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Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is modern-day slavery. It is the illegal trade of people for exploitation or commercial gain. There are two forms of human trafficking, labor trafficking and sex trafficking. It is estimated there are approximately 40.3 million people today in the world that are enslaved. Traffickers use force, fraud or coercion to lure their victims into labor or commercial sexual exploitation. Human trafficking generates billions of dollars of profit a year, and comes in second to drug trafficking as one of the most profitable transnational crimes. Human trafficking is happening internationally, and also here in the United States. Human trafficking has been reported in all 50 states.
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Commercial Sexual Exploitation
Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is what happens to anyone sold in the sex industry. It’s synonymous with sex trafficking and includes all forms of sexual exploitation for profit, including street and brothel prostitution, escort services as well as stripping and pornography. Anytime payment is exchanged for some kind of sexual objectification of another person it’s considered Commercial Sexual Exploitation.
What is a Commercial Sex Act?
A commercial sex act means any item of value is traded for any sexual service, such as prostitution, pornography, or sexual performance. Under United States Federal Law, any minor under the age of 18 years induced into commercial sex is a victim of sex trafficking, regardless of whether or not the trafficker used force, fraud, or coercion.
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Our main focus at FREE is on all forms of Commercial Sexual Exploitation.
Recognize the Signs:
Common Work and Living Conditions
- Is not free to leave or come and go as he/she wishes
- Is under 18 and is providing commercial sex acts
- Is in the commercial sex industry and has a pimp / manager
- Is unpaid, paid very little, or paid only through tips
- 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 For example, boarded up windows, bars on windows, security cameras, etc.)
Poor Mental Health or Abnormal Behavior
- Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous
- 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, such as an ID or passport
- Is not allowed or able to speak for themselves (a third party may insist on being present)
Other Possible Signs Can Include
- Claims of just visiting and inability to clarify where he/she is staying/address
- Lack of knowledge of whereabouts and/or do not know what city he/she is in
- Loss of sense of time
- Has numerous inconsistencies in his/her story
**This list is not exhaustive and represents only some possible indicators. The indicators in this list may not be present in all trafficking cases.
To request help or report a tip, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733).
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