1. Human Trafficking Rose Marie Lichtenfels, MSW, MA, LCSW 1

2.  Would it shock you to know that modern day slavery exists, and that it is one of the fastest growing crimes worldwide.  It is estimated to make more than $32 billion a year globally?  Sadly enough, it is the second largest criminal industry in the world, second only to drugs.  Many sources say it will soon surpass drugs and become the number one crime globally.  This is according to the FBI 2

3. Overview  Human Trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery.  Human Trafficking is prevalent in many countries around the world.  Human trafficking has been reported in all states of the United States.  Human trafficking is a market-based economy that exists on principles of supply and demand.  Human Trafficking has high profits with low risk. 3

4. Human Trafficking Definition:  Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery, and involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit human beings for some type of labor or commercial sex purpose.  The United States Criminal code has defined it as the act of compelling or coercing a person’s labor, services, or commercial sex act. The coercion can be subtle or overt, physical or psychological, but it must be used to coerce a victim into performing labor, services, or commercial sex acts. 4

5. Victims of Human Trafficking  In most countries poor women and girls of color are predominant victims of trafficking: whole families are displaced by war: men of means (mostly white) are the primary traffickers as well as clients of women held in sexual and economic bondage to the sex trade.  In the United States the majority of labor trafficking victims are undocumented or qualified aliens, the majority of sex trafficking victims are U.S. citizens. 5

6. Combating Human Trafficking  Victims are often lured with false promises of well-paying jobs or are manipulated by people they trust. Instead they are forced or coerced into prostitution, domestic servitude, farm or factory labor, or other types of forced labor.  The government has successfully prosecuted human trafficking crimes in agricultural fields, sweatshops, suburban mansions, brothels, escort services, bars, and strip clubs. 6

7. Statistics for U.S. Trafficking Sex trafficking victims by race RacePercent Black40.4 White25.6 Hispanic23.9 Other5.8 Asian4.3 7

8. Statistics for U.S. Trafficking Labor trafficking victims by race RacePercent Hispanic55.7 Other18.0 Asian14.8 Black9.8 White1.6 8

9. Children and Human Trafficking  Across the globe, traffickers by and sell children, exploiting them for sex and forced labor, and moving them across international borders. Child victims are trafficked into the United States from Africa, Asia, Central and South America, and Eastern Europe.  Examples include: prostitution on the streets or in a private residence, club, hotel, spa or message parlor; online commercial sexual exploitation, exotic dancing/stripping; agricultural, factory, or meatpacking work; construction; domestic labor in a home; restaurant/bar work; illegal drug trade; door-to-door sales; street peddling, or begging; hail, nail and beauty salons. 9

10.  Anyone can traffic children, family members, acquaintances, pimps, employers, smugglers, and stranger traffic children  They often prey upon children’s vulnerabilities – their hope for an education, a job, or a better life in another country. They may also use psychological intimidation or violence to control the children and gain financial benefits from their exploitation.  Trafficked children may show signs of shame or disorientation; be hungry and malnourished; experience traumatic bonding and fear government officials, such as police and immigration officers. 10

11. Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children  Children who are involved in the commercial sex industry are viewed as victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons.  Commercial sexual exploitation of children occurs when individuals buy, trade or sell sexual acts with a child. The commercial sex industry victimizes girls, boys, and transgendered youth.  Pimps and traffickers target vulnerable children and lure them into prostitution and other forms of sexual exploitation using psychological manipulation, drugs and/or violence. 11

12. Statistics  Pimps prey on victims as young as 12 to 14 years old  One study estimates as many as 325,000 children in the U.S., Canada and Mexico are at risk each year for becoming victims of sexual exploitation  A history of physical and sexual abuse is often common among victims.  One study estimates 30% of shelter youths and 70% of street youth are victims of commercial sexual exploitation. They may engage or be coerced into prostitution for “survival sex” to meet daily needs for food, shelter, or drugs. 12

13. How do they become victims? 13 Recruitment by Romeo/ boyfriend pimp A parent or family member pimps child for drugs or money Kidnapped by guerilla pimp and forced into life Gang related prostitution Running away and living on streets and are forced to exchange sex for survival Becoming a victim

14. Victims are:  Targeted – Pimps are predators who seek out vulnerable victims, particularly runaways or children experiencing trouble at home. Pimps find victims at a variety of places: 14 Online at social- networking sites Shopping malls Bus stops Schools School programs Foster homes Anywhere teens gather

15. Victims are:  Tricked – Pimps are willing to invest a great deal of time and effort in their victim to break down a victim’s natural resistance and suspicion – buying them gifts, providing a plac e to stay, promising a loving relationship – before revealing their true intent. 15

16. Victims are:  Traumatized - A pimp’s use of psychological manipulation (causing the child to truly believe the pimp loves and cares for his or her wellbeing) coupled with physical control (threats, violence, drug addiction) can make a victim feel trapped and powerless. This “trauma bond” is difficult to break and long-term treatment and counseling for victims is required. 16

17. How are they held? FORCE  Beating/Slapping  Beating with Objects (bat, tools, chains, belts, hangers, canes, cords)  Burning  Sexual Assault  Rape/Gang Rape  Confinement/Locked in  Torture Practices  Seasoning/Initiation 17 FRAUD  False promises  Deceitful enticing and affectionate behavior  Withholding wages  Lying about working conditions  Lying about the promise of “a better life”  Preying on desperation and poverty  Blackmail, extortion

18. AND! COERCION  Threats of serious harm or restraint  Threatened abuse of legal process  Intimidation/Humiliation  Emotional Abuse  Climate of Fear  Modeling abusive behavior  Controlling daily life skills  Creating dependency  Establishing quotas 18

19. Barriers for Victims  Psychology of Victimization – Pimps may use force, fraud, or coercion to virtually enslave their victims. Juvenile victims have been controlled by threats of violence to their family; pornographic images taken and used for blackmail or stigmatization; physical, verbal and sexual abuse. Child victims may be gang raped to desensitize them to sexual activity prior to victimizing them in prostitution. Victims often stay with pimps out of fear of being physically harmed, having another victim endure physical harm, or a threat to their family members. 19

20. Barriers for Victims Continued  “Trauma Bonding” – This is also common among child victims exploited for commercial sex. The child experiences a strong link to the pimp/exploiter based in what the child perceives as an incredibly intense or important relationship, but one in which there has been an exploitation of trust and or power. Emotional bonding is a learned tactic for survival and can be common between exploited children and the exploiter. Working with this population can take months of therapy and or residential treatment. PTSD is very common among children exposed to sex trafficking. These victims often have unique needs given the frequent nature of multiple acts of sexual exploitation or violence, by multiple offenders over a potentially sustained period of time. 20

21. Signs and Vulnerabilities to look for  History of emotional, sexual, or other physical abuse. Children with such a background could fall prey to this form of victimization again.  History of running away or current status as a runaway. Traffickers know runaways are in a vulnerable situation and target places such as shelter, malls or bus stations frequented by such children.  Signs of current physical abuse and/or sexually transmitted diseases. Such signs are indicators of victimization, potentially sex trafficking. 21

22. Signs and Vulnerabilities to look for  Inexplicable appearance of expensive gifts, clothing, or costly items. Traffickers often buy gifts for their victims as a way to build a relationship and earn trust.  Presence of an older boy or girlfriend. While they may seem cool, older boyfriends are not always the caring men they appear to be.  Drug addiction. Pimps frequently use drugs to lure and control their victims. 22

23. Signs and Vulnerabilities to look for  Withdrawal or lack of interest in previous activities. Due to depression or being forced to spend time with their pimp, victims lose control of their personal lives.  Gang involvement, especially among girls. Girls who are involved in gang activity can be forced into prostitution.  Children rarely disclose they have been sexually exploited. Children often do not realize they are victims of trafficking. Many view their exploiter as a boyfriend, and the process of breaking that trauma bond is time and resource intensive. 23

24. A European Study  A study was conducted on the trafficking of women and adolescents and the victims were able to identify key areas where they suffered.  Physical, sexual and psychological abuse  The forced use of drugs and alcohol  Social restrictions and manipulation  Economic exploitation and debt bondage  Legal insecurity  Abusive working conditions 24

25. Stages of Human Trafficking of Women  Pre-departure – the factors that cause a women to decide to migrate which left them vulnerable to trafficking, i.e. poverty, war, domestic violence.  Travel and transit – during this stage the women faced risk of arrest, illness, and death from dangerous modes of travel and high risk border crossings. Most of the women in the study had been confined, raped or beaten in transit.  Destination – this is the stage where the women experienced the most extreme violence and psychological stress. 25

26. The Destination Stage Types of Abuse  Physical health impact – the women reported broken bones, high fevers, gastrointestinal problems, pelvic pain, complications of abortions, deprivation of food and human contact.  Sexual and reproductive health – all the interviewed women reported sexual abuse, including forced anal, oral and unprotected sex, and gang rape, did not receive medical care, and were forced to be sex workers with most having 10 to 25 clients per night and some as many as 40 to 50 per night. 26

27. The Destination Stage Continued  Mental health – the traffickers used psychological control tactics such as threats, lies, and deception to keep the women intimidated, dependent, and uncertain of their future is they did not obey the traffickers demands.  Substance abuse and misuse – the women were forced to use drugs and alcohol with a goal of taking on more clients or performing acts they would otherwise find to risky  Social well-being – some of the women were physically confined and under regular surveillance, while others were restricted in their movement, time, and no contact w/families 27

28. The Destination Stage Continued  Economic and legal security – women were subjected to financial arrangements that involved serving more clients and more risk, while keeping very little of their earnings and thus severely limiting their capacity for maintaining hygiene and basic health measures.  Occupational and environmental health – nearly all the women described their 7 day a week working conditions as “Bad” or “Terrible” including being forced to perform acts dangerous to their health and sleeping in the same place they worked. 28

29. 10 Guiding Principles:  The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed principles for conducting ethical and safe interviewing of women who have been trafficked. They are:  1. Do no harm: this means do not interview if it will in any way make the woman’s immediate or longer-term situation worse.  2. Know your subject and carefully assess the risks before undertaking an interview. Consult as necessary with agencies serving refugees, women’s rights, and immigrants.  3. Prepare referral information – do not make promises that cannot be fulfilled; this includes accurate knowledge about legal, health, shelter, church groups, and security services. 29

30. 10 Guiding Principles Continued:  4. Prepare interpreters and co-workers: including assessing the risks and benefits of such services, for example, a trafficker or pimp might pose as a relative.  5. Ensure anonymity and confidentiality through the entire process in accordance with the woman’s wishes about making details of her case public.  6. Obtain informed consent, and all that this implies regarding rights about refusal to answer questions and how the information will be used, 30

31. 10 Guiding Principles Continued:  7. Listen and respect woman’s assessment of her situation and risks to safety. As in other instances of abuse and violence, each woman’s concerns and decisions about her plight may be different from how others view them, therefore her choices must be respected.  8. Do not re-traumatize a woman by provoking an emotionally charged response that may push her to relieve the ordeal she has been through. Respect cultural differences that may include spoken or unspoken rules about sharing traumatic or humiliating experiences 31

32. 10 Guiding Principles Continued:  9. Be prepared for emergency intervention if and when a women asks for urgent or immediate help. This includes appropriate and reliable linkages to profession emergency medial, legal and other crisis responders.  10. Put information collected to good use This includes engaging with a woman in a neutral way about how others in her situation might benefit from sharing her plight and the value of such information to health, social services, and legal professions concerned with ending trafficking, torture and violations of basic human rights. 32