>. They are more likely to face legal restrictions on work and travel related to their visas. Initially, trafficking of women and girls for forced sex work and, to a lesser extent, domestic servitude, were the sole focus of advocacy and assistance. People you know might be vulnerable to trafficking if they: Has an unstable living situation Has a history of domestic violence Has a caregiver or family member who has a substance abuse issue or avoiding all eye contact. Always report it, when you see something suspicious to the local authorities in addition to calling the National Human Trafficking Hotline – 1.888.373.7888. Victims are often in plain view and go unidentified because they don’t match the stereotypical image the media portrays and the public consumes. In some cultures, disabilities are seen as shameful and burdensome to families. The realities of the exploitation suffered and the complications around each situation are often misunderstood. While there isn’t one face of a human trafficking victim, certain populations are more vulnerable, including runaway and homeless youth, children and youth in foster care, individuals fleeing violence or natural disasters, individuals with a disability, and those who have suffered other types of abuse or exploitation in their lifetimes. A person who’s been trafficked likely lived a life with compounding vulnerabilities like: trauma, abuse, neglect, disability, violence, family breakdown, homelessness, poverty, or a combination of many factors. Undocumented workers are especially vulnerable because they are less likely to report being the victim of a crime. Outside the influence of a trafficker’s threats and lies, there’s also a lack of awareness of what human trafficking is. TRUTH: Human trafficking victims in the U.S. are foreign as well as domestic. “Victims in these establishments are primarily controlled through debt, blackmail, and intense psychological manipulation. For more detailed descriptions of these warning signs and more take a look at the full list from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, as well as these other resources: US Department of Health and Human Services Fact Sheet, US Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign. When victims’ bodies are regularly used as objects, their self-worth is shattered. Combatting human trafficking requires a sustained commitment to investigating and prosecuting these crimes and to protecting the most vulnerable citizens and residents from human traffickers. Predators are insidiously capable of identifying the most vulnerable youth, those who lack self-esteem, self-confidence or are marginalized in some way. David Brown, a TIP Hero from 2008, talks about the refugee highway. MYTH: Human trafficking frequently happens in broad daylight in places like a park or the grocery store. While anyone can be a victim, we know that kids who are homeless or … Familiarizing yourself with human trafficking traits and commonalities is important in helping the general public know what to look for. Education is a central piece to the identification of victims and in turn the ability of law enforcement to be able to rescue them. (, under 18 years old and performing commercial sex acts, unpaid or paid very little for employment, in large debt to employer and is unable to pay it off. To fight against the insidious scourge of human trafficking takes compassion for the most vulnerable in our community. TexasLawHelp.org All Rights Reserved. Social workers who provide services to these victims indicate that feelings of isolation and abandonment are often reported but that the lack of a support network increases the vulnerability to trafficking. They are not for sale. Additionally, individuals who are hard of hearing or sight are often targeted by traffickers because of their diminished ability to report their situation to police or someone who may be able to help them. Minors in the child welfare system are significantly more likely to be trafficked than their peers who have had no contact with the child welfare system. People, especially children, and youth are less resilient after experiencing trauma and more likely to be persuaded or tricked by others who would take advantage of emotional instability, low self-esteem, physical injury, a missing support system, and an intensified need to be accepted by peers or stand-ins for family members. The Texas Bar Foundation provided funding for website design. What Makes People Vulnerable to Becoming Trafficked? Who is vulnerable to human trafficking? But these images don’t provide a clear understanding of who is actually falling prey to human traffickers. While not inclusive of all vulnerabilities, the following highlights a few risk factors for victims of human trafficking. It can drive people to … MYTH: Victims of human trafficking are only found in large urban areas that are hot spots of crime or foreign villages in developing countries. Also, in the United States, the TVPA has special protections for minors. Runaway or homeless youth may be compelled to exchange sex for basic survival necessities, such as food, shelter, or protection. However, victims are forced into organized begging rings because it is thought that they gain more sympathy (and therefore profit) by the traffickers. For a deep dive on this topic, take a look at Uncovering Myths & Intricacies. Trafficking sex and/or labor are the more commonly thought of forms of human trafficking among public policy leaders and general awareness campaigns. The most vulnerable children The commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is another term for what we often call child sex trafficking. These families fall target to traffickers who promise families that they will provide work or education to their loved ones with a disability. Child sex trafficking is a cycle of abuse. FREE, Not for Sale:  The information and forms available on this website are free. This is one reason why it is so important to be educated on the issue and share what you’ve learned with others. Runaway and homeless youth are vulnerable to trafficking. While unpacking these myths completely is difficult to do concisely, we’ll walk through them to help you gain an understanding of the truth sometimes captured within these myths. Traffickers lure victims in a variety of ways. In almost every case, there’s far more to the story than meets the eye. It certainly isn’t easy, especially because no two situations are going to look exactly alike. How do traffickers lure their victims? Seasonal work in the hospitality industry may also be at risk for exploitation. Almost every aspect of their life is controlled — where they live, what they eat, where they go, what they look like, and who they are allowed to talk to.”. According to the United Nations, over 130 countries are origin, transit or destination countries for human trafficking. Homeless and runaway youth are another common target for traffickers. The Human Trafficking Prevention Project. “The traffickers look for those who are most vulnerable, including the homeless and runaways,” she said. A great way to gain an understanding of what human trafficking really looks like and to overturn its common myths and misunderstandings is to read personal stories and testimonies of victim’s experiences. Let us know in the comments what questions you have about human trafficking. Vulnerability. Some of us already have shit going on in our lives that might put us at risk of being targeted. It happens all over the world, including the United States. Oftentimes a human trafficking case will be noticed by someone who is most likely to come in contact with a victim – a police officer, medical professional, parent, teacher, employees at a hair or nail salon, etc. Though cultural norms and values differ worldwide, the need to be loved and the desire to provide for one’s family are common to us all. A form of modern-day slavery, human trafficking is defined by the U.S. Department of State as "the act of recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing, or obtaining a person for compelled labor or commercial sex acts through the use of force, fraud, or coercion." © 2001–2021. These traffickers play the role of a boyfriend or a significant other, using feigned affection and manipulation to elicit commercial sex or services from the victim. While these claims may appear to be legitimate at first, unfortunately for many men, women, and children, they’re targeted as easy prey for exploitation. The most vulnerable children. This includes immigrants smuggled into the U.S., or currently residing in the U.S., who are vulnerable to exploitation due to their undocumented status. Some survivors of human trafficking in the U.S. may be eligible for a type of humanitarian relief called a “T visa” if they meet certain requirements. Although in the U.S. human trafficking is outlawed under The Trafficking Victims Protection Act, 75% to 80% of trafficking victims in America are involved in the sex trade. They begin to believe that their bodies are all their worth. not in control of their personal identification (passport, driver’s license, ID). There are several reasons why people are targeted for human trafficking. This is why training for these individuals is so important. Media will often show a stereotyped trafficked innocent woman who is in need of rescue by a man. Individuals with a history of trauma or abuse are less resilient and more susceptible to human trafficking. O rgan trafficking, a lucrative global illicit trade, is often a lesser discussed form of human trafficking among anti-human trafficking stakeholders due to its intricate and often stealth nature. Specific risk factors for people with physical or cognitive disabilities include social marginalization, difficulty with communication, and diminished ability to protect oneself due to lack of instruction or resources. At the same time, be vigilant and take note of all suspicious activity around you, and always report this to your local law enforcement. There are many examples in articles and books that you will find as you continue researching and learning about this topic. Victims are very rarely left alone and are threatened with violence. 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who is most vulnerable to human trafficking

who is most vulnerable to human trafficking

By inKatowice

There are many reasons why someone who is being trafficked might not be able to leave. Victims of labor trafficking have been found among U.S. migrant and seasonal farmworkers, restaurant workers, and as domestic servants. They are also more likely to have a language barrier, and they’re more likely to be unfamiliar with the area where they live including the geographic layout, resources available, and legal protections regarding labor. Human trafficking occurs all over the world, not just in specific regions based on socioeconomic development. Vulnerable to Human Trafficking. Funding: This website is supported by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation. For more useful information go to TexasCourtHelp, a website of the Texas Office of Court Administration's website. TRUTH: Human trafficking victims are found in affluent cities as well as small towns. It’s important that you’re educated on what to look for so that you can speak up and be a voice for victims of this crime who often can’t speak up for themselves. Additionally, their trafficker likely has justified their actions in a number of ways to convince a victim that their experience is normal and not a crime. We are working through our Human Trafficking 101 blog series, and this is part three. TRUTH: It can happen anywhere, any time of day or night. Human trafficking Human trafficking has received increasing global attention over the past decade. Generally, when inequality exists and where certain people lack access to social protection and justice, human traffickers are able to thrive. The Polaris Project has a detailed list with further explanations. Who is Most Vulnerable? Las Vegas: Homeless youth most vulnerable to sex trafficking. Survivors of the illegal sex trade say the city’s culture and high rates of homelessness give traffickers the advantage. The most obvious is youth. It often includes subtle brainwashing and grooming tactics. Traffickers target the most vulnerable because traffickers use their insecurities to control them. Activism. Some myths about human trafficking victims and their truths: MYTH: Human trafficking applies mostly to prostitution or sexual exploitation. Understand that exploitation and abuse occur in lots of situations in addition to crimes of human trafficking. Here in Barbados, our Embassy actively engages with the government to combat human trafficking. Foreign nationals are at an increased risk for human trafficking for many reasons. These populations include men, women, families, or children as young as five years old who harvest crops and raise animals in fields or work in packing plants, nurseries, orchards, and kitchens. Irregular migrants are some of the most vulnerable people in the world. Human smuggling, although not the same as human trafficking, often preys upon vulnerable people who then arrive on the European continent poor, and often in debt. Victims are often taught to distrust others – particularly law enforcement, this is especially true if they are in a country illegally and could be deported if discovered. It is estimated that there are over 40 million global victims and hundreds of thousands in the United States.. The journey a victim takes after the point of rescue is incredibly important to their future health and well-being. Prior misunderstandings of the situations human trafficking victims experience has necessitated a movement to create a more victim-centered approach. Sexploitation: Human Trafficking. Farmworkers holding H-2A temporary work visas are prohibited from working for an employer other than the one who requested their visa, leaving the worker vulnerable to abuse by an employer, crew leader, or recruitment agency.” (Human Trafficking Resource Center). This may include … Often, we have a very specific image of a person who’s been trafficked in our minds because of a documentary, film, or news story we’ve seen. What we know about trafficking survivors is that, in most cases, they have struggled with issues such as poverty, low self-esteem, and homelessness at some point in their life. MYTH: Recruiting human trafficking victims happens quickly – like strangers trying to lure children away. According to the hotline, about 80% of trafficking cases nationally involve sex trafficking, and 90% of the victims are female. How to fight human trafficking. While there isn’t one face of a human trafficking victim, certain populations are more vulnerable, including runaway and homeless youth, children and youth in foster care, individuals fleeing violence or natural disasters, individuals with a disability, and those who have suffered other types of abuse or exploitation in their lifetimes. Formally launched in March 2007 by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Who is most vulnerable to human trafficking? “It can happen to anyone,” and “it’s happening in your backyard,” are common in the anti-human trafficking field. By using this website, you agree not to sell or make a profit in any way from any information or forms that you obtained through this website. Human trafficking occurs all around the world, and in each and every one of the 50 United States. MYTH: There must be evidence of physical restraint in all human trafficking situations. TRUTH: As outlined in our previous blog post defining human trafficking, the legal definition of human trafficking states: “by means of the threat or use of force, fraud, or coercion.” This means that a person could feel unable to leave a situation because of fraud, coercion, or manipulation, as well as physical restraint. It doesn’t begin the moment the victim was first exploited. Billings notes that less than one percent of human trafficking cases are abductions. This helps dispel common myths mentioned previously and leads to increased identification of human trafficking situations. Outside of the actual act of forcing someone to stay in such situations, these factors greatly affect a person’s propensity to report a crime or try to leave.”  TIP Report, 2016. The urgency of their situation might lead them to make dangerous migration decisions. Hearing their voices explain what they suffered through gives context to what this crime can be. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Be aware that not all circumstances that first appear to be human trafficking necessarily are. For a broader knowledge of where human trafficking happens, read It Happens Everywhere. Human trafficking is a global issue, but certain countries are worse. TRUTH: Human trafficking appears in many forms. The Human Trafficking Prevention Project (HTPP) was launched at the University of Baltimore School of Law in August 2015. Human trafficking takes place in every country, from the richest to the poorest. Often, individuals are not able or not yet willing to seek treatment for their previous abuse. Intimate partner violence, domestic violence, incest, psychological or emotional abuse and neglect, and other forms of trauma and violence can make a person more vulnerable to human trafficking. MYTH: Those who are trafficked in the U.S. are not American citizens. This image is usually one of several varieties: a poor, shoeless person sitting in the dirt in a rural village; a teenage girl with chains around her hands and feet; or maybe even images we’ve seen in history books about the Transatlantic slave trade. Foreign nationals may also be victims of sex trafficking. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Domestic Violence, COVID-19 & Human Trafficking, 5 Ways Guidance Counselors Are Uniquely Positioned, Why You Are Uniquely Positioned To Help End Human Trafficking, Your Response This World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, In 2013, 60 percent of children rescued in a nationwide raid led by the FBI in more than 70 cities were from foster care or group homes (, At least one in three homeless youth engage in “, Fifty-six percent of women in prostitution were once runaway youth. There are many more reasons why someone might not be able to break the invisible chains holding them in their current state. Human trafficking is the end result of years – sometimes generations – of vulnerabilities that have been unaddressed, under-resourced, or unnoticed. Many people often wonder why someone caught in these horrible conditions doesn’t do something to escape or report their abuse. Other times, family members may not have the financial resources to provide ongoing care to their loved ones with disabilities. Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons or modern-day slavery, is a crime that involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts. Massage parlors, strip clubs, nail salons, and other businesses may pose as legitimate businesses, but actually, be run by human traffickers. MYTH: Most human trafficking involves females under the age of 18. Poverty. Recognizing the warning signs a patient is a victim of trafficking is crucial in the ED and other healthcare settings. If you missed the first two posts in this series, make sure to go back and read part one, Uncovering Myths and Intricacies and part two, Human Trafficking Happens Everywhere. Foreign Nationals are at an increased risk because of the legal and travel restrictions they face. The commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is another term for what we often call child sex trafficking. Runaway youth are often approached by traffickers at transportation hubs, shelters or other public spaces. “Although human trafficking affects every demographic, a common factor across all forms of modern slavery is the victims’ vulnerability to exploitation. Most victims of human trafficking will not self-identify as such because they’re unaware of what it means. “It also brings the underside of the criminal world, and that is those that are using a game, an entertaining event, to increase their sales of our most vulnerable," Moody said of human trafficking. Physical and social factors make individuals with disabilities more vulnerable to human trafficking. People escaping from war and persecution are particularly vulnerable to becoming victims of trafficking. Young children don’t know what they don’t know. The United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT) was born out of a renewed commitment by world leaders in the battle against human trafficking to end this crime, one of the most egregious violations of human rights in the world today. This is an effort by law enforcement to minimize re-traumatization as they move through the criminal justice system. Truth: Human trafficking knows no geographical bounds. No community, whether affluent or impoverished, isn’t immune to the crime of human trafficking (as discussed more thoroughly in our previous post: It Happens Everywhere). Human trafficking isn’t limited … A study in Chicago found that 56 percent of prostituted women were initially runaway youth and similar numbers have been identified for male populations. Poverty is one of the largest contributors to human trafficking. They are always individually based and don’t seem to suggest that trafficking is a system that relies on power structures of gender, race, and class. It feeds on the world’s most vulnerable women and children and is driven by the demand in affluent countries. Severe retaliation or attacks on their families hold many in fear of disobeying their traffickers. not in control of their money or bank account. TRUTH: Human trafficking victims are found across all age, gender, and racial demographics. TRUTH: Recruitment is a process that usually takes place over a long period of time and in a much less obvious manner. “In all forms of human trafficking, there are likely elements of grooming a victim prior to the individual becoming a victim and brainwashing and coercion to keep them from leaving. Technically, they are true: Anyone can be trafficked, in any community, just as anyone can be the victim of any kind of crime. There are a number of factors which make people vulnerable to abuses of all kinds, particularly human trafficking. Additionally, victims often have psychological trauma from their abuse, which can often cause them to bond to their abuser in irrational ways. Some survivors of human trafficking in the U.S. may be eligible for a type of humanitarian relief called a “T visa” if they meet certain requirements. The most targeted populations for trafficking are homeless and runaway youths. If you suspect a trafficking situation call the National Human Trafficking Hotline now: 1-888-373-7888, Faces of Human Trafficking Discussion Guide. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Another common method of keeping a trafficking victim from leaving is debt bondage – this is when a trafficker claims a debt owed for shelter, food, or protection and inflates it to a point that it is insurmountable to the victim. The journey of a human trafficking victim doesn’t begin the moment he or she is rescued. Red flags to look for when trying to determine if the suspicious activity you have noticed is a case of human trafficking, specifically regarding an individual include someone who is: Other indicators include appearing fearful, anxious, submissive, tense, paranoid, etc. “These victims often face threats workers with arrest and deportation, even workers who have the legal right to work in the United States. The most targeted populations for trafficking are homeless and runaway youths. Human trafficking affects everyone – women, men, children, youth, those foreign to a nation and a country’s own citizens. Human Trafficking, also known as Modern Day Slavery, is quite simply the exploitation of vulnerability. WHO and PAHO have developed a series of information sheets on violence against women that summarizes what is known about the prevalence, patterns, consequences, risk factors and strategies to address the different forms of VAW. This includes immigrants smuggled into the U.S., or currently residing in the U.S., who are vulnerable to exploitation due to their undocumented status. Reasons People Become Vulnerable to Trafficking. Traffickers exploit vulnerabilities that many people already face by using stories of a better life – whether that means a feeling of belonging, a better income, or a chance for new opportunities. © 2020 Engage Together® All rights reserved. Learn the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis >>. They are more likely to face legal restrictions on work and travel related to their visas. Initially, trafficking of women and girls for forced sex work and, to a lesser extent, domestic servitude, were the sole focus of advocacy and assistance. People you know might be vulnerable to trafficking if they: Has an unstable living situation Has a history of domestic violence Has a caregiver or family member who has a substance abuse issue or avoiding all eye contact. Always report it, when you see something suspicious to the local authorities in addition to calling the National Human Trafficking Hotline – 1.888.373.7888. Victims are often in plain view and go unidentified because they don’t match the stereotypical image the media portrays and the public consumes. In some cultures, disabilities are seen as shameful and burdensome to families. The realities of the exploitation suffered and the complications around each situation are often misunderstood. While there isn’t one face of a human trafficking victim, certain populations are more vulnerable, including runaway and homeless youth, children and youth in foster care, individuals fleeing violence or natural disasters, individuals with a disability, and those who have suffered other types of abuse or exploitation in their lifetimes. A person who’s been trafficked likely lived a life with compounding vulnerabilities like: trauma, abuse, neglect, disability, violence, family breakdown, homelessness, poverty, or a combination of many factors. Undocumented workers are especially vulnerable because they are less likely to report being the victim of a crime. Outside the influence of a trafficker’s threats and lies, there’s also a lack of awareness of what human trafficking is. TRUTH: Human trafficking victims in the U.S. are foreign as well as domestic. “Victims in these establishments are primarily controlled through debt, blackmail, and intense psychological manipulation. For more detailed descriptions of these warning signs and more take a look at the full list from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, as well as these other resources: US Department of Health and Human Services Fact Sheet, US Department of Homeland Security Blue Campaign. When victims’ bodies are regularly used as objects, their self-worth is shattered. Combatting human trafficking requires a sustained commitment to investigating and prosecuting these crimes and to protecting the most vulnerable citizens and residents from human traffickers. Predators are insidiously capable of identifying the most vulnerable youth, those who lack self-esteem, self-confidence or are marginalized in some way. David Brown, a TIP Hero from 2008, talks about the refugee highway. MYTH: Human trafficking frequently happens in broad daylight in places like a park or the grocery store. While anyone can be a victim, we know that kids who are homeless or … Familiarizing yourself with human trafficking traits and commonalities is important in helping the general public know what to look for. Education is a central piece to the identification of victims and in turn the ability of law enforcement to be able to rescue them. (, under 18 years old and performing commercial sex acts, unpaid or paid very little for employment, in large debt to employer and is unable to pay it off. To fight against the insidious scourge of human trafficking takes compassion for the most vulnerable in our community. TexasLawHelp.org All Rights Reserved. Social workers who provide services to these victims indicate that feelings of isolation and abandonment are often reported but that the lack of a support network increases the vulnerability to trafficking. They are not for sale. Additionally, individuals who are hard of hearing or sight are often targeted by traffickers because of their diminished ability to report their situation to police or someone who may be able to help them. Minors in the child welfare system are significantly more likely to be trafficked than their peers who have had no contact with the child welfare system. People, especially children, and youth are less resilient after experiencing trauma and more likely to be persuaded or tricked by others who would take advantage of emotional instability, low self-esteem, physical injury, a missing support system, and an intensified need to be accepted by peers or stand-ins for family members. The Texas Bar Foundation provided funding for website design. What Makes People Vulnerable to Becoming Trafficked? Who is vulnerable to human trafficking? But these images don’t provide a clear understanding of who is actually falling prey to human traffickers. While not inclusive of all vulnerabilities, the following highlights a few risk factors for victims of human trafficking. It can drive people to … MYTH: Victims of human trafficking are only found in large urban areas that are hot spots of crime or foreign villages in developing countries. Also, in the United States, the TVPA has special protections for minors. Runaway or homeless youth may be compelled to exchange sex for basic survival necessities, such as food, shelter, or protection. However, victims are forced into organized begging rings because it is thought that they gain more sympathy (and therefore profit) by the traffickers. For a deep dive on this topic, take a look at Uncovering Myths & Intricacies. Trafficking sex and/or labor are the more commonly thought of forms of human trafficking among public policy leaders and general awareness campaigns. The most vulnerable children The commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is another term for what we often call child sex trafficking. These families fall target to traffickers who promise families that they will provide work or education to their loved ones with a disability. Child sex trafficking is a cycle of abuse. FREE, Not for Sale:  The information and forms available on this website are free. This is one reason why it is so important to be educated on the issue and share what you’ve learned with others. Runaway and homeless youth are vulnerable to trafficking. While unpacking these myths completely is difficult to do concisely, we’ll walk through them to help you gain an understanding of the truth sometimes captured within these myths. Traffickers lure victims in a variety of ways. In almost every case, there’s far more to the story than meets the eye. It certainly isn’t easy, especially because no two situations are going to look exactly alike. How do traffickers lure their victims? Seasonal work in the hospitality industry may also be at risk for exploitation. Almost every aspect of their life is controlled — where they live, what they eat, where they go, what they look like, and who they are allowed to talk to.”. According to the United Nations, over 130 countries are origin, transit or destination countries for human trafficking. Homeless and runaway youth are another common target for traffickers. The Human Trafficking Prevention Project. “The traffickers look for those who are most vulnerable, including the homeless and runaways,” she said. A great way to gain an understanding of what human trafficking really looks like and to overturn its common myths and misunderstandings is to read personal stories and testimonies of victim’s experiences. Let us know in the comments what questions you have about human trafficking. Vulnerability. Some of us already have shit going on in our lives that might put us at risk of being targeted. It happens all over the world, including the United States. Oftentimes a human trafficking case will be noticed by someone who is most likely to come in contact with a victim – a police officer, medical professional, parent, teacher, employees at a hair or nail salon, etc. Though cultural norms and values differ worldwide, the need to be loved and the desire to provide for one’s family are common to us all. A form of modern-day slavery, human trafficking is defined by the U.S. Department of State as "the act of recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing, or obtaining a person for compelled labor or commercial sex acts through the use of force, fraud, or coercion." © 2001–2021. These traffickers play the role of a boyfriend or a significant other, using feigned affection and manipulation to elicit commercial sex or services from the victim. While these claims may appear to be legitimate at first, unfortunately for many men, women, and children, they’re targeted as easy prey for exploitation. The most vulnerable children. This includes immigrants smuggled into the U.S., or currently residing in the U.S., who are vulnerable to exploitation due to their undocumented status. Some survivors of human trafficking in the U.S. may be eligible for a type of humanitarian relief called a “T visa” if they meet certain requirements. Although in the U.S. human trafficking is outlawed under The Trafficking Victims Protection Act, 75% to 80% of trafficking victims in America are involved in the sex trade. They begin to believe that their bodies are all their worth. not in control of their personal identification (passport, driver’s license, ID). There are several reasons why people are targeted for human trafficking. This is why training for these individuals is so important. Media will often show a stereotyped trafficked innocent woman who is in need of rescue by a man. Individuals with a history of trauma or abuse are less resilient and more susceptible to human trafficking. O rgan trafficking, a lucrative global illicit trade, is often a lesser discussed form of human trafficking among anti-human trafficking stakeholders due to its intricate and often stealth nature. Specific risk factors for people with physical or cognitive disabilities include social marginalization, difficulty with communication, and diminished ability to protect oneself due to lack of instruction or resources. At the same time, be vigilant and take note of all suspicious activity around you, and always report this to your local law enforcement. There are many examples in articles and books that you will find as you continue researching and learning about this topic. Victims are very rarely left alone and are threatened with violence. 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