Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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.
Polaris Project
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
Local: Currently, 49/50 states have specific laws against human trafficking.
Sex Trafficking
Labor Trafficking
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
POPULATIONS AFFECTED
Sex Trafficking
Adults U.S. Citizen and Foreign Nationals
Labor Trafficking
Adults and minors U.S. Citizen and Foreign Nationals
Minors
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)
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
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?
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)
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
NHTRC (2007-2012)
Sex Trafficking
Pimp Controlled Trafficking Internet-Based Commercial Sex Pornography
Labor Trafficking
Peddling Rings Domestic Work Restaurant/Food Service
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
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
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