When we think of sex trafficking, the first thing that often comes to mind is Liam Neeson moving heaven and earth to save his daughter in the movie Taken.
If you’ve seen the film, you know that 18-year-old Sarah and her friend are targeted and captured while on a summer trip to Spain. While Liam Neeson fights every bad guy known to man to get to her, Sarah is drugged, beaten and sold for sex.
Of course, the movie has a happy ending in that Neeson saves his baby girl, the family is reunited and all is good in the world.
Unfortunately, that couldn’t be further from reality.
Like the movie, we often believe that human trafficking, sex trafficking and slavery only happen in distant lands far far away.
Contrary to popular belief, the United States is a breeding ground for trafficking. According to the 2016 reports from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, cases of human trafficking have skyrocketed in the U.S. throughout the past decade.
The hotline detailed a 35 percent increase in REPORTED cases of human trafficking last year from 2015. California had more than 1,300 reports—more than double of any other state. Texas came in second with 670, followed by Florida with 550 cases reported to the hotline. And 5 years later, those stats are only rising.
It’s not happening in underground brothels, or on shady street corners. It’s happening in our own neighborhoods, the hotels we visit and the sporting events we devote our weekends to.
“Large sporting events such as the Super Bowl are a prime venue for human trafficking. Traffickers, pimps, handlers—whatever you want to call them—cash in in a big way during these sporting events,” says Ashley Anderson, from anti-sex trafficking group Well House.
Pimps are no longer layered in tattoos and gold teeth, but rather, genuine leather shoes and expensive Italian pants. They aren’t the people you’d think to teach your children to avoid, but the people who you might trust the most.
Millions are being trafficked worldwide, and most go unreported, unseen and unknown “due to its covert nature, misconceptions about its definition and a lack of awareness about its indicators,” according to the hotline.
You may have heard the stories of the flight attendant who recognized the signs of human trafficking and saved a young person’s life. Or the strong plea from police during March Madness to keep an eye out for “suspicious behavior.” But if it came down to recognizing potential red flags of trafficking, would you be able to?
Knowing the indicators of human trafficking is KEY in identifying victims and helping them survive. Here’s what PolarisProject.org says to look out for:
Common Work and Living Conditions: The individual(s) in question
- Is not free to leave or come and go as he/she wishes
- Is under 18 and is providing commercial sex acts
- Works excessively long and/or unusual hours
- Is not allowed breaks or suffers under unusual restrictions at work
- Owes a large debt and is unable to pay it off
- Was recruited through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of his/her work
- High security measures exist in the work and/or living locations (e.g., opaque windows, boarded up windows, bars on windows, barbed wire, security cameras, etc.)
Poor Mental Health or Abnormal Behavior
- Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense or nervous/paranoid
- Exhibits unusually fearful or anxious behavior after bringing up law enforcement
- Avoids eye contact
Poor Physical Health
- Lacks health care
- Appears malnourished
- Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture
Lack of Control
- Has few or no personal possessions
- Is not in control of his/her own money, no financial records or bank account
- Is not in control of his/her own identification documents (ID or passport)
- Is not allowed or able to speak for themselves (a third party may insist on being present and/or translating)
Other
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Claims of just visiting and inability to clarify where he/she is staying/address
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Lack of knowledge of whereabouts and/or do not know what city he/she is in
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Loss of sense of time
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Has numerous inconsistencies in his/her story
In addition to these guidelines, identifying red flags also goes beyond the possible victim. In many cases, human trafficking is identifiable by the people around them as well. In many cases, those who are being trafficked may appear dirty, run down and essentially poor. Meanwhile the people or person accompanying them may be clean, well-dressed and successful.
Every case of human trafficking is different. But putting an end to modern-day slavery starts by recognizing that it exists right where we live, work and play.
Know the warning signs, and join the fight against human trafficking. All it takes is simply opening your eyes to the people and situations around you, and being able to recognize red flags. You could be the difference between slavery and saving someone’s life.
To request help or report suspected human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Or text HELP to: BeFree (233733).
