Sex Trafficking: What You Should Know
Human trafficking is a growing problem around the world. Among the various types of trafficking, sex trafficking is the most common and accounts for 79% of cases, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The crime–which mostly exploits women and children–must be adequately addressed in order to protect innocent victims and their families.
At 3rd Millennium Classrooms, we’re combating sex trafficking with evidence-based educational programs, tools, and resources. Below is a guide on sex trafficking, which provides an overview on what it is, how you can intervene, and more.
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Where Does Sex Trafficking Happen?
What Can You Do About Sex Trafficking?
Sex Trafficking Prevention and Intervention
What is Sex Trafficking?
Human or sex trafficking is illegal and “involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts,” according to the United States Department of Justice. Oftentimes, the first step is grooming, which is the process traffickers use to control and manipulate someone. It can impact anyone, but vulnerable communities are most often targeted. This includes runaway and homeless children, ethnic minorities, the LGBTQ+ community, undocumented immigrants, individuals with drug use and abuse disorders, among others. While every situation is unique, many victims are often controlled through these methods: assault, threats, false promises, perceived sense of protection, and others, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For example, a person may be offered a job or housing. However, when they arrive they are forced into non consensual sexual activities for money or other goods which are then given to the trafficker in control.
Where Does Sex Trafficking Happen?
There is no community, state, or country immune to sex trafficking; it can happen anywhere, regardless of how “safe” you may perceive the location is. It can also happen any day or month of the year; however, it’s often associated with certain events. For example, the annual Super Bowl is often dubbed “the largest human trafficking event in the world.” There’s not enough data to support that claim, but it is certainly accurate to acknowledge that large sporting events of any kind are associated with an increase in sex trafficking. In addition, natural disasters such as hurricanes, are associated with an increase in human trafficking. This is because individuals and families who are impacted by natural disasters are often put in vulnerable situations without food, housing, a vehicle, and loss of other personal belongings. Traffickers target evacuees by disguising as volunteers or other evacuees.
COVID-19 and Sex Trafficking
The COVID-19 pandemic caused many people to spend more time indoors and online. Unfortunately, this also created new ways for traffickers to target their victims. Because people–especially youth–are spending more time online (social media, gaming platforms, etc.), predators are spending more time online too. They target individuals through one-to-one communications in direct messages and other chat features. “Traffickers are working hard on social media to target whichever child they can,” says Chuck Paul, an anti-trafficking subject matter expert. Ultimately, traffickers are looking for new victims to replace the ones lost when in-person activities shut down.
Signs of Sex Trafficking
In order to help a victim of human trafficking, it’s important to know what to look out for. Here are a handful of questions to consider, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:
- Has the person had a sudden or dramatic change in behavior?
- Does the person appear to be coached on what to say?
- Is the person living in unsuitable conditions?
- Is the person fearful, timid, or submissive?
Here are additional questions to consider, specific to classroom settings:
- Does the student have unexplained absences from school?
- Does the student have more (and/or more expensive) material possessions?
- Does the student defer to another person to speak for him or her, especially during interactions with school authority figures?
- Does the student have a significant other who is noticeably older?
What Can You Do About Sex Trafficking?
If you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, a person may need help. There are a number of things that a bystander or loved one can do to help. First and foremost, call 911 and report suspected human trafficking. As a witness, you should also be observant by paying attention to the details of what those involved are wearing, the vehicles they’re driving, which direction they’re headed, the tone of their voice and language, and more. You can also try to take photos, if you believe you can be discreet and not cause further harm or danger to the victim or yourself. Taking these steps can help save a person from a dangerous or even deadly situation. There are also a longlist of local partners and national organizations which provide additional anti-trafficking resources. In addition, the gig economy–namely food delivery providers–have equipped their employees with resources and hotlines for victims. Contact your manager or employer’s human resources department to learn what they’re doing to end sex trafficking.
Sex Trafficking Prevention and Intervention
To help save lives, we must take more action toward putting an end to sex trafficking. At 3rd Millennium Classrooms, we offer an evidence-based online course which focuses on human trafficking awareness and identification. It’s called Red Flags. The course has different tracks designed for three audiences: general, law enforcement, and medical staff. Many individuals and organizations across the country have relied on this course to gain a better understanding of trafficking.
Participants who complete Red Flags are able to:
- Dispute myths about human trafficking
- Differentiate between sex trafficking and prostitution
- Identify at-risk populations, hot spots, and access points
- Use awareness, behavior, and communication flags to identify a victim
- Identify psychological and health-related flags in victims
During the course, participants will discuss real scenarios to gain a practical understanding about what to look for and how to take action. Participants become more aware, which helps to make victims more detectable.
Learn More about Red Flags
Other ways to take a stand against sex trafficking include #WearBlueDay on January 11, which is the annual National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Another movement is #TackleDemand, which is centered around the annual Super Bowl, and encourages individuals not to purchase sex and have the same standard for those around them. If no one is buying, there is no demand.
