1. Human Trafficking Awareness
Human Trafficking is a Worldwide Epidemic
FERNANDO RIVERO, MPH , EMT-P: (801) ,
Utah Trafficking in Persons Task Force Tip Hotline (UTIP)
Polaris Project Tip Hotline
Definition
Trafficking Red Flags
Victim Information
Who are the victims?
Men, women, adults, children foreign nationals and US citizens
Educated and un-educated persons
Undocumented and documented immigrants, runaway and homeless youth, oppressed, marginalized and impoverished are especially vulnerable. These groups are vulnerable to recruitment tactics and methods of control
Victims do not seek help immediately due to lack of trust, self-blame, or being trained by traffickers not to trust authorities
Many come from cultures where the authorities are involved in criminal activity so they do not trust them
Places where trafficking may occur:
Illegal and underground markets.
Legitimate businesses:
private homes, hotels, bars and clubs, restaurants, nail salons, strip clubs,
construction and fake massage businesses
Almost anywhere
Mental and physical health:
Fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense
Avoids eye contact
Malnourished. Signs of physical and sexual abuse, confinement, restraint or torture
Work and Living Conditions
Not free to come and go as they please
Under 18 and providing commercial sex acts
In the commercial sex industry and has a pimp or manager
Unpaid, paid very little or paid only through tips
Works long unusual hours
Not allowed breaks or suffers under unusual restrictions at work
Owes a large debt and is unable to pay it off
Was recruited through false promises regarding, pay, nature of job, hours
High security in work and living space
Trafficking in Persons or Human trafficking (HT) is the trade in human beings, most commonly for the purpose of sexual slavery, forced labor or for the extraction of organs or tissues.
Accomplished by the use of;
force or other forms of coercion abduction, fraud, deception
the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability
the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation
Also:
Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud or coercion
Any minor exploited in commercial sex work is considered a victim of HT
Exploitation includes;
the exploitation for the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation
forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs
Child labor
Difference between trafficking and smuggling:
Trafficking is exploitation based, smuggling is transportation based. Trafficking does not require transportation
Victim is fearful of authorities
Victim is not in possession or control of their identification and travel documents
Victim is coached on what to say to law enforcement and immigration officials
Victim was recruited for one job and forced to engage in another
Victim’s salary is being garnished to pay off a smuggling debt (debt bondage)
Victim’s pay is controlled by the trafficker
Victim is forced to perform sex acts
Victim is a juvenile engaged in commercial sex work
Victim does not have freedom of movement
Victim or family is threatened with harm if the victim attempts to escape
Victim is threatened with deportation or law enforcement action by the trafficker
Victim is harmed or deprived of food, water, sleep, medical care or other life necessities
Victim cannot freely contact friends or family
Victim is not allowed to socialize or attend religious services
Does not have to involve violence, can be psychological coercion
For More Information and to Report Suspected Human Trafficking:
Utah Trafficking in Persons Task Force Hotline (UTIP):
Polaris Project For a World Without Slavery project.org National Hotline
Shared Hope International Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking hope.org
United States Department of State; Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
References: