January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
January 11, 2018 is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day
Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is modern-day slavery and involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act.
Human trafficking is a hidden crime as victims rarely come forward to seek help because of language barriers, fear of the traffickers, and/or fear of law enforcement. Retrieved from https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/what-human-trafficking
Indicators of Human Trafficking
Recognizing key indicators of human trafficking is the first step in identifying victims and can help save a life. Here are some common indicators to help recognize human trafficking:
- Does the person appear disconnected from family, friends, community organizations, or houses of worship?
- Has a child stopped attending school?
- Has the person had a sudden or dramatic change in behavior?
- Is a juvenile engaged in commercial sex acts?
- Is the person disoriented or confused, or showing signs of mental or physical abuse?
- Does the person have bruises in various stages of healing?
- Is the person fearful, timid, or submissive?
- Does the person show signs of having been denied food, water, sleep, or medical care?
- Is the person often in the company of someone to whom he or she defers? Or someone who seems to be in control of the situation, e.g., where they go or who they talk to?
- Does the person appear to be coached on what to say?
- Is the person living in unsuitable conditions?
- Does the person lack personal possessions and appear not to have a stable living situation?
- Does the person have freedom of movement? Can the person freely leave where they live? Are there unreasonable security measures?
Not all indicators listed above are present in every human trafficking situation, and the presence or absence of any of the indicators is not necessarily proof of human trafficking. Retrieved from https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/indicators-human-trafficking
Some Available Resources:
Vermont
https://humantraffickinghotline.org/state/vermont
http://www.givewaytofreedom.org/Domestic/VT-Task-Force.php
National
https://humantraffickinghotline.org/
https://polarisproject.org/human-trafficking
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/otip/victim-assistance/national-human-trafficking-hotline
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