Human trafficking is something that we've all heard about.
Yes, it is scary. No, you probably don't want to think about it. But the human trafficking industry is growing bigger and bigger, and it is everywhere. It can happen to anyone. Nobody deserves for this cruel and unthinkable act to happen to them. So there are things that we all need to know about in order to keep ourselves and others out of danger.
What is human trafficking?
People often think of human trafficking as only sexual exploitation. But that is not actually all that it is. While that is a big part of it, human trafficking also involves forced labor, in other words, slavery. But let's break it down further. It starts with the act of recruiting someone.
One common way that traffickers recruit their victims is by using false advertisement. Traffickers might post a "help wanted" ad online, and have potential victims come to their fake business for an interview. It is so important to make sure that when going to a job interview, you make sure that the business that you are interviewing for is real and credible. Other actions can be taken as well.
We have all been told this before, but make sure to tell someone where you are going!
Apart from using a fake job interview, there are lots of other common ways in which human traffickers recruit their victims.
The loverboy method is common, where a man courts a woman until she trusts him fully, and then he makes his move. It is also quite common for victims to be taken when walking to their car in a parking lot. If it is dark out, do NOT take a risk. Let someone know you're walking to your car, or have someone go with you.
Better safe than sorry.
One last ploy that human traffickers use that needs to be discussed is their willingness to pay for you to come see them. Say you met someone online and you two have been chatting for quite some time, and would like to meet each other in person, but live far away. A trafficker will be eager to pay for you to get on a bus, train, or plane to come visit him. He will insist until you agree.
If you ever decide to meet someone in person that you met online, GO TO A PUBLIC PLACE. A highly populated area is the safest option. They most likely are just a nice person who wants to get to know you, but your safety needs to come first.
How can we help in stopping human trafficking?
At this point, you might be thinking, this needs to be stopped but there is nothing that I can do to help. But that's not true! There are tons of things that we can do to help stop human trafficking. You can:
1. Join an anti-human trafficking club or community group.
There are tons of organizations out there that are working towards ending human trafficking. Do some research, pick one that you like, and join!
2. Spread the word.
Everyone needs to be informed about human trafficking. The more people that know about it, the fewer people there are that will fall for trafficker's tricks. Get the word out to people and help others to be safe!
3. Stay informed and look for signs.
Keeping yourself informed of the signs of what a victim looks like is extremely important. You never know when you will run into a situation where you could help a victim.
There are many more things that you can do to help in stopping human trafficking besides the three things listed above! Do some research!
Sounds great, but what are the signs?
There are lots of signs to look for in a suspected victim. First, they might have poor physical health. They could appear to be malnourished or show signs of being physically abused. When asked, they will refuse to seek medical attention.
Along with physical health, their mental health may be a little off as well. They may avoid eye contact, and appear to be anxious, tense, submissive, or depressed.
Looking at their work conditions is also a good way to figure out if this person is a victim.
Do they work incredibly long hours?
Do they have the freedom to leave when they want?
Are they paid a reasonable amount?
Join the fight.
Human trafficking is a terrifying phenomenon. It is not something that we like to think about, and for good reason. But it is a growing industry, and it needs to be stopped in its tracks. The more people on board to stop it, the better chance that we have.
Together, we can stop this cruel modern form of slavery! Join us in the fight against human trafficking, as we all deserve freedom.
