What is human trafficking?
Human trafficking is the exploitation of a person through force, fraud, or coercion for labor or commercial sex
The crime of sex trafficking is also understood through the acts, means, and purpose framework. All three elements are required to establish a sex trafficking crime
Any commercial sex with a child (there does not need to be force, fraud, or coercion) constitutes human trafficking.
Understanding more about human trafficking
Myths versus realities of human trafficking
Click each statement to reveal the reality
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Human trafficking happens through a violent crimeReality: The most pervasive myth about human trafficking is that it involves kidnapping or physically forcing someone into a trafficking situation. In reality, most traffickers use psychological means such as tricking, defrauding, manipulating, or threatening victims into providing commercial sex acts. https://polarisproject.org/myths-facts-and-statistics/
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Traffickers target victims they don't knowMany survivors have been trafficked by romantic partners, including spouses, and by family members including parents. https://polarisproject.org/myths-facts-and-statistics
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If the trafficked person consented to be in their initial situation, then it cannot be human trafficking or against their will because they "knew better"Initial consent to commercial sex or a labor setting prior to acts of force, fraud, or coercion is not relevant to the crime, nor is the payment. https://polarisproject.org/myths-facts-and-statistics/
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People in trafficking situations are always looking to leave their situation.Every trafficking situation is unique and self-identification as a trafficking victim or survivor happens along a continuum. Fear, isolation, guilt, shame, misplaced loyalty and expert manipulation are among the many factors that may keep a person from seeking help or identifying as a victim even if they are, in fact, being actively trafficked. https://polarisproject.org/myths-facts-and-statistics/
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People being trafficked are physically unable to leave their situations and are held against their will.Although this is something the case, more often, people in trafficking situations stay for reasons that are more complicated. Many lack essential resources like transportation or a safe place to stay, while others may fear for their safety if they attempt to leave. Some victims have been so effectively manipulated that they do not identify at that point as being under the control or another person. https://polarisproject.org/myths-facts-and-statistics/
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Human trafficking involves moving, traveling or transporting a person across state or national borders.Human trafficking is often confused with human smuggling, which involves illegal border crossings. In fact, the crime of human trafficking does not require any movement whatsoever. Survivors can be recruited and trafficked in their own home towns, even their own homes. https://polarisproject.org/myths-facts-and-statistics/
Know the story, not the signs
Many times people are taught to recognize the "signs" of human trafficking to identify victims. However, the reality is that victims of human trafficking can rarely be identified with one or two signs. Each case of exploitation must be understood within the context of the full story. Without context, assumptions can be shaped by unconscious bias or stereotypes.
Well-meaning interventions, based on misconceptions, can even put victims in more danger. That’s why we must go deeper. Understanding trafficking means learning how it actually happens and, most importantly, listening to the voices and experiences of survivors.
The real story of trafficking is about vulnerability
Many how traffickers find what someone wants or needs most and exploit it. Sometimes it’s love. Sometimes it’s just enough money to survive another day.
Understanding a story requires:
Context
Knowing the dynamics
of a situation
Proximity
Having a real connection to those affected.
Survivors face challenges after exiting trafficking
So many survivors of human trafficking are not thriving. The systems that were supposed to protect victims- often as children- failed and failed miserably. The systems that were supposed to protect victims during trafficking failed. So many survivors break free from trafficking through sheer force and will. And now, the systems that are supposed to support survivors continue to fail them.
Health Care
88% of victims and survivors access health care, yet many professionals are not trained to identify them.
Mental Health
1 in 3 survivors struggles with PTSD, depressions, or anxiety. 86% list finding trauma-informed behavior health services as one of their top needs.
Financial Abuse
60% of survivors experienced financial abuse at the hand of their trafficker which often impacts their credit and identity.
Economic Hardship
Despite a majority of survivors being able to find work, after 6 years since exiting trafficking, 55% are making <$25,000 annually.
Legal Concerns
62% of survivors have been arrested, detained, or cited by law enforcement. 90% of these cases are related to their trafficking.
polarisproject.org/In-Harms-Way-How-Systems-Fail-Human-Trafficking-Survivors-by-Polaris-modifed-June-2023.pdf
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