The Faces of Human Trafficking

Workshop for Community of Christ

The Slave Trade: Is it Over?

•1562: First English slaving expedition

•Over 12 million African slaves trafficked over 400 years

•People forced, deceived, and sold into exploitation

18TH – 19TH Century Abolitionists

• Increasing concern in the late 18th century

•Former slaves e.g. Olaudah Equiano

•Church leaders e.g. Thomas Clarkson

•Female reformers e.g. Hannah More

•Parliamentarians e.g. William Wilberforce

Are you an abolitionist?Should you be?

What is Human Trafficking?

•Modern day slavery•Exploitation of persons for

commercial sex or forced labor•Does not require moving a

victim•Force, fraud, or coercion used

to control victims

Forms of Modern Day Slavery

•Debt bondage: trapped in loans and repayment to survive

•Descent slavery: born into discriminated group

•Domestic servitude: hidden abuse of workers

•Forced child labor: arms, drugs, sex, work, begging, religious sacrifices, fraud

•These forms of slavery are not illegal in all countries

People Trafficking

•People taken by deception or violence for exploitation

•Fastest growing form of global organised crime

•The second largest source of income for organised crime

•Every country either a source, transit, or destination for trafficking

The Faces of Human TraffickingVictims:

anyone, anywhere can be a victim

Scope of the Problem

•Worldwide 600,000 to 800,000 victims trafficked

annually across international borders Estimated 80% of victims women and girls 27 million people in slavery around the world $9 billion business

*After drug dealing, human trafficking is tied with illegal arms trade as the 2nd largest criminal industry in the world and the fastest growing.

•United States 18,000 to 20,000 victims are trafficked

annually into the United States 750,000 women were trafficked into the

US in the last decade 300,000 to 400,000 children

are victims of the sex trade

Scope of the Problem

Trafficking: How it Works

• Individuals told false promises•Some children sold by parents•Easier to smuggle people than drugs or

weapons•Mafias or loosely organized crime

networks•Hidden in ethnic enclaves and cultural

taboos•People are reusable and resalable

Forms of Recruitment

•Smuggling networks•Employment agencies•Maid/ housekeeping/nanny schemes•Mail order bride services• Internet schemes•False modeling agencies•Befriending and/or seduction• Illegal foreign adoption agencies

Endless Supply of Victims:

•Due to global economy, there is a constant supply of victims

•Victims are a dispensable commodity, readily replaceable

•Allure: The promise of a better life Needed income to support a family, to

provide medical care for siblings, to be able to survive

Why People are Trafficked

Domestic Servitude Sex Work Forced Prostitution Marriages/Surrogacy Factory Work Begging International

Adoptions

Agricultural Work Criminal Activity Restaurant Work Construction Hotel/ Motel

Housekeeping Other Informal

Labor Sectors

Domestic Trafficking

• In any given country, domestic victims can also be enslaved

•Runaways, homeless, mentally ill, mentally handicapped, and migrants are most vulnerable

•Access to services may differ, laws protecting may differ

Victims May be Smuggled or May Pay for Entry to Another Country

•Crime against a person•Contains an element of coercion, force

or fraud•Subsequent exploitation and/or forced

labor •Trafficked person

is a victim

Trafficking

Human Trafficking:Key Components in the US Law

•Mode of Operation Force Fraud Coercion

3 Elements Necessary to Meet Trafficking Definition in the US

1 2 3Process/Action Particular Means Particular End

Recruiting

OR

Harboring

OR

Moving

OR

Obtaining

a person,

Force

OR

Fraud

Or

Coercion

by

for the purpose of

Involuntary Servitude

OR

Debt Bondage

OR

Slavery

OR

Sexual Exploitation

Vulnerability

•Destitute•Little/no education•Homeless or runaways•Prior victims of domestic violence or

sexual assault and abuse

Psychology of Control

• Isolation•Dependency•Fear Instilled•Abuse•Shame•Culture

Controlled Movement and Lives

•Victims may live under complete control from fear

•All or much of their movement is controlled

•Some victims are provided with occasional “parties” where, for instance, they may have access to other victims for prostitution

•Some chained, others video monitored, locked up

This victim was transported in a

glove box

Victim Mindset

•Limited or no language skills in current country, literacy

•Unfamiliar with culture and systems

•Confined, isolated, at risk

•Fearful and/or distrustful of authority

•Unaware that they are a victim

•May develop loyalty to trafficker

•Unaware of where they are

•Fear for safety of family

Victims Can’t Rescue Themselves

•We must be alert to possible victims and be ready to call a hotline to get a situation investigated

•Where?• Migrant or immigrant communities• Areas known for prostitution• Law enforcement• Clinics/doctor’s offices• Restaurants• Hotels• Your own neighborhood

How to Recognize a Victim

•Not free to leave job •Can’t come and go freely•Have been threatened with harm or

harmed•Has had family threatened•Live with employer• In debt to employer•Do not have possession of own papers

Group Exercise 1

•Break into small groups of 5 – 6 people•Have you ever questioned whether

someone was a victim?•What did you do?•Knowing what you know now, what do

you think are the signs you would notice?•Remembering that victims might be

anywhere, where do you think victims might be found in your community?

•Be prepared to report your discussion to the whole group.

Needs of Victims

• Immediate safety•Support to live

Housing, food, medical, safety and security, language interpretation and legal services

•Support to be restored to their own lives Health and mental health care, addiction

services, income security, legal status

Human Trafficking Victims are not Criminals: They Have Legal Rights

•Safety

•Privacy

• Interpretation

• Information

•Legal Representation

•Right to be heard in court

•Civil compensation

•Medical assistance

• Immigration relief

•Repatriation

•Case Management

Group Exercise 2

•Use some kind of paper to capture ideas Give large sticky notes or big poster

paper to each group

•Assign a group leader and reporter•What are your ideas for getting

involved as modern abolitionists?•What would you like to do?

Together with other groups As a congregation

•What is the next step?

For More Information