Who is more effective in stopping human trafficking : government agencies or community organizations?
• Being in captivity during the war , in forced labor, or sexual slavery: psychological consequences.
• Gender differences in human trafficking victims’ labor.
• Modern slavery’s connection to the criminal underworld in the Northern states.
• Enumerate the reasons why homeless people can end up in captivity.
• How many years does adaptation take for human trafficking survivors?
• Explore the modern meaning of the word “slavery.”
• Discuss ways of psychological support for the families of slavery victims.

Modern Day Slavery Writing Prompts & Tips for Expository Essays

• Human trafficking and modern slavery: real stories told by the media. Review several articles about falling into slavery. You can focus on press coverage from the 2010s. The stories of survivors will speak for themselves.
• Non-governmental organizations of the USA assisting victims: the power of community . Present five influential organizations from California, Texas, Florida, Ohio, and Nevada. Assess the personal contributions of staff. What is the role of local communities?
• How to help a friend if they’ve become a victim of human trafficking . In this essay, list tactics and strategies for assisting forced labor victims. Pay particular attention to compliance with safety regulations.
• What is it like to be a forced labor victim? A more creative task is to describe the situation from the inside. Can victims try to escape and free themselves from slavery? What is the role of psychological pressure from traffickers? How can an ordinary person cope with such a monstrous challenge?
• Prostitution, forced labor, and organ trafficking : a comparison. In addition, describe what forms of modern slavery prevail in different countries.
• Therapy methods in human trafficking survivors. Review what therapy practices are the most suitable for working with the survivors.
• An overview of common human trafficking schemes. These often involve vulnerable demographics, including illegal immigrants and adolescents from underprivileged communities.
• In what conditions do human trafficking victims live? In this paper, explain how life in captivity affects one’s mental health . Determine the connections between trauma and the body’s response to it.
• Ways of integration of human trafficking survivors. Review the best strategies for their adaptation to everyday life. Give examples of social adaptation that include education and employment.
• Human trafficking in the Southern and Border States. Study the situation in Texas, California, Florida, Georgia, and Arizona. Then, describe how to solve the problem. Don’t forget to emphasize the role of social work with illegal migrants.

An expository essay includes a thesis statement, evidence, and a logical conclusion. You can also use elements of creative writing in your paper (feel free to read our expository essay guide for more info.) Here are the main steps:

Human Trafficking Research Paper Topics

• Survival in an unfamiliar city: is an escape from slavery possible?
• What prevents citizens from recognizing victims of human trafficking?
• Are monthly payments for human trafficking survivors justified?
• Dietary adaptation for malnourished forced labor survivors.
• How do the police investigate slavery markets?
• Economic levers to combat human trafficking: practical approaches.
• Describe global criminal connections that lead to modern slavery.
• Being in captivity leads to psychological trauma inherited by victims’ children.
• The use of figureheads on social media is a successful tactic against traffickers.
• Five app projects that will help avoid becoming a human trafficking victim.
• We should ban goods produced by forced labor worldwide.
• Human trafficking transportation problems as an opportunity to catch criminals.
• Research the use of symbolic language in informing victims of human trafficking.
• Funding for the installation of video surveillance systems to catch traffickers.
• People from what socio-economic background are the most vulnerable to child labour and exploitation?
• How can we combat human trafficking during a pandemic ?
• Ethics of business and economic relations as a way to combat slavery.
• Informing vulnerable groups about human trafficking and attracting them to cooperation.
• Coordinated interaction of police departments is the key to success in combating people smuggling.

Human Trafficking Research Paper Prompts & Tips

• Deficiencies in US law determine success or failure in the fight against human trafficking. US legislation on human trafficking includes several rules. International acts and agreements also guide it. Nonetheless, the US laws, especially in the leading states, require urgent revision.
• Human trafficking as modern slavery: history repeating itself. Draw analogies between the trends and schemes from the past and the present. What historical practices can be effective in combating slavery? In particular, this concerns the anti-slavery movement and public awareness.
• Domestic human trafficking in the US shows increasing tendencies. Here, analyze the growth of domestic human trafficking cases. Demonstrate the need to create new approaches to catch criminals.
• Technology companies can stop human trafficking. The luring of victims often occurs on social media . Should social networking companies be penalized for failing to act against criminals?
• Can social media campaigns help protect potential victims? It’s necessary to create a program that will inform users about the dangers of trafficking . This method of targeted communication can be very effective.
• City officials should be ready to engage in the fight against modern slavery. Provide examples of American cities that are actively fighting human trafficking. What approaches and practices can be adopted throughout the US?
• Medical institutions are the main asset in combating human trafficking. More than three-quarters of victims receive medical care while in captivity. Health workers have the legal right to place a patient in a hospital and protect them from contact with criminals. This approach has been successful in many states.
• The police have insufficient funding to combat human trafficking. The police are conducting successful investigations, and there are many cases of solved human trafficking crimes. The state can grant more money to the police to uncover more trafficking schemes. It will allow using more advanced technologies in search of criminals.

• Hotlines should be more accessible to victims of trafficking. Hotlines are highly effective in combating human trafficking. They are easy to find on the Internet, but captive victims rarely have access to the network. How can we improve this situation?
• Families of trafficking victims and their participation in the search. Demonstrate the need to establish a format for families’ closer cooperation with the police. Would it help to conduct police investigations more effectively? Should we allow families to conduct their own investigations?
• The US is responsible for the success of international cooperation against human trafficking.

To write a research paper, you study the available information, analyze it, and make conclusions. Here’s a human trafficking research paper outline:

Causes of Human Trafficking Essay Topics

• Discuss psychological factors of human trafficking.
• What personal reasons make people become traffickers?
• Greed as a major reason for human trafficking.
• What are the major causes of sex trafficking ?
• Substantial profit as one of the human trafficking root causes.
• Explore the reasons for forced marriages.
• How does social media promote people trafficking?
• Commercialized sex and its contribution to human trafficking.
• Does authoritarianism promote human trafficking?
• Compare the cases of human trafficking in the United States and Thailand.
• Explore the court cases of traffickers. Does the judicial system cope with its duties?
• Why are weak anti-trafficking policies the primary cause of people’s exploitation ?
• Discuss the role of government in human trafficking.
• Investigate the reforms on human trafficking. How effective are these measures?
• Lack of relevant laws leads to more trafficking cases. Do you agree?
• Should legal punishments apply to victims as well as traffickers?
• Why is ethnicity one of the main factors of people trafficking ?
• Explore the connection between drug addiction and slavery.
• Violent force and threats as major leverages of traffickers.
• Naivety leads to becoming a victim of traffickers. Provide your arguments.

Causes of Human Trafficking Essay Prompts & Tips

• What are the leading causes of human trafficking ? Your essay may start with the definition of people trafficking. Think about social and economic factors. Dig into history to find the reasons. Most importantly, look at this issue from various angles.
• Explore poverty as one of the reasons for human trafficking. How does poverty influence people? Can it force them to behave illegally? What are people ready to do for money?
• Migration : is it a cause or a consequence of human trafficking? Some people are so eager to immigrate to developed countries that they can do anything. They are even ready to sell their children to get money or sell themselves into slavery. At the same time, others become traffickers to move to another country.
• Discuss the connection between human trafficking and education. Think about the following: If a person lacks education, they lack knowledge about their rights. They can be deluded more easily. Following this logic, these individuals can become desired prey for traffickers.
• What is the role of war in human trafficking? Do armed conflicts provoke or prevent the spread of slavery? How do they facilitate the development of this problem? Is smuggling flourishing in countries that are at war? These are excellent questions to start with.
• What are the effects of cheap labor demand ? Supply and demand are two pillars of economics. If there were no need for a cheap working force, traffickers wouldn’t exploit people so easily. They force their victims to work almost for free while selling the goods at a high price.
• Investigate institutional racism as a root cause of people trafficking. Who is the most vulnerable social class ? Naturally, these are marginalized groups. They lack protection at a constitutional level. That’s why they can become victims of traffickers.
• Cultural and social causes of human trafficking. For some nations, selling children, slavery, smuggling, and bonded labor are commonplace. In some countries, such as Uzbekistan, people are forced to work in the cotton fields by the authorities. If you do research, you will see many similar examples worldwide.
• How do natural disasters facilitate human trafficking? The consequences of some natural disasters force people to migrate and find alternative ways to earn money. Some of them have no other option but to let themselves be exploited. 
• How does the absence of safe migration conditions assist people trafficking?  Many people from developing countries want to move to the United States to achieve their American Dream . Traffickers delude fortune seekers, promising well-paid jobs and help in crossing the border.

Discussing human trafficking in a cause-and-effect essay is an excellent way to investigate this issue in detail. You can learn how to write it from our article on cause-and-effect essays . Here’s a recap:

Solutions to Human Trafficking Essay Topics

• How can employers help stop human trafficking?
• Producing films about slavery : is it a problem solution?
• How can we stop human trafficking by learning the indicators?
• How can people protect themselves from traffickers when going abroad?
• Why should employers stop using cheap labor?
• Compare and contrast solutions to labor and sex trafficking .
• The role of parents and caregivers in preventing forced labor.
• How can civic awareness stop human trafficking ?
• What is more important: to persecute traffickers or to protect victims?
• In what ways can attorneys help stop people smuggling ? 
• Can creating a reliable online platform for job searching help reduce slavery?
• Educational curriculum : should students be taught how to indicate and prevent human trafficking?
• Investigate the list of goods produced by child exploitation as a form of human trafficking. How does this information influence people’s choices?
• Forewarned is forearmed: discuss the effectiveness of anti-trafficking non-profit websites .
• How can stricter validity checks on job-searching websites solve the issue of modern slavery?
• Can the implementation of severe punishments for human trafficking help to curb the problem?
• Legalization of prostitution as a way of preventing sex trafficking.
• How can timely identification of human trafficking indicators save the lives of the victims? 
• Fighting against poverty and unemployment as a means of preventing people smuggling.
• Watching documentaries about modern slavery as a problem solution.

Solutions to Human Trafficking Essay Prompts & Tips

• What are the primary solutions to human trafficking? Think about the following: How can this problem be solved on personal and national levels? It’s crucial to mention self-awareness , education, volunteering , and the role of charity organizations. You may also address the necessity to change the law.
• Human trafficking: an international approach. The issue of modern slavery is a global problem. That’s why it should be dealt with at the international level. The authorities all over the world should unite to fight against people trafficking.
• Compare and contrast the effectiveness of volunteering and adopting new policies. On the one hand, volunteers attract public attention to the issue of human trafficking. On the other hand, we should protect marginalized groups at the constitutional level. Otherwise, human trafficking will remain flourishing in the future.
• Coverage of human trafficking cases in social media . Is it a good idea for the victims to share their stories on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook ? How can it help prevent this issue? Could it lead to the stigmatization of these people by others? You can start by brainstorming these ideas.
• Discuss whether fundraising is an effective solution to human trafficking. Ponder on how holding a fundraiser helps bring awareness to the problem of modern slavery. What are some other benefits of fundraising, such as financial assistance?
• Donations help prevent human trafficking. Do you agree? Every person can donate some money, clothes, or even shelter for the victims of human trafficking. Business owners may ensure employment opportunities, giving these people a chance for a better future. Focus on the importance of psychological and legal assistance .
• How does the media help prevent human trafficking? The media attracts people’s attention to the problem. They become more aware and careful. The cases of victims are widely discussed, leading to more fundraising and volunteering .
• Explore the anti-trafficking legislation in the United States. Discuss its strengths and drawbacks. What could be changed or done better? Is it effective? How are the rights of marginalized groups protected? These ideas are only the tip of the iceberg.
• Education opportunities for disadvantaged groups as a way of preventing human trafficking. Should the government provide marginalized people with free education? How can it affect human trafficking? Discuss it in your essay.  
• Why is a boycott an effective way of preventing human trafficking? If others start rejecting the goods produced by the victims of human trafficking, traffickers won’t get such huge profits. Everyone can make their contribution to the fight against this issue.

A problem-solution essay is particularly suitable for discussing modern slavery. Explore the facts and suggest how to stop this inhumane practice. Here’s how to write about problems and their solutions:

If you haven’t found a suitable topic, feel free to use our topic generator .

📝 Human Trafficking Essay Outline

Before you start writing, let’s have a look at some aspects to consider in your college essay on human trafficking. Here’s the basic template:

Human Trafficking Essay Introduction: How to Write

The most important part of an essay introduction is a hook. A perfect attention grabber for a human trafficking paper would demonstrate the seriousness of the problem right away. It, in turn, would make your audience eager to read on.

Have a look at some of the ideas for your essay’s hook:

• Cite statistical data related to the current situation with human trafficking.
• Start with a stirring quote to appeal to readers’ emotions.
• Pose a question related to your essay’s topic. Make the reader want to learn the answer.

Besides the hook, it’s logical to start your essay with some background information. This way, even an unprepared reader will understand your essay’s thesis. Think of what your audience may not know about your topic. It will help you determine what to include in this part of the introduction.

Here are some strategies:

• Tell about the countries and regions with the highest trafficking rates—for example, Thailand, the Philippines, India, South Africa, and Eastern Europe.
• Mention reasons behind this problem: unemployment, social discrimination, political instability, armed conflicts, etc.
• Give a solid definition of human trafficking or its specific type. It’s better to formulate your own one rather than take it from a dictionary.

It’s important to notice that your hook and background information should be relevant to your topic. Make sure these elements help to further the understanding of your essay’s main point.

Human Trafficking Essay Thesis

A thesis statement is your essay’s main point formulated in one sentence. It outlines the paper’s direction and provides an answer to the problem stated in the title. You place it at the end of the introduction.

A good thesis statement for a human trafficking essay usually presents the solution to a problem. However, the thesis’ contents depend on your essay’s type. For example, in an informative essay, you don’t need to prove or suggest anything. Instead, you say what you’re going to explain and how you’ll do it.

Once you’ve written the thesis statement, how do you determine whether it’s strong? Well, one way is to answer the questions from the following checklist.

If your answer to all three questions is “yes,” you can be sure of your thesis’s effectiveness.

Finally, don’t forget that the rest of your essay should support your thesis. If necessary, you can rework your statement to better suit the body paragraphs, or vice versa.

Human Trafficking Essay: Main Body

How do you make your essay on human trafficking credible and persuasive? Naturally, you want to add evidence. Here’s how to incorporate it into your paper:

• It’s better to start collecting your evidence before you start writing. Once you’ve found all the necessary information, it will be easier for you to structure the paragraphs. The point is to focus each section on a single aspect.
• Start each paragraph with a topic sentence. It should present the main idea that you will then support with evidence. Ideally, your audience should be able to follow your logic by reading the topic sentences alone.
• Finally, add your evidence. It can be statistics, facts from scholarly articles, quotes, or even anecdotes. Follow it with your explanation of this information. Say how it relates to the topic and supports your thesis.

Human Trafficking Essay Conclusion: Dos & Don’ts

A strong conclusion is a crucial part of any writing. In this final part, you synthesize your essay in a few sentences while adding a twist to it. If a conclusion is done right, it can leave a lasting impression on your readers.

This dos and don’ts list will help you write a perfect conclusion for a human trafficking essay. Check it out:

Don’t forget to introduce statistics in your essay on human trafficking. It’s available on numerous websites of governmental and non-governmental organizations dealing with the problem. You can find more ideas for your paper in our article about writing a child labor essay.

📑 Human Trafficking Essay Examples

We’ve prepared an outstanding sample essay on human trafficking that you can use as inspiration. You’re welcome to download the PDF file below:

Human trafficking is a global problem. It deprives millions worldwide of their freedom and dignity. Traffickers use various tactics to lure children, men, and women into the trap. For that reason, precaution measures should be taken. It is crucial to educate as many people as possible on the issue to ensure everyone’s safety.

Share your thoughts about human trafficking with us! Why do you think slavery is still in demand? If you were a politician, what would you do to prevent it? Tell us your suggestion in comments below!

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✏️  Human Trafficking Essay FAQ

Human trafficking is a topical issue in society because it’s an inhumane practice that affects millions of people worldwide. Writing on that topic helps understand why it is happening and what can be done about it.

Human trafficking is a very complex phenomenon driven by various economic, social, cultural, and other causes. Factors of a high human trafficking risk are poverty, social instability, exclusion, and lack of education and awareness (e.g., in South Africa.)

Pretty much every fact connected with human trafficking is horrifying. Nearly everything about this phenomenon can be considered a danger. As human trafficking is a form of slavery, it would be naive to presume there are any positive effects whatsoever.

Human trafficking is a serious problem, and you should be able to express your opinion on it. For example, it can be done in the form of an argumentative essay. It is vital to avoid using too many emotionally charged words. Remember to stay objective and provide facts and examples.

🔗 References

• Tips for Organizing an Argumentative Essay: Judith L. Beumer Writing Center
• Human Trafficking Essay: Bartleby
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Treatment: NHS
• Embrace AI, Technology to Beat Human Traffickers: Reuters
• Essay Writing: Purdue University
• What Is Human Trafficking: Anti-Slavery International
• Human Trafficking: Encyclopedia Britannica
• End Human Trafficking: United Way
• Human Trafficking Facts: CRS
• OSCE Resource Police Training Guide: Trafficking in Human Beings: OSCE
• Study on the Economic, Social and Human Costs of Trafficking in Human Beings Within the EU: Europa.eu
• Writing a Research Paper: University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Human Trafficking: FBI
• Human Trafficking: Causes and Implications: Research Gate
• Writing a Persuasive Essay: Hamilton College
• Parts of an Informative Essay: Pen and the Pad
• Expository Essay Outline: Columbus City Schools
• Introductions & Conclusions: University of Arizona
• Writing the Introduction: Monash University
• How to Write a Thesis Statement: Indiana University Bloomington
• Writing a Thesis Statement: Piedmont University
• 4 Ways Anyone Can Fight Human Trafficking: The Muse
• What Fuels Human Trafficking?: UNISEF USA
• What Is Human Trafficking?: Homeland Security
• Psychological Tactics Used by Human Traffickers: Psychology Today
• Psychological Coercion in Human Trafficking: An Application of Biderman’s Framework: NIH
• Warning Signs of Human Trafficking: State of Nevada
• Human Trafficking: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
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What is the Impact of Human Trafficking on the Biopsychosocial Health of Victims: A Systematic Review

• Review Paper
• Published: 24 May 2023
• Volume 26 , pages 148–162, ( 2024 )

Cite this article

• Olaya García-Vázquez   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-3625-274X 1 &
• Carmen Meneses-Falcón 2  

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A Correction to this article was published on 14 June 2023

This article has been updated

The health consequences of human trafficking have been poorly researched compared to other aspects of this crime. A systematic review was carried out to study health from a broader perspective, beyond psychophysical symptoms, to understand the global impact of human trafficking on sexual, social, physical, and psychological health. The search identified many studies focused on the violence of sex trafficking in female samples. This work leads us to conclude that social health is an important dimension of the well-being of trafficking victims. More studies are needed on aspects of social health, especially regarding research gaps related to spirituality and nutrition, thus continuing preventing and combating human trafficking. Many gender biases were also discovered: unlike studies of trafficking in women, the few studies on men did not look at parenting, sexual health, marital status, or sex trafficking.

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14 june 2023.

A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-023-01511-3

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Funding was provided by University Ministry of Spanish Government (Grant no. FPU19/03754).

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García-Vázquez, O., Meneses-Falcón, C. What is the Impact of Human Trafficking on the Biopsychosocial Health of Victims: A Systematic Review. J Immigrant Minority Health 26 , 148–162 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-023-01496-z

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• Continuing Education Activity

Human trafficking, a human rights violation, is a pressing public health concern that transcends all races, social classes, demographics, and gender. No population is exempt from the ever-present threat of traffickers. Healthcare providers come into contact with individuals being trafficked, usually in the emergency department. Trauma-informed care acknowledges patients’ life experiences to deliver effective care, improve patient engagement, minimize the risk of continued trauma, and reduce missed opportunities. Identifying signs of trauma, recognizing verbal and nonverbal cues, assessing a victim’s response, and referring to appropriate team members are key components of effective trauma-informed care. Missed opportunities to identify, inform, and empower these victims perpetuate this physically and psychologically debilitating disease.

• Understand the financial, legislative, and global implications of human trafficking.
• Identify the red flags of human trafficking.
• Improve communication and better assess responses during interviews of patients who are potential human trafficking victims.
• Describe interprofessional team strategies for improving care and early detection of human trafficking victims.
• Introduction

Human trafficking is a pressing public health concern that transcends all races, social classes, demographics, and gender. No population is exempt from the ever-present threat of traffickers. Human traffickers are motivated by greed, driven by quota, lack respect for human rights, prey upon the vulnerable, and damage their victims' psychological and physical well-being. The extent of the economic and social impacts on society are unknown and require further research to define and guide community-based care, protocols, and formal curriculum changes. [1]

Financial and Global Statistics

Human trafficking is a $150 billion industry globally. The International Labour Organization's (ILO) 2016 estimate reveals that 40.3 million people were victimized worldwide through modern-day slavery, 5.4 victims per every thousand people worldwide. Of these 40.3 million victims in 2016, 29 million were women and girls (72% of the total). Almost 5 million in 2016 were victims of forced sexual exploitation globally, with children making up more than 20% of that number. According to new 2016 global estimates, data collected by the ILO and the Walk Free Foundation (WFF) in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as part of their contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), puts the number close to 25 million persons who have been subjected to forced labor worldwide and 15.4 million in forced marriages. Loss of freedom is the common thread that binds them together. The exact number of trafficking victims is difficult to quantitate due to the concealed nature of the rapidly progressing disease and public health emergency. [2]

Trafficking Versus Smuggling

Distinguishing between human trafficking and human smuggling is essential. According to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), an anti-trafficking federal law established in 2000 under President Clinton's administration, human trafficking is defined as the exploitation of a person or persons for sex or labor using "force, fraud, or coercion."

Smuggling differs from trafficking because it involves the illegal crossing of borders and is usually consensual. Typically, the relationship between the smuggler and the person being trafficked terminates upon arrival to the destination country. Smuggling indebtedness can lead to trafficking as a means to resolve a fee owed to the smuggling entity. 

Trafficking in persons (TIP), also known as modern-day slavery, is a crime in all 50 states under federal and international laws and does not require the physical transport of a person. TIP can and often does occur in local communities and schools as well as near popular sporting venues. [3]

Essential Elements: A-M-P Model

Human trafficking involves three essential elements: action, means, and purpose. According to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) and the TVPA, the Action-Means-Purpose, or A-M-P Model, helps determine whether force, fraud, or coercion was present, indicating the encounter was not consensual. A trafficker recruits, harbors, transports, provides, or obtains an individual. Force, fraud, or coercion is used to compel the victim to provide commercial sex acts, labor, or other services. [4]

Federal law defines sex trafficking as "the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purposes of a commercial sex act, in which the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age." Force, fraud, or coercion do not need to be present for minors under 18 years involved in any commercial sex act because minors cannot consent to sex with an adult. Minors are easier to exploit and manipulate, thus vulnerable to trafficking.

The TVPA's definition of labor trafficking is "the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage or slavery."

The United States Department of Health and Human Services's (HHS) "Look Beneath the Surface" campaign and SOAR training in 2017 provided much-needed insight into TIPs based on the latest amendments to the TVPA. For example, force may involve rape, torture, beatings, or imprisonment and can be psychological or physical.

Physical confinement is rare; however, "invisible chains" are often used to maintain power and control, similar to intimate partner violence. Fraud may include false claims of a job, marriage, promises of a better life, or a family. Coercion also involves threats, debt, or bondage that help foster a climate of fear and intimidation and may consist of abuse of the legal process.

According to the TVPA, a commercial sex act is any sex act where anything of value is given to or received by any person, such as survival sex, drugs, transportation, food, or clothing. 

Legislative Victories: The 3P's Approach

Over the past 18 years, the US Congress has passed several comprehensive bills to bring this crime to light in domestic and international communities. This legislative process finds its basis in the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution, which banned involuntary servitude and slavery in 1865. One such law adopted in 2000 is the TVPA that combats TIPs using the "3 Ps" approach: protection, prosecution, and prevention. [5] [6] [7]

The TVPA established several necessary protective measures for trafficking victims in the United States. Regardless of immigration status, trafficked foreign persons are eligible for federally funded benefits, such as healthcare and immigration assistance. The T nonimmigrant status (T visa) is a protective measure that prohibits deportation or removal of a trafficked victim and sometimes offers a path to permanent residency. Human trafficking victims are especially vulnerable to re-trafficking within two years of first being trafficked and upon return to an originating country due to debt bondage or psychological, emotional, and economic conditions. Reintegration into society, coupled with functioning within societal pre-determined norms, can be traumatic for an already traumatized person who traffickers have exploited. Re-victimization must be avoided by enacting protective measures. 

Prosecution

Under the TVPA Act, federal prosecutors were armed with additional tools to bring traffickers to justice for their crimes against humanity. The TVPA explored the existing statutes and broadened its conservative approach. The new legislation mandated financial restitution to the persons they had exploited through trafficking and offered more substantial penalties for those convicted of trafficking crimes. Revisions of the TVPA and subsequent enactments further defined human trafficking as "severe forms of trafficking in persons," including both sex trafficking and labor trafficking.

The third "P," prevention, is perhaps the most important. The TVPA strengthens prevention efforts on behalf of the US government. International incentives were enacted to improve economic conditions around the world to deter TIPs. The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons was created within the State Department due to the TVPA. According to the US Department of State, annual TIP reporting was mandated and rated countries on their efforts to reduce TIPs. [8] [9] [10] [11]

Furthermore, the TVPA required the creation of an Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking, and TVPA reauthorizations were enacted in 2003, 2005, 2008, and 2013. In 2015, the adoption of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act allowed for additional tools to address this human rights issue and directed the Attorney General to create a National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking and ensure its ongoing maintenance. [12] [13]

These legislative directives, ensured by the passage of the TVPA and the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA), bring human trafficking to the forefront of the conversation internationally. Prevention through education is paramount in efforts to curb the growth of this $150 billion industry, which is thought by some to surpass the drug trade in the market value of criminal enterprises. Healthcare providers are on the frontline of these efforts as the first point of contact for most victims. 

The US Department of State also prosecutes human trafficking and smuggling cases. Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) agents and analysts often support foreign law enforcement agencies in an attempt to combat the global epidemic of TIP. On a domestic front, the US Department of State works with federal, state, local, and tribal leaders to investigate potential modern-day slavery cases for sex or labor exploitation.

The disease of human trafficking may find its etiology in a multitude of contributing factors that make a person susceptible to a trafficking situation.

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) can increase the likelihood of risk-taking behavior that could predispose a person to a trafficking situation. A better understanding of how a high ACE score can potentiate a trafficker's hold on a victim is best explored through research. The CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences study was a massive study, which began in 1995 and concluded in 1997, that investigated the ramifications of child abuse and neglect on health and well-being later in life. [14] The CDC continues ongoing surveillance of study participants. Annually, through local state-based Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) reporting, the effects of ACES on survivors, communities, and overall public health are measured. The ACE Pyramid conceptualizes the framework for the ACE study as it relates to individual health and well-being across the lifespan, from conception to death.

According to the ACE Pyramid, neurodevelopment is disrupted or stunted following an adverse childhood experience. Social, emotional, and cognitive impairments can result in high-risk behaviors that negatively impact overall health. Disease, disability, and social problems ensue, cascading to an early death. Therefore, a correlation exists between a higher ACE score and an increased risk of poor physical and mental health due to poor choices, risky behaviors, and social issues.

An ACE questionnaire asks difficult, emotion-provoking questions about growing up during the first 18 years of life. Questions are related to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse and the frequency of such insults. The suicide of a family member, drug addiction, and mental health issues play roles in score calculation. ACE scores range from zero to 10, with zero representing no exposure. 

According to a Florida study conducted between 2009 and 2015, trafficking abuse reports were highest among children with an ACE score of six or higher. Children with a sexual abuse history in connection with a higher ACE score had an increased chance of exploitation by traffickers. According to a 2017 study, sexual abuse was the most reliable predictor of a person's exploitation by traffickers. [5]

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) Population

A critical distinction among the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) population was revealed by the 2012 North Carolina, 2011 Washington, and 2011 and 2012 Wisconsin Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals had higher ACE scores than their heterosexual counterparts. In this 2016 study, Austin, Herrick, and Proescholdbell concluded that the higher prevalence of ACES among LGB individuals might account for some of the increased risks for poor adult health outcomes, poor choices, and heightened risk of being trafficked. [15]

The transgender community may seek expensive hormone therapy and resort to "survival sex." This vulnerable position of needing money to buy hormone therapy from black-market suppliers at inflated prices with exorbitant interest rates can increase the chances of being lured into trafficking. Transgender youths may have additional vulnerabilities that heighten their risk of being trafficked, such as homelessness, addiction, depression, lack of financial or emotional support from family, being victims of intimate partner violence, and a history of sexual abuse as a child. Transgender individuals with HIV are also vulnerable to being trafficked if they struggle to meet their basic needs of food and shelter.

The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) conducted a 2015 US Transgender Survey and found that 5% of all participants had engaged in sex work for income in the past year. Fifty-five percent of those who had resorted to survival sex in the past year were transgender women. Approximately 19% had participated in "survival sex" for money, food, sleeping quarters, or other goods or services. According to one study, those who had engaged in sex for money were more likely to have experienced some form of intimate partner violence or sexual assault. Debt bondage places an invisible chain that binds a victim to a "Romeo" or "guerilla" pimp. The invisible chain tightens with unmet quotas and may become a physical one. [16]

Further resources provided by the Polaris Project address the risks of being trafficked within the LGBTQ community and are available on their website.

Trafficking Risk Factors and Vulnerability

Sexual abuse puts an individual at risk for substance abuse, mental health issues, and a lack of social norms, belonging, or a sense of family. Vulnerability and feelings of distrust towards authority figures take the place of security. Often those who are supposed to protect an individual are the initial perpetrators of the insult or crime. "Forgotten," "invisible," "different," "broken," and "discarded" are all words used to describe the feelings of victims of human trafficking. Traffickers prey upon this vulnerability, use it to their advantage, and strategically place themselves nearby. Often seen as a rescuer who offers a chance at a better life, security, or a remote possibility that better days are ahead, a trafficker is a profiler, trolling for victims to turn a profit.

Traffickers do not discriminate based on gender, race, social demographic, immigration status, or economic status. No exact mold fits a victim. Anyone is at risk, but specific populations have a higher vulnerability risk. The US Department of Health Office on Trafficking in Persons provided a fact sheet in 2017 to further highlight at-risk groups, such as survivors of child abuse, sexual abuse, assault, interpersonal or intimate partner violence, gang violence, or community-violence exposure. [1]

The SOAR Campaign further delineates at-risk, vulnerable individuals as those lacking a stable support structure or home life, such as a runaway, a foster child, a child in the juvenile justice system, a homeless youth, an unaccompanied minor, a person displaced due to a natural disaster, or an individual with a language or cultural barrier. Increased risk also involves those with substance abuse problems, undocumented or migrant workers, and the LGBTQ population. Minorities, those with disabilities, and those on Native American reservations can be at a higher risk of being trafficked.

The US Department of Education published a fact sheet for schools entitled "Human Trafficking of Children in the United States" that discussed the vulnerability of school-age children and human trafficking incidence. In identified child-trafficking cases, children commonly were involved in stripping acts, pornography, forced begging, commercial sex, and drug sales. Children at most significant risk were identified as working in restaurants, in hair and nail salons, as nannies or au pairs, or in agricultural settings. Signs of child trafficking include unexplained absences, poor attendance, runaway behavior, boasting about frequent travel to other cities, inappropriate dress for the current weather, being sleep-deprived or malnourished, or impairment due to drugs or alcohol. [17]

Lack of a stable support structure and social media accessibility may put a child at risk of being targeted for sexual exploitation. Social media websites, classified advertisement sites, chat rooms, and after-school programs are potential venues for youth exploitation. School hallways pose a risk, as a trafficker may be another student. A trafficker may promise a "happening" party or a good time to entrap an unsuspecting, troubled, or bored youth. 

Educational campaigns, such as the Blue Campaign created by the US Department of Homeland Security, offer much-needed insight into the identification and treatment of victims of human trafficking. The Blue Campaign by the Department of Homeland Security offers sex trafficking awareness videos to educate youth on the risks of being trafficked in familiar places such as schools, coffee shops, malls, sporting venues, and other hangouts.

• Epidemiology

The National Human Trafficking Hotline: Reported Cases

When exploring the epidemiology of human trafficking, one must first examine data collection, results, and the organizations that provide this service. The US Department of HHS funds the National Human Trafficking Hotline, operated by Polaris, a nongovernmental organization. The National Human Trafficking Hotline's data collection gathers invaluable information to assist training programs and victims domestically and abroad. For example, 2017 data collection indicates that California, Texas, and Florida rank the highest in reported cases and referrals. [18] [19] [6]

To date, the hotline has answered more than 100,000 calls; 7,000 were from potential victims of human trafficking. According to Polaris hotline statistics for the United States, more than 30,000 cases of trafficking in persons and more than 8,000 tips to law enforcement were identified since 2007. The National Human Trafficking Hotline is a 24-hour, confidential, multilingual hotline covering more than 200 languages for victims, survivors, and witnesses of human trafficking.

• The hotline number is 1-888-373-7888.
• Text "HELP" to 233733.
• Live chat at humantraffickinghotline.org.
• Email [email protected].

Childhood Statistics/Cases

Another resource for reporting cases and gaining information as it relates to the trafficking of minors is the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). In 2016, The NCMEC estimated that one in six endangered runaways were likely victims of sex trafficking. Sex traffickers target children as young as nine, with the average age between 11 and 14. Labor trafficking ages vary. The Global Estimates of Modern Slavery by the ILO, WFF, and IOM reported that of the 4.8 million sexually exploited in 2016, 20% were children. [2] [20] [21]

• To report sexually exploited or abused minors, call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s (NCMEC) hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST, 1-800-843-5678.
• In the case of an immediate emergency, call the local police department or emergency access number.
• Child protective surfaces and local law enforcement will assist healthcare providers in local reporting requirements for minors involved in a possible abuse situation. Ages of sexual consent may vary from state to state. Thus, the need to consult local agencies. 

Global Repository of Data

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with Polaris and the UN Migration Agency, has launched a Counter-Trafficking Data Collaborative (CTDC) with a global repository of data on trafficking in persons. Victim identities are protected, and the information gathered assists in bridging gaps in publicly available data. Essential components of the CTDC's role to combat the war on human trafficking are data collection efforts and providing public access to the data. The first of its kind, this global repository of data combines data from the IOM records of more than 45,000 human trafficking cases and more than 31,000 cases from Polaris. This collaborative data tracking system fosters a data-rich environment and transcends borders and individual agency operational challenges. This comprehensive, international database is a positive byproduct of this partnership. See the CTDC website .

Global Report on Trafficking in Persons

Each year, thousands of individuals fall victim to national and international trafficking. Almost no country is exempt from human trafficking infractions or being the originating, transient, or destination country. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Global Report on Trafficking in Persons further explores the bond between trafficker and victim and the trafficking origin.

The 2016 UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons shines a light on the trafficker's profile and relationship with the one who is trafficked. Traffickers and their victims tend to originate from the same geographical area, speak the same language, and share the same ethnic background. These commonalities foster a level of trust between the trafficker and the victim. The trafficker exploits this relationship for financial benefit. Traffickers rarely travel abroad to recruit, instead focusing on domestic recruitment. 

Globally, local trafficking is on the rise. A trafficker will go to a destination country to exploit the victim. Countries most vulnerable to trafficking are those with high levels of organized crime and those ravaged by conflicts. From 2012 to 2014, more than 500 different trafficking flows were detected, and countries in Western and Southern Europe identified victims of various citizenships. The 2016 UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons reports 79% of classified trafficked individuals globally are women and children and documented a clear link between migration and human trafficking. The movement of migrants and refugees is the most substantial reported migration since World War II, with an estimated 244 million international migrants worldwide. 

Forced migration resulting from refugees fleeing war-torn areas makes women and children especially vulnerable to exploitation by traffickers. The movement of Syrians escaping the war is one such example. Children face exploitation as "child soldiers." Armed guards abduct individuals on migratory routes and exploit them as slaves for forced labor or sex. In September 2015, world leaders adopted the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and embraced the war against trafficking in persons on a global front. This plan called for all forms of violence against women and girls to cease. 

According to the 2016 UNODC Global Trafficking in Persons Report, no country is immune from trafficking in persons, and over 500 migratory flows of trafficking were detectable. Sub-Saharan African and East Asian victims are trafficked to numerous global destinations. Affluent areas, such as Western and Southern Europe, North America, and the Middle East, have victims from all parts of the world. In Southeast Asia, forced marriages are on the rise. Central America, the Caribbean, and South America frequently report cases of girls becoming victims of sexual exploitation. Trafficking in fishing villages for forced labor is a problem in parts of the world, such as Ghana and Taiwan. Organ retrieval as a form of trafficking is less frequent but exists in some parts of the world. 

The UNODC 2016 study also reports a change in the victim profile over the past decade. The number of male victims is increasing. The total number of forced labor victims increased between 2012 and 2014, with 63% being men. Another alarming fact from this report is that female participation increased. Of 6800 persons convicted of human trafficking during 2012-2014, 60% were male. Young girls are recruited and controlled by older women. More couples are actively involved in trafficking. Posing as "stable couples" allows traffickers to seem more genuine and trustworthy while actively recruiting and exploiting victims as a team. Former victims become active participants in recruitment, some to reduce their debt bondage and end their sexual exploitation. Others who willingly participate in the abuse use tactics of power and control. If trafficked persons are engaged in criminal activity, they are less likely to cooperate with police, thus allowing the trafficker even more control.

According to the UNODC, the average number of trafficker convictions was low, with five victims per convicted offender. North America had the highest number of convictions compared to the rest of the world. The United States reported 150 to 200 convictions annually, while Europe reported the highest number of trafficking victims. [22] .

• Pathophysiology

Missed Opportunities and Myths

A recent study revealed that 87.8% of human trafficking survivors had been in contact with a healthcare provider in some capacity during their victimization. Furthermore, 68.3% had received an evaluation in the emergency department. (The Health Consequences of Sex Trafficking and Their Implications for Identifying Victims in Healthcare Facilities, Lederer, 2014) Missed opportunities to identify, inform, and empower these victims allow this physically and psychologically debilitating disease to spread.

Recently, a smaller study of emergency department nurses in an urban setting concluded that the nurses want better awareness of the specific resources available to human trafficking victims. Ongoing research into the impact of institutional policy, human trafficking protocols, and continuing education regarding the recognition and treatment of trafficked individuals is required [22] .

Myths or misperceptions often lead to missed opportunities to identify victims [DOS, 2013] . Education on these potential media-induced sensationalized myths is essential for healthcare providers and first point-of-contact personnel. First, trafficking in persons is not just a crime that occurs in a faraway place or only involves migrants or foreign nationals. Individual exploitation happens in every part of the world, including suburbs, big cities, and hometowns.

Victims can be coerced to take part in crimes, thus landing them in a detention center or jail. They may present to the emergency department for medical clearance. Proper screening of these individuals is vital in our attempts to identify victims, recognize the red flags of trafficking, and take appropriate action. Having the mindset that this patient is "just a criminal or "just a prostitute" is a bias that inhibits practitioners from reading verbal and nonverbal cues and recognizing the patient as a human trafficking victim. A victim may be revictimized if returned to an exploitative environment. Revictimization is a chief concern for practitioners. The United Nations Convention against Corruption defines “revictimization” as "a situation in which the same person suffers from more than one criminal incident over a period of time." Perhaps more important when assessing and interviewing a potential victim of trafficking is the potential for "secondary victimization.”  The UNODC Model Law on Justice in Matters involving Child Victims and Witnesses of Crime defines secondary victimization as "victimization that occurs not as a direct result of the criminal act but through the response of institutions and individuals to the victim." [22]

If an individual is free to come and go, then he or she may not be recognized as a person being trafficked. As discussed previously, bonds are often not physical chains or cuffs but "invisible" or psychological ones. Fear paralyzes victims, acting as a shackle that emotionally confines them to the trafficking situation. Mental weapons used by the trafficker to exercise power and control over a victim may include threats of harm to children, siblings, or other family members; deportation or return to a traumatizing situation; calls to social services; and physical violence or reminders of past violence for misguided offenses. 

Debt bondage, withholding of pay, and maintaining possession of identifying documents may further lead to an invisible bond or tie to the pimp/trafficker. Trafficked victims may use a school bus, a public bus, a train, or a taxi. Control over the trafficked person is far beyond a physical wall, chain, or border. Much like intimate partner violence, victims usually do not self-identify, self-report, or recognize that they are being manipulated, controlled, stigmatized, or dehumanized.

Cultural Considerations

Language barriers and cultural misconceptions may lead to a missed opportunity to identify a potential victim. [23] Inconsistencies in stories or history may become lost in translation, especially if a provider fails to obtain an interpreter with no relationship to the exploited. A staff member versed in the same language or who shares the same culture as the victim may be able to spot these subtle clues and ease the cultural shock and miscommunication. However, the availability of staff members with the optimal background and primary language is not always feasible in a busy healthcare setting. When red flag behaviors are passed off as specific cultural behaviors, this demographic profiling could create a missed opportunity to identify the patient as a victim.

In suspected cases of human trafficking or intimate partner violence, it is imperative that no family member or accompanying party be allowed to translate. Ensure that your institution provides a certified interpreter.

Reasons Victims/Traffickers Access Medical Care

Seeking health care for victims presents the opportunity for discovery. Traffickers may only seek care for their victims when they become seriously ill. [24] A multitude of factors should lead a practitioner to seek medical services for a person who is a suspected victim of human trafficking.

• Emergent medical conditions, such as profuse bleeding or pain caused by a beating or forced abortion, injury on a job site, or complications during pregnancy, such as an ectopic pregnancy
• Gynecological services for sexually transmitted infections caused by debris in the vagina from packing during menstruation or forced sex without condom use
• Follow up with an OB/GYN for a repeat beta HCG or ultrasound for a possible ectopic pregnancy identified in an emergency setting
• Addiction issues such as a severe overdose or withdrawal signs and symptoms
• Dental emergencies or plastic surgery consultations
• Prenatal care or lack thereof
• Health-related mental problems such as depression, suicide attempts, or anxiety disorder
• A patient on a psychiatric hold or court-mandated order
• Severe wound infections with signs of septicemia may force introduction into the healthcare system

Traffickers seek out the quickest means of care, and lengthy emergency department waits may lead to their decision to leave with the victim before receiving medical treatment. They may also "hospital shop" for quicker wait times from door to the provider. An accompanying "family member" that is impatient, "in your face," or upset over lengthy delays in overcrowded emergency rooms or clinics may, in fact, be a trafficker. Another indicator is the "spouse" or "boyfriend" that insists that a high-risk patient, such as one with a possible ectopic pregnancy or appendicitis, leave without being seen, against medical advice, or before care is completed.

Remember, a victim comes from all walks of life and may be perceived as having a stable home in a suburban community. Victims will never look or act the same; their individual responses to their traumatic event will follow no specific protocol. Healthcare providers must be diligent in identifying these silent victims, forced into a situation of no fault of their own and made to carry out acts that reap emotional and social ramifications for years to come.

• History and Physical

Exploitive Environments

When healthcare workers encounter potential victims of trafficking, a detailed work and social history will assist in identifying red flags. A better understanding of the most common areas where persons are targeted for exploitation will help practitioners assess a potential victim.

Victims of labor trafficking tend to be near farms, fisheries, factories, or businesses such as nail salons, massage parlors, restaurants, and areas with high immigrant populations. Labor trafficking victims are in traveling sales crews, peddling or begging rings, landscapers, construction workers, domestic workers, nannies, elder adult caregivers, and agriculture work. Victims who travel selling, peddling, or begging are vulnerable due to homelessness and working in unfamiliar settings. If left behind in an unknown city, they may resort to "survival sex." Immigrants may lack the power to communicate their situation due to language barriers; this enables handlers from similar backgrounds to approach them and speak for them. 

Some common sex trafficking sites are hotels or motels, street-based locations, residences functioning as brothels, commercial-front brothels, escort-service companies, truck stops, bars, and strip clubs. Sex trafficking can happen at home, with parents, intimate partners, or other family members being the perpetrators. Victims may not see themselves as victims and may refer to the trafficker as their "daddy" or "boyfriend."  [25] [22] [20]

Labor Trafficking Considerations

Common presenting complaints of victims of human trafficking are much like those of intimate partner violence but may vary depending if the patient is a victim of labor or sex trafficking. Labor traffickers prey on specific vulnerabilities to entice individuals to accept substandard working conditions. Workers in the agriculture industry, factories, and domestic servitude sectors are vulnerable to human trafficking due to their work visas and immigration status being controlled by one employer. This power over the individual and fear of deportation allow the trafficker to manipulate the worker, leading to victimization. 

Agricultural and industrial workers who are forced to work long hours with substandard wages may be isolated and confined by using dogs, armed guards, barbed wire or other fences, or locks. The seasonal nature of their work and movement from place to place heightens their vulnerability due to regularly being subjected to unfamiliar surroundings. 

Domestic workers are also isolated, forced to live on the premises, and may lack access to cell phones and other communication devices. Language barriers add to vulnerability and the inability to communicate their situation and needs. Workers in strip clubs and bars may have fraudulent work visas and ties to organized crime, rendering them vulnerable to trafficking. Drugs and alcohol are used as manipulation tools.

Labor laws may not apply to subcontractors or independent contractors, thus increasing vulnerability risk. A common theme among persons who are exploited and traffickers exists. The victim is kept isolated by proximity or language, vulnerable due to immigration status, without resources, indebted, without the protection of labor laws, controlled, and manipulated. 

Trafficking in persons for labor exploitation may put a patient at risk for malnutrition, communicable diseases such as hepatitis and tuberculosis, pesticide and chemical burns, or exposure and work-related injuries due to lack of safety equipment such as safety belts, gloves, goggles, and masks. 

Labor Trafficking Red Flags

Stop, Observe, Ask, and Respond (SOAR) will guide practitioners in determining whether red flags indicate a potential case of human trafficking. Healthcare providers must decide if a crime occurred or if all three elements of trafficking in persons exist: force, fraud, and coercion. The provider's role is to recognize a potential case of human trafficking, empower the person being exploited, educate the victim on resources and established support structures, and provide a framework for a trauma-informed, victim-centered approach to healthcare.

Providers should observe for verbal and nonverbal clues and ask open-ended questions in a private, non-judgmental way to determine if the patient is a potential victim of human trafficking. Questions to ask regarding labor trafficking suspicions may include, but not be limited to, the list below.

• Are you being paid the wages that were part of the initial agreement?
• Can you change jobs if you want to?
• Would anything happen to you if you quit your job?
• Can you come and go as you, please, take bathroom breaks, and eat when you want?
• Do you live with others? What are your home conditions, and where do you sleep? Do you have a bed? Do you sleep on the floor? Is it too cold or too hot where you live?
• Did you pay a fee to get your job? Do you owe a debt to your employer?
• Do you have access to your money and your identification? 
• Has your employer ever threatened you? 
• Did you have eye protection, a mask, or a safety harness? Personal protective equipment such as gloves? Respirators?
• Does your employer provide your housing? 
• Are you working in the job you were hired to do? 
• Are you concerned about your safety? Your family or your children's safety?
• How many hours do you work a day? How many days per week?
• Have you moved around a lot? Do you know your address? Can you give me directions or the location of your house?
• Do you take care of others?
• Are there locks on the doors or bars on the windows? Can you leave freely? [26]

Barriers to Identification of Victims

Healthcare providers, for a variety of reasons, may fail to stop, observe, and ask questions to identify a potential victim of human trafficking. The absence of protocols, myths, stereotypes, biases, fear of no available resources, lack of education regarding human trafficking red flags, time constraints, lack of privacy, or an inability to separate the person from the potential trafficker all may play a part in the failure to identify victims. The victim declining to give a history and self-identify are hindrances in identifying human trafficking. [23]

Diagnostic Overshadowing

A patient who presents with multiple visits and complains of pain that has no organic cause, a "frequent flyer," as labeled by some, may be an overlooked victim of trafficking. Patients who present with stress-related issues on multiple visits or who return over and over with psychological holds for overdoses or suicidal ideations may be victims of trafficking. They risk being released back into the trafficking situation and victimization each time. Providers must recognize the potential for "diagnostic overshadowing" and be attuned to their own emotions and potential for bias. [27]   Traffickers can pose as parents, grandparents, or spouses. As providers, practitioners must stop, observe, ask, and respond. [4]

As front-line participants in the battle to combat human trafficking, healthcare workers must be aware of these potential barriers to victim identification. Often, providers rush from patient to patient or exam room to exam room, are caught between documentation and hands-on assessment and care, and treat patients in hallways, lobbies, or corridors. These practice realities add to the potential for a missed opportunity. 

Sex Trafficking Red Flags  

According to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) and hotline, general indicators or red flags of trafficking in persons may include but not be limited to the following with some modifications:

• Inconsistent history or a history that appears coaxed. It may be difficult to determine if a language barrier is present.
• Resistant to answer questions about the injury or incident.
• Avoids eye contact, is nervous, fearful of touch.
• No idea of the address or general area where they live.
• No control over their finances and lacks decision-making capacity.
• Accompanied by a controlling companion or family member that refuses to let the patient speak for themselves or be alone for care or insists on being the translator.
• Exhibits bizarre, hostile behavior. Resistant to care and assistance. May have initially consented but changed their mind after being asked to undress for an exam.
• No identification or the companion has it in their possession.
• Under age 18 and involved in a commercial sex act.
• Tattoos or branding signs. Markings may say "daddy" or "for sale," imply ownership or read as an advertisement for a product.
• Multiple sex partners.
• Inappropriate attire for the environmental conditions of the area.
• Attempt to reason away bruises or ligature marks by claiming a bruising or rare blood disorder.
• Silent, afraid to speak, cringes at the sound of a loud voice.
• Uses trafficking "lingo" such as "the life" or other words common in the commercial sex industry.
• Has addiction issues such as opioids.
• Admits to a forced sexual encounter or being forced into sex acts. [22] [28] [29]
• Has a cover story to avert suspicion, but details may vary or be inconsistent with a query. Law enforcement may refer to this as a "legend."

Head-to-Toe Assessment

A head-to-toe, full assessment in this patient population is vital. An examination may prove difficult due to the emotional and psychological state of the victim. These patients may appear as uncooperative or vague and give an inconsistent history. These reactions are manifestations of their trauma. Provider frustration or stereotyping may arise, leading to the desire to exit the room quickly, with a quick determination of probable diagnosis and treatment. As discussed above, the potential exists for "diagnostic overshadowing." As with any trauma patient, a high index of suspicion should be present for co-existing conditions and comorbidities.

Conduct the assessment in private, not allowing anyone accompanying the patient to be present. A chaperone may be present and a certified interpreter, if required, to facilitate a feeling of trust, establish rapport, and build a trusted network of people and organizations willing to help. If possible, provide a same-sex provider for the physical exam/assessment with the available staffing mix. During the exam, the patient may seem emotionally absent, hyperventilate, and not verbalize feelings of discomfort. Be alert to nonverbal signs. Reassure frequently and promote a relaxed, non-rushed atmosphere. Avoid interrogating the victim; ask only direct, pertinent, open-ended, yet neutral questions. Maintain eye contact with the victim, barring cultural considerations, and avoid writing while the victim speaks. Ensure the victim is entirely undressed and in a gown so a complete trauma assessment can be initiated. Specifically, examine for the following:

• Bruising; old, healing, or new lacerations; hematomas; signs of acute or chronic head trauma or a headache; missing hair or bald spots.
• Trouble hearing; damage to the auditory canal or eardrum; signs of trauma to the oropharynx such as lacerations or burns, blood in the mouth, ulcerations, tooth decay, broken teeth, gingival irritation, tongue abnormalities; signs of anemia or dehydration in the oral mucosa.
• Visual defects, sudden or gradual onset; tattoos or brands in the hairline or on the neck; signs of strangulation such as bruising.
• Signs of chest trauma, murmurs; cigarette burns; tattoos that imply ownership; bruising in various stages of healing; signs of stress-related cardiovascular issues such as arrhythmias or high blood pressure.
• Respiratory issues that would indicate inhalation injuries from chemical exposure, toxic fume exposure, asbestos exposure, or mold exposure.
• Signs of tuberculosis such as night sweats, coughing up blood, fever, and weight loss.
• Signs of stress-related respiratory or gastrointestinal problems.
• Damage to lung tissue due to prolonged exposure to chemicals or pesticides, aspiration pneumonia, or other inhalation injuries; meth lab exposure can produce burning to the eyes, nose, and mouth, chest pain, cough, lack of coordination, nausea, and dizziness.
• Hypothermia or hyperthermia from environmental exposure from working in damp, cool, poorly insulated factories or buildings; mold exposure signs/symptoms.
• Signs of gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or abdomen pain; rectal pain, itching, trauma, or bleeding; parasites in the feces or signs of abdominal trauma.
• Bruising to the back or scarring; tattoos that imply advertisement, ownership, or are sexually explicit in the pubic hair.
• Obstetrical and gynecological complaints such as sexually transmitted infections (STI) or recurrent STIs. An STI, especially if recurrent, in a minor may be the first and only sign of sexual abuse; repeated unwanted or unplanned pregnancies or forced abortions; anogenital trauma; evidence of retained foreign bodies such as in the vagina from packing during menstruation, vaginal bleeding, discharge, rashes, itching, signs of injury or forced sex. [30] [30] [31]
• The number of sexual partners; condom use; genitourinary symptoms present such as burning, frequency, odor, dark urine, or history of frequent urinary tract infections.
• Signs of bruising or lower back scarring from repeated beatings; musculoskeletal issues such as signs of repetitive trauma; work-related injuries or injuries such as back problems from wearing heels for hours walking the streets or neck and jaw problems from frequent, forced oral sex.
• Fractures, old or new, any contractures. Cigarette or scald burns. Ligature marks/scars around ankles or wrists. Signs of scabies, infestations (scalp or body). Impetigo. Fungal infections.
• Signs of nutritional deficits such as Vitamin D deficiencies from lack of exposure to sunlight, anemia, or mineral deficiencies; brittle or fine hair.
• Signs of anorexia, bulimia, loss of appetite, malnutrition, and severe electrolyte abnormalities.
• Growth and development abnormalities in children, dental cavities, or misaligned poorly formed teeth. 
• Neurological issues such as seizures, pseudo-seizures, numbness or tingling, migraines, inability to concentrate, vertigo, unexplained memory loss, and seizures.
• Insomnia, nightmares, waking up frequently.
• Signs of opioid or other addiction.

Signs of Physical or Psychological Torture

Signs of physical torture may present on a dermatological evaluation, such as abrasions over bony prominences, scratches or linear abrasions from a wire, or "road rash" to extremities from being thrown from or drug by a vehicle. Ropes and cords can leave elongated, broad-type abrasions. Ropes may leave areas of bruising mixed with abrasions. Belts or cords may leave loop marks and parallel lines of petechial with central sparing. Tramline bruising, two parallel lines of bruising, can result from being beaten with a heavy stick or baton. Cigarette burns tend to be circular with a 1-cm diameter and can fade in a few hours or days. Burns, in general, tend to take the shape of the object that inflicted the burn.

Trafficking victims may be beaten or subjected to torture for various reasons. The guerilla pimp may torture the victim due to not meeting a quota or breaking established rules, a displeased customer, or for no apparent reason other than to maintain control. Bruises, lacerations, marks, or scars may be present on the lower back where they are hidden more easily and do not disfigure the product/victim and inadvertently make the person being trafficked less marketable. 

Cupping therapy may leave bruises or scars that may be mistaken for abuse. Correlate this finding with a detailed history as well as the presence of other red flags. 

Psychological and Mental Status Examination

Mental health indicators of trafficking in persons may be missed or explained away as a panic attack. Again, one must stop and take an in-depth look, considering the red flags. Look for signs such as depression, suicidal ideations, self-mutilation injuries, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and feelings of shame or guilt. Shame, a control tool used by a trafficker, may keep a victim bound to a trafficking situation. Does the patient report nightmares, flashbacks, irrational fears, irritability, social isolation, suicidal ideations, or depression?

A trafficking victim may describe a situation as if they were an outsider looking in. This mind-body separation creates a safe, alternate reality to help them cope with the atrocities they are facing and feelings of shame and guilt. They use a third-person omniscient point of view in their storyline. Sometimes patients exhibiting this behavior are categorized as impersonal or devoid of emotion, numb to their surroundings, or detached. This point of view is their survival mechanism.

Addiction issues may be present and result in withdrawal. The addiction may be fueled by the trafficker for control or by the victim to cope with the physical or emotional pain surrounding the trafficking situation. 

Documentation of Assessment Findings

Documentation of physical findings is important and may assist the victim in prosecuting their trafficker later if health records are subpoenaed. Follow established documentation guidelines and reporting requirements based on state and local statutes or federal law as addressed previously. Photo documentation may prove vital. Follow any protocols/policies specific to your institution regarding taking photos and their storage, and obtain all required consent forms. [3] [32] [33]

Recognition and Intervention

Once a practitioner identifies a potentially trafficked person, it is imperative to establish a private, quiet, safe place to assess the patient further, much like in cases of child or elder abuse. Building rapport and providing an opportunity for the victim to feel empowered is of utmost importance. Building rapport with the patient can build trust and begin to establish a trusted network of people and institutions to assist the victim. Do not start a dialogue until you can select a safe, private, and secure place.

In this era of mobile devices, where a smartphone is always within easy grasp, ensure cell phones are off and not nearby. Cell phones can be another way the traffickers control the victim. The victim may have arrived alone but is always on the cell phone. The cell phone may be the trafficker's way of "keeping tabs" or listening to everything going on in the room. 

Maintain eye contact during conversation, speak slowly and quietly, and avoid looking down at the potential victim. Instead, sit in a nearby chair where on-level eye contact, unless contrary to the patient's cultural norms, is possible. Ensure an environment where the victim can establish a sense of power and control. This empowering safe zone may allow the patient to open up and admit to being a victim. More importantly, ensuring the patient feels safe and empowered may provide the opportunity to identify the patient as a victim of human trafficking, share available resources, and convince the patient to trust and accept help.

Before starting the conversation, ask the patient if it is safe to talk now and if they feel comfortable with you in the room or if they prefer someone else. Never assume it is safe for the victim; they must confirm that it is safe. Safety is critical for the victim, staff, and nearby patients. Trafficking protocols will guide your care and determine a preset location readily available for an interview or a few minutes alone with the patient. A bereavement room for family notification in the event of trauma or sudden death may be one such place.

Inform the potential victim of trafficking that you are mandated by law to report certain disclosures. Monitor their verbal and nonverbal cues. Be alert to your facial expressions, body language, and any nonverbal signals you are exhibiting. Avoid stereotyping and revictimizing the potential victim as they disclose information. 

Communicating with Potential Victims

Communicating with victims of human trafficking can be intimidating for healthcare providers. The Department of HHS created a resource called Messages for Communicating with Victims of Human Trafficking as part of their Rescue and Restore Campaign in 2016. These messages assist healthcare providers in building a rapport with the victim and promoting a trusting environment. [34] [35]

Sample Messages to Ease Communication

Sample messages for communicating with a victim of human trafficking, according to the Department of HHS. [36] [37]

• We are here to help you, and our priority is your safety. We can keep you safe and protected.
• We can provide you with the medical care you need as well as find you a place to stay. 
• Everyone has the right to live without being abused or hurt, and that includes you. 
• You deserve a chance to live on your own and take care of yourself, be independent, and make your own choices. We can help you with that. 
• We can get you help to protect your family and your children. 
• You have rights and deserve to be treated according to those rights.
• You can trust me. I will do everything in my power to help you. Assistance is available for you under the law, and special visas allow you to live safely in this country.
• No one should have to be afraid all the time. We can help.
• Help us so this does not happen to anyone else. 
• You can decide what is best for you, but let me provide you with a number to call for help 24 hours a day. You do not even have to tell them your name if you do not want to. They are there to help you anytime, day or night. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline number is 1.888.373.7888. 

Do not make false promises. Only offer what you can provide. 

Providers are not required to determine if a crime or a prosecutable offense has occurred. However, they can foster an empowering, caring environment to identify a victim for a potential rescue, provide invaluable resources to restore their lives, and help them to begin healing emotionally and physically. 

Creating an Opportunity for Intervention

The trafficker may be the accompanying family member that declines to leave the patient alone. Similar to intimate partner violence, the provider creates an opportunity to take the patient to the bathroom for a urine sample or to radiology for an x-ray or CT scan, informing the family member that they cannot go with the patient. Another way to get the victim alone is to notify the alleged family or significant other that hospital policy requires you to interview and examine everyone alone. 

Before you separate the potential victim from the family member or controlling individual, make sure you or a dedicated, trained staff member has the time to conduct an interview/assessment at that moment. 

Traffickers can be parents, "boyfriends," husbands, women, men, friends, and those you would otherwise see as protectors. Do not talk with the patient about suspected trafficking if the patient cannot be interviewed in private. The trafficker may cause the victim serious bodily injury after removing them from the facility if alerted that the healthcare provider is suspicious of the situation.

Assessment of the level of danger or threat to the patient and staff is imperative. Pay attention to your immediate area and follow preset protocols by your institution in notifying law enforcement and security personnel. 

The NHTRC can assist you in threat level assessment, danger risk, and contacting law enforcement if the patient consents. Is the trafficker still nearby? How will the trafficker act if the victim does not return? Are there minors or other family members that are in danger? Is the patient a minor? 

An interprofessional approach is best, if available, with a trained social worker nearby as predetermined in your trafficking protocol. Follow preset policies and procedures regarding abuse and neglect at your institution and according to local and state statutes. The NHTRC hotline offers invaluable assistance with resources, assessment, and the best courses of action. 

Just like when intimate partner violence occurs, ensure the patient has a safe place to go upon discharge. 

If a patient reveals they are a victim of human trafficking, ask the patient if it is all right to call the NHTRC hotline number. Encourage the patient to call and provide them with the phone number. It may be dangerous for them to keep the number on hand, so ask them if they can memorize it or give them a "shoe" or "key" card that can be hidden in their shoe or other discrete location. 

The National Human Trafficking and Resource Center hotline number is available around the clock, and reporting information is confidential to the extent of the law. The NHTRC is a tip hotline, a place to find out about services and to ask for help. The hotline can translate and communicate with individuals in more than 200 languages. A caller does not need to disclose personal information to the hotline; the caller can remain anonymous.

The NHTRC is available to help healthcare providers in the event of a potential trafficking case when no protocols are available. Healthcare providers can gain information on social referrals such as anti-trafficking organizations, shelters, local social services agencies, legal services, and law enforcement numbers. Tip reporting is available. The hotline website provides training information and technical support. The NHTRC can guide a provider in the assessment of a potential victim. 

• Report Online or Access Resources & Referrals: www.traffickingresourcecenter.org
• Call: 1-888-373-7888 (24/7). Email: [email protected]. Live chat: www.traffickingresourcecenter.org

Mandatory Reporting/HIPAA Considerations

Guidelines for reporting suspected human trafficking cases will vary depending on the facility, location, and state and federal laws. Adults may not want to report the incident; thus, the decision to alert law enforcement is based on predetermined protocols and local or state laws coupled with patient wishes. Some states mandate reporting if serious bodily injury or a firearm is involved. 

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) concerns are essential considerations. The practitioner must obtain permission from an adult victim of human trafficking to release any protected health information (PHI) or personally identifiable health information to the NHTRC. The NHTRC may be contacted and provided general information for a consult as long as no protected, identifiable health information is released. If the victim is under 18 and involved in a commercial sex act, follow mandatory state reporting laws for child abuse and institutional child abuse policies. 

HIPAA will permit the release of protected health information under certain circumstances, such as suspected injury or abuse. For example, if the law mandates a disclosure as in the case of child abuse or neglect, elder abuse or neglect, and in cases reportable to the medical examiner. Reporting is permissible under HIPAA regulations if the disclosure involves a crime and is an emergency, is necessary to prevent harm with patient consent, and in any situation where local, state, or federal law requires reporting. However, follow institutional guidelines and policies in place for HIPAA reporting requirements.

• Treatment / Management

Trafficking Health Implications

Labor and sex trafficking carry inherent health risks and need exploration. Research studies in South Africa and West Bengal, India, regarding the effects of sex trafficking and HIV risk, determined that women and girls who experienced forced sexual encounters through being trafficked were 50% more likely to acquire HIV. One reason suggested that immature cervical epitheliums or cervical ectopy might lead to breaks in the vaginal mucosal and subsequent inflammation that increases the chance for HIV to spread during repeated sexual assaults in younger victims, but more research is required. [38] [22] [38]

Vulnerability and inexperience may lead to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections due to inadequate condom use and repeated exposure to older adult males throughout the trafficking lifespan. 

Sex Trafficking Health Implications

When treating these potential victims, screening for injury and STIs, such as HIV/AIDS, herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomonas, hepatitis, and molluscum contagiosum, needs consideration. If a recent forced sexual encounter, emergency contraception, and STI prophylaxis are considerations, following preset institutional guidelines. 

Sexual assault kits may need to be obtained. Follow sexual assault collection of evidence protocols in your local area and per institutional policy. Project Help , Rape Crisis , and women's shelters may be a resource. Pain from daily forced sexual encounters and trauma may be an issue. Problems with urinary tract issues may warrant a urinalysis or culture. A urine sample that is not a clean catch, often referred to as "dirty urine," may be obtained to test for a sexually transmitted infection such as chlamydia. A pregnancy test may be useful. Toxicology studies may be needed, and alcohol levels and withdrawal issues addressed. 

Complications surrounding forced tampon use or "packing of the vagina" by traffickers to facilitate sexual encounters (unnoticeable to customers) while victims are menstruating may be of concern. Foreign debris may be present in the vagina on pelvic examination, and cervical cultures are a possibility if any discharge is present. That "lost tampon" patient may be a victim of trafficking and require a more in-depth assessment, asking open-ended, neutral questions to spot red flags.

Labor Trafficking Health Implications

Labor trafficking victims may experience severe dehydration or malnutrition due to being forced to work long hours in construction, on farms, at factories, or in "sweatshops." Heat exhaustion or hypothermia may present in these trafficking victims.  

According to the 2016 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, Southeast Asia is emerging as a destination for short, medium, and long-distance trafficking. Increasing in frequency, these individuals are made to endure long ocean voyages as they are smuggled into the United States and other countries on cargo ships. These overcrowded, unsanitary conditions have infectious disease ramifications. [39] [40]

Communicable or infectious diseases such as silicosis, tuberculosis, HIV, and typhoid may be an issue. Scabies, lice, and bacterial and fungal skin infections may be a concern. Malaria, Chagas disease, cysticercosis, toxoplasmosis, toxocariasis, and trichomoniasis also may be risks. Asbestos concerns exist for miners who are victims of labor trafficking. [41]

Migrant workers who are being trafficked in the fishing and seafood industry may suffer from exposure to Vibrio vulnificus  and subsequent necrotizing fasciitis with septicemia if left untreated. Vibrio vulnificus , found in warm climates with shallow, coastal waters, can infect a person through lacerations or breaks in their skin.

Labor trafficking victims may suffer from injuries related to poor ergonomics, such as back and neck injuries, vision problems, carpal tunnel syndrome, and headaches. 

• Differential Diagnosis

Intimate Partner Violence

Domestic violence or intimate partner violence (IPV) takes many forms and involves the maltreatment of another within a romantic union or partnership. Men, women, teenagers, heterosexuals, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender individuals may be affected. Domestic violence may include emotional, physical, sexual, economic, spiritual, or psychological insults. IPV involves one partner in the relationship subjecting the other to some form of abuse to exert power and control over them. 

Much like human trafficking, domestic violence is a significant public health issue that plagues millions of people. Individuals subjected to IPV, especially teenagers, are vulnerable to practicing risky behaviors such as drug use and sexual promiscuity. These vulnerabilities place them in high-risk situations of being victims of human trafficking. Traffickers feed off this opportunity to exert power and control over a victim. Power and control manifestation takes many forms of abuse on the part of the trafficker.

The Human Trafficking Power and Control Wheel

The Human Trafficking Power and Control Wheel finds its basis in the power and control wheel for domestic violence. The wheel for human trafficking depicts the different types of abuse inflicted on trafficking victims at the hands of traffickers. Power and control, the wheel center, represent the primary weapon a trafficker uses to manipulate a victim and keep them bound to the trafficker. [42] [43] [44]

Other tools in the arsenal to demoralize and dehumanize a victim involve coercion and threats. 

• Intimidation: Intimidation is another tactic used by the trafficker and involves physical violence inflicted upon children, pets, or other victims. It may include threats with a weapon or actual weapon use, destruction of property, and misleading information regarding police.
• Emotional Abuse:  Emotional and psychological abuse can be particularly devastating to a victim. The trafficker humiliates the victim in front of others, calls them names, blames the victim for the situation, and convinces them that they would be all alone if the trafficker did not love and care for them. The exploiter repeatedly tells the person under their control how worthless they are and that they are too weak to survive outside the existence the trafficker has created for them. They may threaten to expose or shame the victim by releasing sex tapes, nude photos, drug addiction, or participation in violence or sex acts against other victims. 
• Isolation: A trafficker may isolate a victim by confinement, frequently moving so the victim cannot become familiar with their surroundings or keep them cut off from others by a language barrier. A victim may be isolated from family and friends or be accompanied by the trafficker while in a public place. The trafficker may not allow the victim access to routine, preventative medical care. Thus, medical problems may be exacerbated, and overall health compromised.
• Minimizing, Denying, and Blaming:  A trafficker often blames the victim and denies there is anything wrong with the situation, minimizes their involvement in the abuse or exploitation, and lets the victim think the victim is the reason for their current circumstance: the victim is the one that ran away, reached out to them on social media, went to that party or hotel room.
• Sexual Abuse: Sexual assault may be useful to the trafficker as a means of power and control. The victim is treated as a sex object, only as good as the money they bring in. They may be forced to submit to sex with multiple partners daily or risk the wrath of the trafficker. Forced abortions, threats to end a pregnancy, or violence during pregnancy are control tactics. Unwanted pregnancies, either through forced sexual assault or consensual sex, are a way to control a victim.
• Using Citizenship or Residency Privilege:  The trafficker may use privilege or superiority as a means of control. The trafficker may hide or threaten to destroy immigration papers such as work visas, passports, or other forms of identification. A victim might be used as a servant or a pawn to entice others into trafficking. The trafficker or pimp may threaten the family and threaten to report to immigration.
• Economic abuse:  Debt bondage is used to manipulate and control. The victim may be charged enormous interest rates that they can never repay. They are restricted from leaving their situation because they have no access to money, are allowed only a small allowance, or have any earnings confiscated.
• Coercion and Threats: Threats of actual physical abuse are another manipulation tool used to exert power and control over the victim. It may involve shoving, punching, hitting, kicking, and strangulation injuries. Torture can take the form of cigarette burns or branding, as well as withholding basic needs such as food, water, and clothing. Threats to harm a child bind the victim to the trafficker for fear of no food or shelter or the actual threat of physical harm to the child. They may threaten to contact the Department of Children and Families or law enforcement. Traffickers may use drugs as a form of control over the victim. Introducing drugs to the victim or threatening to withhold drugs from a victim already struggling with addiction allows the trafficker to be in control. These addiction issues may have led the person trafficked to the initial point of contact with the trafficker or be a result of trying to cope with the trafficking situation.

Victim-Centered Approach

A victim-centered approach is paramount in delivering care to a victim of human trafficking. In victim-centered care, the provider precisely focuses attention on the victim, catering to the patient's needs to ensure the delivery of care in a compassionate, culturally sensitive, linguistically appropriate, nonjudgmental, and caring manner. A victim's wishes, safety, and well-being are important considerations. 

The heart of a victim-centered approach ensures a victim does not suffer re-victimization or re-traumatization. Trauma, as it relates to an individual from an initial insult, is a series of events or stressors that the individual experiences as either emotionally or physically life-threatening and has lasting ramifications on social, physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.

Trauma-Informed Approach

Human trafficking care must involve a trauma-informed approach where the healthcare provider recognizes the scope of the impact of the trauma on an individual victim’s lifespan and lessens any chance of inflicting more injury on this victim. Provider understanding of the signs of trauma, verbal and nonverbal cues, and their response by following predetermined protocols for identification, treatment, and appropriate referrals are essential elements of trauma-informed care.

Trauma-informed care involves the entire healthcare team and the incorporation of shared decision-making practices using an interdisciplinary, collaborative approach. Safety, transparency, and collaboration with peers and agencies are vital. The approach must account for culture and gender equality, LGBTQ considerations and support, and, most importantly, center around an empowering environment. [45]

Empowerment

Empowerment allows the victim to seek resources and take the first steps toward self-identifying. Educating staff to recognize the red flags of human trafficking, feel adequately trained, have the knowledge to offer appropriate resources, and provide follow-up care to trafficking victims is essential. 

The goal is for providers to enable others to champion change and advocate for protocol development. The Power and Control Wheel for Human Trafficking may be used in protocol development and is a tool to help identify the different types of abuse that can occur in labor and sex trafficking situations and the subsequent polytrauma complex care that is needed. The entire interprofessional team must work together to empower the survivor to become a productive, functioning member of the community. 

Human Trafficking Protocols

Providers must know the local resources available ahead of time and establish a human trafficking protocol much like the one for intimate partner violence or alleged sexual assaults.

Local resources such as Project Help, rape crisis centers, women's shelters, homeless shelters, addiction centers, and churches can provide needed materials and support services for these victims and clarify any rules, such as pet policies.

Know the resources available for potential victims of human trafficking through local law enforcement or task forces?

Human trafficking protocols need to include specific vital elements such as indicators and red flags; ways to separate the potential victim from the trafficker; interview procedures; ways to maintain and ensure safety for the victim, staff, and potentially other victims; and referral information.

Mandatory reporting requirements that address local, state, and federal laws need to be incorporated into protocols. Referral information must be accurate and easily understood by the victim and translated appropriately based on language needs. 

Provide NHTRC Hotline information. Incorporate follow-up data into a protocol. Another part of a protocol might include a critique of staff performance and ways to improve. Mandatory staff education will play a vital role in protocol implementation. 

Recognize that everyone on the interprofessional team plays a role in stopping human trafficking and identifying those at risk: social workers, case managers, customer service representatives, nurses, physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nursing assistants, medical assistants, nursing students, medical students, educators, dental assistants, law enforcement, security guards, support staff, and the community.

Referral Considerations

Long-term psychological impacts must be taken into consideration when referrals for treatment of these complex-trauma patients are incorporated into the treatment plan. Multifarious conditions exist emotionally and physically, rendering approaches to future care a challenge for healthcare providers. [46]

According to a study of male and female survivors of trafficking in England conducted between 2013 to 2014, healthcare, including physical, mental, and sexual healthcare, was a fundamental component of successful post-trafficking care. Follow-up care coordinated with multiple disciplines is essential. Basic needs of clothing, food, safe shelter, and transportation must be discussed. Ensure language barriers are addressed and provide resources on free classes to learn the local language. Discuss medical issues and refer to appropriate subspecialists.

Transitioning from Victim to Survivor - Potential Referrals

• Dietician consults in cases of severe malnutrition.
• Infectious disease consults for communicable diseases and sexually transmitted infections.
• Referral to obstetrics/gynecology for infertility concerns related to forced abortions, repeated trauma, frequent miscarriages, or medical problems such as prenatal concerns, addiction issues, and torch infections originating from lack of preventative care or poor access to care may need investigation. Hormone replacement therapy concerns must be met for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) victims.
• Surgical or dermatology referrals for removal of unwanted tattoos or brands or to treat burns and other injuries.
• Consultations with gastroenterologists for stress-related issues.
• Children often suffer developmental delays and need assistance with transitioning into a healthy life. 
• Social stigma implications of forced homosexuality can play a role in future psychological care. Crisis intervention teams and case managers will have a role in successful integration practices. [47] [48] [49]
• Perpetrators often use substance abuse to control victims, or victims use it as a form of escape from the abusive environment. Addiction and sobriety considerations will need implementing into daily routines. Community-based organizations, support groups, and faith-based programs may ease this transition period and lessen the impact of psychological stressors.
• Legal services referrals made for child custody issues, immigration assistance, protective/restraining orders, assistance with any offenses, and with the successful prosecution of the trafficking entity. 

Survivor's Role

Cultural shock impacts and language barriers play a role in the recovery period and successful transition into society as a survivor and not a victim. Survivors of human trafficking can offer much-needed insight into the thoughts, feelings, and interactions with members of the healthcare team and guide care and training programs going forward with this vulnerable patient population.

In 2015, a study conducted in New York City’s Rikers Island jail suggested that survivor-based input was essential in addressing healthcare concerns and improving care in this patient dynamic. Survivors shared that when cared for or interviewed by healthcare providers, they felt intimidated, judged, and stereotyped. They suggested providers and front-line personnel pay attention to their body language and the nonverbal cues they are displaying as they walk into the treatment room, up to the front desk, or after disclosure. This patient-provider interaction, if negative, can negatively impact the comfort of the victim to feel safe enough to open up and not be judged. These victims stated that instead of an interview, they preferred an approach in which the provider asks straightforward, normalized, direct questions in a compassionate, nonjudgmental way that reinforces a feeling of safety and confidentiality. [2] [43] [19]

Further research is needed in this area for conclusive results as this crime comes "out of the shadows," and researchers look beneath the surface, but survivors should play a role in the education of healthcare providers.

• Pearls and Other Issues

The Language of Trafficking

Languages are essential to understanding different cultures, environments, enterprises, and socioeconomic groups. Human trafficking and smuggling participants have a dialect unique to traffickers and victims. Exploration of "trafficking vocabulary" will help practitioners relate to and understand patients who have been trafficked. 

In a victim-centered approach, much like a patient-centered approach, it is imperative to communicate effectively with a potential victim or patient. The following are legal definitions and terms or "lingo" used by traffickers and victims or as they relate to human trafficking. This list continues to grow as we better understand human trafficking. Other terms may become recognizable as jargon unique to a trafficking situation. 

Trafficking "Lingo"

• Daddy: The word a victim is required to call their pimp/trafficker.
• Gorilla Pimp: A trafficker or pimp that resorts to violence to control a victim 
• Romeo/Finesse Pimp: The trafficker that uses a false romance; a false promise of money, clothing, or other gifts; or false hope of marriage to lure victims. Often referred to as "boyfriend."
• Branding: A carving, tattoo, or mark on a victim that implies ownership by a pimp/gang/trafficker. The tattoo may say, "Daddy," "Property of...," or "For sale." 
• Quota: The amount of money expected from their trafficker/pimp each night. If quotas go unmet, the victim may be beaten, tortured, or made to work exorbitant hours until the expected amount has been delivered.
• Circuit: A series of places where prostitutes/victims get moved. Keeping them in unfamiliar surroundings increases their vulnerability and facilitates the trafficker's control over the individual.
• Date: The time and location where the sex act is to take place. The buyer or "John" meet them at this pre-determined site.
• The Life: Sex-trafficking victims refer to their situation as being in "the life."
• Bottom: A victim is chosen by the pimp or trafficker to "handle" the other victims. They may train the new victim, post ads/control social media posts, inflict punishment if rules get broken, and book the "date." This individual victim may feel tremendous shame and guilt because of her actions and treatment of other victims. The pimp may further control the "bottom" by threatening violence, increasing quotas, or reporting her to the authorities. The "bottom" may be required to entice others into servitude by posing as a student, a concerned friend, or a mother figure.  

Trafficking Victims Protection Act Definitions

• Coercion: Threats of serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause a person to believe that failure to perform an act would result in serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; or the abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process [22 U.S.C. 7102 (3)(a)(b)(c)].
• Commercial Sex Act: Any sex act on account of which anything of value is given to or received by any person [22 U.S.C. 7102 (4)] 
• Debt Bondage: The status or condition of a debtor arising from a pledge by the debtor of his or her personal services or those of a person under his or her control as a security for a debt if the value of those services as reasonably assessed is not applied toward the liquidation of the debt or the length and nature of those services, are not respectively limited and defined [22 U.S.C. 7102 (5)].
• Involuntary Servitude: Any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause a person to believe that, if the person did not enter into or continue in such condition, that person or another person would suffer serious harm or physical restraint [22 U.S.C. 7102 6 (a)].
• Labor trafficking: The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purposes of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery (22 USC § 7102).
• Sex trafficking:  The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purposes of a commercial sex act, in which the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age (22 USC § 7102).
• Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes

Victims may suffer a diminished quality of life and fear of autonomy and independence. The long-term mental and physical health consequences of being a victim of trafficking are immeasurable. Health professionals must work as a team to identify victims and assist in their transition to a normal and productive everyday life.

Trauma-informed care involves the entire healthcare team incorporating shared decision-making practices using an interprofessional, collaborative approach. Safety, transparency, and collaboration with peers and agencies are vital. [45]

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Human Trafficking Campaign Look Beneath the Surface/Questions to ask/Health implications Contributed by U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services

Disclosure: Tammy Toney-Butler declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Megan Ladd declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Olivia Mittel declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

This book is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ), which permits others to distribute the work, provided that the article is not altered or used commercially. You are not required to obtain permission to distribute this article, provided that you credit the author and journal.

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What is human trafficking and how does it impact our communities?

H uman trafficking, specifically sex trafficking, isn’t always what people might think. Because of that, it’s a crime that is likely underreported and more prevalent than anyone knows.

“Human trafficking has a lot of definitions. It’s not only a violent crime, it’s basically just taking advantage of someone in some way who has some form of vulnerability, whether that’s through forced labor, sex trafficking…” Madison Higley, vice president of her school’s Catch the Eye Club, a group focused on bringing awareness to human trafficking both locally and globally, said.

>> “9 Investigates: The Rescued”

While the term might be ambiguous, the Federal Bureau of Investigation defines sex trafficking as, “When individuals are compelled by force, fraud, or coercion to engage in commercial sex acts. Sex trafficking of a minor occurs when the victim is under the age of 18. For cases involving minors, it is not necessary to prove force, fraud, or coercion.”

Although the crimes can be violent abductions where teenage girls are kidnapped and kept on drugs and sold into sexual servitude — usually they’re much more innocuous — and sometimes victims don’t even know they’re victims.

RESOURCES: Eradicating human trafficking from our community

“To be very clear, traffickers are smart, traffickers, they prey on victims that utilize manipulation. Oftentimes, traffickers will brainwash their victims, they will make the victims think that this way of life is normal. Oftentimes, they’ll also make the victims think that if you report this, either, no one will believe you, or your basic necessities won’t be met,” US Attorney Dena King said.

Victims can come from all walks of life, but there are some groups more at risk than others.

“Researchers are finding that running away significantly increases young people’s risk of commercial sexual exploitation as well as labor trafficking ,” according to Family and Youth Services Bureau.

The reasoning for the higher risk comes down to several factors for these runaways.

“Homeless youth are vulnerable to both sex and labor trafficking because they tend to experience a higher rate of the primary risk factors to trafficking: poverty, unemployment, a history of sexual abuse, and a history of mental health issues,” according to the FYSB.

While the reach of the crimes are not fully known, the FYSB conducted research which surveyed more than 600 youth runaways — and the number of those young people who are reportedly victims of some form of trafficking is staggering.

“The study found that 19% of the 641 youth were identified as victims of some sort of human trafficking. More than 14% had been trafficked for sex while 8% had been trafficked for other forced labor. Three percent were trafficked for both sex and labor,” according to the survey .

Numbers from the Charlotte Metro Human Trafficking Task Force show in 2023, 101 minors were identified as suspected or confirmed victims of human trafficking.

The FBI and other federal agencies do track the number of human trafficking incidents through a program called NIBRS, and the latest data from 2022 shows how big of an issue these crimes are both nationally and state wide.

“In 2022, there were 1,862 human trafficking, commercial sex acts incidents, and 2,136 offenses reported in the United States by 13,293 law enforcement agencies that submitted National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) data, and covers 75% of the total population,” according to the FBI.

In North Carolina, the numbers are relatively smaller, but the Charlotte Metro Human Trafficking Task Force says there’s been a 77% increase in minor victims from 2022 to 2023.

“In 2022, there were 24 human trafficking, commercial sex acts incidents, and 39 offenses reported in North Carolina by 407 law enforcement agencies that submitted National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) data, and covers 95% of the total population,” according to FBI data.

The data also reveals the ages of all of the victims, the majority of which fall in the age groups from 20-39.

>> Learn how detectives used a victim-centered approach in their sex trafficking sting in Rowan County by clicking here.

Impact of Human Trafficking

The phrase “human trafficking” has emerged as a potent lens for redefining and criminalizing human mobility. This way of thinking simultaneously reveals weaknesses and provides a strategy for preventing them. When looking at the situations in Bosnia and Kazakhstan, we can see the far-reaching effects of the term “human trafficking.”

The word “human trafficking” effectively reframes mobility from a socially and economically productive activity to a criminal one. The war’s aftermath in Bosnia paved the way for the sexual exploitation of civilians, particularly women. The official narrative, framed by the phrase “human trafficking,” depicts this exploitation as a criminal activity, stressing the agency of criminals and the suffering of those exploited (Snajdr, 2013). However, international relations, peacekeeping, and postwar instability are often overlooked in favor of criminalizing the problem. The word “human trafficking” in Kazakhstan reframes the flow of people according to an American-led narrative. Since the State Department classifies Kazakhstan as a Tier Three country (Snajdr, 2013), migration was first handled as a trafficking issue inside a more extensive effort concentrating on domestic abuse. This re-definition is in line with a growing body of international discourse that views some types of migration, especially those involving exploitation and coercion, as criminal acts. The workshop participants’ inability to separate trafficking from broader post-socialist changes and economic difficulties demonstrates the additional risk of oversimplifying local viewpoints and challenges.

In addition to already vulnerable people, the stigmatizing connotations of the word “human trafficking” can further exacerbate the problem. Accounts from both Bosnia and Kazakhstan focus on marginalized people, usually women, who fall victim to exploitation. However, by criminalizing the movement, there is a risk of victim-blaming and oversimplification. Workshop attendees in Kazakhstan displayed some cruel ethnovictimology, laying blame on lone “adventurers” rather than addressing the economic desperation and ethnic factors that contribute to susceptibility. The criticism of foreign NGOs in Kazakhstan provided by Snajdr (2013) demonstrates how the criminalization of mobility may obscure the intricacies of local circumstances. The phrase “human trafficking” might cause people to concentrate solely on legal frameworks and law enforcement, rather than on the broader social and economic solutions that are sometimes necessary to combat the problem. Based on the workshop’s revelations, criminalization alone may not address the core reasons for vulnerability.

However, the phrase “human trafficking” is also crucial in setting up safeguards. It makes it possible to recognize instances of exploitation and take appropriate measures against those responsible. As efforts to resolve the problem increased, the story in Bosnia moved from Tier Three to Tier One. The protective component of the word is not limited to punitive measures, as evidenced by the workshop in Kazakhstan that resulted in the creation of preventative measures and legal initiatives. The term’s protective effects are also visible in spreading information and formulating regulations (Snajdr, 2013). Participants at a workshop in Kazakhstan decided to make a brochure warning high school students about the perils of human trafficking as a form of protection and prevention. The establishment of legislative mechanisms and international collaboration in response to the worldwide discourse on human trafficking has laid the groundwork for tackling exploitation.

In conclusion, the term “human trafficking” reframes and criminalizes the movement of individuals while also revealing their vulnerabilities. There are benefits and drawbacks to using this phrase. It can reduce nuanced regional settings to generalizations, increasing the risk of victim blame and ineffective responses. Nonetheless, it offers a vital structure for determining the scope of exploitation, educating the public, and legislating preventative actions. Finding the right mix of criminal punishment and all-encompassing, situationally appropriate solutions to safeguard vulnerable groups is complicated.

Snajdr, E. (2013). Beneath the master narrative: human trafficking, myths of sexual slavery and ethnographic realities.  Dialectical Anthropology ,  37 (2), 229–256. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10624-013-9292-3

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Britt Tells Misleading Border Story in State of the Union Response

The Alabama senator used a story about sex trafficking to criticize the Biden administration’s border policies. But the events occurred in Mexico years ago.

By Ken Bensinger

• March 9, 2024

The opposition party’s response to the State of the Union address is a golden opportunity for up-and-coming and lesser-known politicians to introduce themselves to the nation and boost their political profile.

Such was the case for Katie Britt, a first-term Republican senator from Alabama who, despite being a newcomer to the national stage, has been mentioned as a possible choice to be Donald J. Trump’s running mate. But her big debut on Thursday night has been marred by intense scrutiny of an anecdote at the center of her speech, which was delivered from her kitchen in Montgomery, Ala.

The story, about a Mexican who was a victim of sex trafficking at the age of 12, came in the context of an attack on President Biden’s border policies. In impassioned tones, Ms. Britt described a girl being raped multiple times a day in dire conditions at the hands of cartels before she was able to escape.

“This is the United States of America, and it is past time, in my opinion, that we start acting like it,” Ms. Britt said. “President Biden’s border policies are a disgrace.”

As a rhetorical device, it would be hard conjure up a more powerful and resonant example. But the story was highly misleading and improperly contextualized.

The woman referenced by Ms. Britt was, in fact, never trafficked across the border, nor has she sought asylum in this country. And her harrowing experience took place between 2004 and 2008, while a Republican, George W. Bush, was in the White House and President Biden was still a senator.

In other words, it had nothing at all to do with the current administration’s border policy. But that didn’t stop Ms. Britt from inflaming public fears about immigration and placing blame at Mr. Biden’s feet.

“We know that President Biden didn’t just create this border crisis,” she said. “He invited it.”

Although Ms. Britt did not name the victim in her speech, she has previously shared the story of a woman who appears to be the same individual based on congressional testimony, news releases and news reports.

That woman, Karla Jacinto Romero, is a Mexican citizen who does not live in the United States and who has spoken frequently about her experiences of being forced into sexual slavery for four years. In 2023, Ms. Jacinto participated in an event in Texas near the border with Mexico that was also attended by three senators , including Ms. Britt. In a video released shortly after that trip, Ms. Britt discussed Ms. Jacinto’s experiences.

Ms. Jacinto, who spoke with the Times Saturday from Mexico, said she had not been informed ahead of time that Ms. Britt would be discussing her in the speech and only learned about it after a video pointing out the deceptive framing of the senator’s speech was posted by the independent journalist Jonathan Katz on TikTok on Friday.

“I only found out via social media,” said Ms. Jacinto, who continues to speak frequently about human trafficking and who is supported by a U.S.-based nonprofit, Reintegra , that provides educational grants to victims of sex trafficking in Latin America. “I thought it was very strange.”

She said she preferred to keep politics out of the question of human trafficking. “I am involved in the fight to stop trafficking and I don’t think it should be political,” she said. “The work I do is not a game.”

A spokesman for Ms. Britt, Sean Ross, stood behind her speech.

“The story Senator Britt told was 100 percent correct,” he said in a statement. “And there are more innocent victims of that kind of disgusting, brutal trafficking by the cartels than ever before right now. The Biden administration’s policies — the policies in this country that the president falsely claims are humane — have empowered the cartels and acted as a magnet to a historic level of migrants making the dangerous journey to our border.”

Mr. Ross did not respond to a follow-up question about what direct responsibility the Biden administration had for what Ms. Jacinto experienced or what an anecdote about sex trafficking entirely within another country had to do with U.S. border policies.

Andrew Bates, a White House spokesman, said in a statement that Ms. Britt’s remarks were “debunked lies.”

This is not the first time that Ms. Jacinto’s experience has been used as a political bludgeon.

The January 2023 event, held in Eagle Pass, Texas, was organized by Marsha Blackburn, the Republican senator from Tennessee, who framed it as a mission to “examine the disastrous effects of Biden’s border crisis firsthand.”

At the event, Ms. Jacinto was accompanied by a former Mexican congresswoman, Rosi Orozco, who is active in human trafficking matters and lives in the U.S. The two women sat on a round table panel focused on human and sex trafficking and were featured in a short video with the three senators.

Soon thereafter, Ms. Blackburn published an op-ed headlined “Biden’s open border is not compassionate or humane.” After describing Ms. Jacinto’s travails, she wrote: “It is clear that we are experiencing a humanitarian and national security crisis, courtesy of President Biden.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for Ms. Blackburn said that “for years, Senator Blackburn has fought to prevent sex trafficking and has met with victims, such as Karla, to hear about the horrific abuses that occur.” The statement added that “countless women and children are sexually trafficked into the U.S.A. due to Biden’s open border agenda. Under President Biden, human trafficking has skyrocketed from a $500 million business in 2018 to around $13 billion a year in 2022.”

Andy McCullough, the executive director of Reintegra, which first helped Ms. Jacinto in 2017, providing funding so she could finish high school, said he was stunned to learn how Ms. Jacinto was portrayed at the Texas event and, again this week, in Ms. Britt’s speech.

“They presented Karla as someone who was trafficked across the border, and that’s not her story,” he said. “This issue is so horrific, and yet the narrative is being manipulated to make it a political thing. This is re-exploiting the very victims of exploitation that we are trying to help.”

Ms. Jacinto, 31, has been speaking against human trafficking for years. In 2015, she met Pope Francis at the Vatican and also spoke at a House foreign affairs subcommittee on global sex trafficking organized by Republican Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey. The hearing focused on strategies for combating the problem in other countries, rather than describing them as a product of U.S. border policies.

Concerned about how her story was being portrayed by politicians, Mr. McCullough brought Ms. Jacinto on as staffer at Reintegra last March, hoping that the organization could protect her and her message, paying her a small stipend and arranging for speaking opportunities.

“This issue is horrendous,” Mr. McCullough said. “If we make it a political thing or a religious thing, we take away the reality of how awful it is. All of humanity should be fighting this issue.”

Ken Bensinger covers right wing media and national political campaigns for The Times. More about Ken Bensinger

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Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Human Trafficking — Essay On Child Trafficking

Essay on Child Trafficking

• Categories: Human Trafficking

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Words: 783 |

Published: Mar 19, 2024

Words: 783 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Table of contents

I. introduction, ii. the prevalence of child trafficking, iii. forms of child trafficking, iv. causes of child trafficking, v. consequences of child trafficking, vi. efforts to combat child trafficking, vii. conclusion.

• Poverty: One of the root causes of child trafficking is poverty. Families living in extreme poverty may be more likely to send their children to work or be lured by false promises of a better life for their children, making them vulnerable to traffickers.
• Lack of education and awareness: Children who lack access to education are more susceptible to being trafficked, as they may not be aware of the dangers or their rights. Lack of awareness within communities also contributes to the perpetuation of child trafficking.
• Demand for cheap labor and sexual exploitation: The demand for cheap labor and sexual exploitation drives the market for child trafficking. Traffickers exploit the demand for cheap labor in industries such as agriculture and construction, as well as the demand for commercial sexual exploitation of minors.

A. Physical health consequences:

B. psychological impact on child victims:, c. long-term effects on survivors:, a. international laws and conventions:, b. non-governmental organizations working to prevent child trafficking:, c. role of governments in addressing child trafficking:.

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