January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. A crime that occurs in all 50 states, plus around the world, Human Trafficking has impacts on families, individuals and communities. Here are five things you should know about human trafficking.
Sex Trafficking is Just One Type of Trafficking. Human trafficking has a few facets. The most common – and well-known – is sex trafficking. However, many individuals are labor trafficked. This is when people are forced to work with little to no pay. Additionally, some organizations categorize child trafficking separately for statistical purposes.
Victims of Trafficking Have Criminal and Civil Remedies. Trafficking victims can not only report the crime to law enforcement and hold their traffickers accountable, but they can also pursue the traffickers civilly for remedies unavailable to them criminally, such as pain and suffering. Victims of trafficking should consult with an attorney to determine the best course of action to take.
Trafficking Looks Different from Case-to-Case. Not all trafficking victims are stolen off the street while traveling. Many trafficking victims are manipulated by their partners into committing sexual acts against their will. The trafficking process is intricate and varies from case-to-case, making patterns difficult to determine and cases difficult to prosecute or investigate. Victims of labor trafficking are often paid very little and have their wages controlled by their employer – if they don’t do what their employer asks, they don’t get paid.
Trafficking Victims are Sometimes Prosecuted: While many grassroots organizations are working to change this, many jurisdictions charge trafficking victims with prostitution, drug trafficking or other drug-related charges to get them to cooperate with law enforcement. This further traumatizes victims, and even if the charges are null pross’d (not prosecuted at that time), they still show up on a criminal background check, hindering trafficking victims for obtaining gainful employment and moving on in their lives.
Trafficking Victims Can Live Full Lives. Trafficking victims are not doomed to a life of misery – there are many organizations and resources around the world that work to empower and uplift victims of trafficking so they can live abundant, self-sufficient lives. These organizations work hard and care about survivors of trafficking; they want to see survivors lead successful and resilient lives.
Trafficking occurs all around the world, in every state and in every community. Advocates, law enforcement, prosecutors and community organizations work together to combat human trafficking. If you or someone you know is being trafficked, call the Human Trafficking Hotline at 1 (888) 373-7888 or text ‘HELP’ to 233733.
If you’re interested in volunteering with victims of human trafficking, contact us to discuss organizations you can work with!