You are on page 1of 31

OVERVIEW OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Polaris Projects vision is for a world without slavery. Named after the North Star that guided slaves towards freedom along the Underground Railroad, Polaris Project has been providing a comprehensive and community-based approach to combating human trafficking and modern-day slavery since 2002.

OVERVIEW OF POLARIS PROJECT


Founding Story Committed to comprehensive approach Our work includes the following program areas...
Victim Services and Housing Federal and State Policy Advocacy Training and Technical Assistance National Resource Center (Hotline) Public Awareness and Outreach Fellowship Program
Polaris Project

NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING RESOURCE CENTER


Toll-Free National Hotline 24/7, 365 Days, Live Person, 172 Languages, Confidential Responds to Crisis Calls Reports Tips to Law Enforcement Provides Victim Service Referrals Conducts Training & Technical Assistance Generates Statistical Reports and Offers Resources

Polaris Project

NHTRC REPORTED TRAFFICKING CASES

NHTRC (2007-2012)

THE SCOPE
20.9 Million Forced Labor Victims (ILO) 14.5 Million Sex Trafficking Victims Federal (2011): 118 Individuals Charged 125 Prosecutions 151 Convictions Innocence Lost: 2,100 Children Recovered 1,010 Convicted Total # of NHTRC Calls: 69,375 Potential Victims Referenced on Hotline: 8,133

DEFINING THE CRIME

INTERNATIONAL, NATIONAL, LOCAL


International: Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children of 2000 (Palermo Protocol)
National: Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA)

Local: Currently, 49/50 states have specific laws against human trafficking.

TRAFFICKING VICTIMS PROTECTION ACT


The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision or obtaining of a person for a commercial sex act, in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age. The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. 22 USC 7102

Sex Trafficking

Labor Trafficking

THE A-M-P MODEL


Action
Recruits Harbors Transports Provides Obtains OR so attempts

Means*
Force Fraud OR Coercion

Purpose
Commercial Sex Acts OR Labor or Services

*Force, Fraud, and Coercion are not required for minors induced into commercial sex acts.

MEANS

Force

Physical assault Sexual assault, rape Physical confinement or isolation Fraudulent employment offers False promises about work and living conditions Withholding wages
Threats to life, safety, family members or others Threats of deportation or arrest Debt bondage Withholding legal documents Psychological manipulation

Fraud Coercion

VICTIM & TRAFFICKER PROFILES

POPULATIONS AFFECTED
Sex Trafficking
Adults U.S. Citizen and Foreign Nationals

Labor Trafficking
Adults and minors U.S. Citizen and Foreign Nationals

Minors

WHERE DOES TRAFFICKING OCCUR?


SEX TRAFFICKING LABOR TRAFFICKING

Street Prostitution
Massage Parlors Residential Brothels Escort Services On-line Exploitation Hotels & Motels Truck Stops

Domestic Servitude
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing Construction Peddling & Begging Rings
(Sales Crews)

Factories Service Industry (Hotels & Restaurants) Small Businesses

Hostess Clubs/Cantina Bars Exotic Dancing/Stripping

Pornography

WHO IS VULNERABLE?
Age, limited access to resources, need for shelter, food, etc.
History of domestic violence, abuse or neglect, sexual assault, etc. Displaced after disasters or conflicts, lack of job prospects Lack of identification, unauthorized status, fear of immigration or police Visa restrictions; debts; transient

Runaway and Homeless Youth

Victims of Prior Violence/Abuse


Economically Vulnerable

Undocumented Foreign Nationals Temporary Visa Holders

SPOTLIGHT CHILDREN
Age is the most vulnerable factor Force, fraud or coercion does NOT apply Automatically recognized as victim if induced into commercial sex Trafficking does NOT require movement Invisible or Misidentified?

Microsoft Free Images

CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE


Child victims of sexual abuse 27.7 times more likely to be arrested for prostitution as an adult
Murphy P. Making the Connections: Women, Work and Abuse. Paul M Deutsche Press, Orlando FL (1993)

70-90% of commercially sexually exploited children have a history of childhood sexual abuse
National Institute of Justice Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse Later Criminal Consequences (1995)

WHO ARE THE TRAFFICKERS?


Traffickers are people who exploit others for profit
Any demographic Individuals and groups Street gangs and organized crime Businesses or contractors
Microsoft Free Images

TRAFFICKERS AT SCHOOLS
They can be all ages and genders Target most vulnerable students (e.g., foster or low income students, IEPs, homeless) Recruit on and off campus directly and/or through other victims (i.e., peer recruitment) Utilize cell phones and social media to find, groom, monitor, and control victims

VICTIM UNDERSTANDING & INDICATORS

NHTRC CASES INVOLVING MINORS

NHTRC (2007-2012)

Hotline Cases Involving Minor Victims 12/07-1/13


We have had 384 hotline calls from educators/school personnel. Nationality of Gender of Potential Victim Potential Victim
Male: 17%
Female: 83% US Citizen: 45% Foreign Nationals: 26% Unknown: 29%

Sex Trafficking
Pimp Controlled Trafficking Internet-Based Commercial Sex Pornography

Labor Trafficking
Peddling Rings Domestic Work Restaurant/Food Service

BARRIERS TO VICTIM SELF-IDENTIFICATION


Limited family/social support/contact Normalization of sex trafficking as survival Increased fear/distrust of adults False Promises of protection to love like parent they didnt have Juvenile arrests for prostitution treatment as a criminal Feeling that no one will understand Loyalty or Traumatic attachment to Trafficker Distrust of Service Providers/Law Enforcement Fear of judgment from peers Lack of resources available while living on streets No established roots with schools/service providers Lack of access to money to afford a means to leave

VICTIM INDICATORS
Under 18 and providing commercial sex acts No control of own money or ID Use of drugs (e.g. marijuana, ecstasy, etc) Truancy and chronic absenteeism Change in friends or social group Sudden drop in school performance Rumors among other students regarding sexual activity Running away from home Unequal treatment of children from the same household

VICTIM INDICATORS
Sudden change in attire, new belongings Signs of physical abuse, restraint, or confinement Talk of new, older boyfriend Signs of untreated illness, injuries, etc. New cell phone or multiple cell phones Rapid weight loss/malnourishment Branding or suspicious tattoos Changes in attitude/emotional demeanor Presence of sexualized content or images on social media websites

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

RECOMMENDATIONS
Designate a point of contact for human trafficking related issues within your school districts Provide training for teachers, teaching aids, and school resource officers regarding CSEC Build partnerships with local law enforcement and resources within your community for at risk youth Develop protocols and reporting procedures for addressing potential victims and recruiters/controllers on your campus

CALL THE HOTLINE


Call 1-888-3737888 if you encounter red flags Note the location(s), date/times, names (if known), and physical identifiers

Polaris Project

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
U.S. Department of Education http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/oese/oshs /factsheet.html Federal Bureau of Investigation http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/civilrights/slavery.htm U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement http://www.ice.gov/pi/investigations/publicsafety /humantrafficking.htm National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline 1-888-373-7888 or www.traffickingresourcecenter.org

POLARIS PROJECT ONLINE RESOURCES

CONNECT TO POLARIS PROJECT


Join our Grassroots Network!
Connect potential victims to the hotline Connect to your online and local community

Polaris Project

You might also like