In the United States, January is designated as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. January holds historical significance in American history because it marks the month that President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. This document was signed during the American Civil War to make slavery illegal, and the divisions that slavery created have fundamentally changed American society. Using January as a month to think about slavery’s continued impact and human rights in general is an important educational tool.
Photo: U.S. Department of Defense
What is Human Trafficking?
Slavery on a large scale is a part of history now, but a new form of abuse has risen: human trafficking. Human trafficking is often called “the new slavery.” Like slavery, human trafficking is a violation of human rights and threatens security around the world. According to the U.S. Department of State, “By some estimates, as many as 24.9 million people — adults and children — are trapped in a form of human trafficking around the world, including in the United States.” In countries like the United States and Ukraine, it can be hard to recognize human trafficking because traffickers know the law and plan elaborate schemes. No matter where you live, human trafficking is most commonly categorized into forced labor or sex trafficking.
Forced labor is relatively broader than sex trafficking. It can include a variety of activities, such as domestic servitude and child labor. A portion of people fall into forced labor through consenting to faulty contracts to pay off their debts, and in the United States, it is illegal to do unpaid work to finance debt. In other cases, debt can be inherited from a parent or another family member. Another unique challenge of identifying forced labor trafficking is the domestic servitude field because there are relatively undefined working conditions and hours. Domestic servants living in poor conditions can easily become disconnected from the rest of society.
Sex trafficking is the other category of human trafficking recognized by the U.S. Department of State. Sex trafficking includes recruiting, enticing, harboring, transporting, providing, obtaining, advertising, maintaining, patronizing, or soliciting a person into being exploited. Similar to forced labor, sex trafficking can involve minors. Though sex trafficking and forced labor are two of the most common types of human trafficking, there are many other forms of abuse that might not fit into either category. Regardless, splitting trafficking into two categories can help us better identify risky situations for ourselves and others.
How Can I Identify Human Trafficking?
The best way that you can help prevent trafficking is by learning about the signs of human trafficking and what you can do to report it. Though levels of human trafficking are relatively low in the United States and Ukraine, it still happens. In fact, human traffickers may be more discrete in countries with robust human trafficking laws because they know the repercussions. If you ever wonder if you have witnessed a person performing unwanted acts or working for no wages, you can refer to the United Nations’ diagram. Trafficking takes many different forms, and this diagram helps us understand what different types of trafficking may look like.
There are also other signs that you may observe in the trafficker or the victim. The trafficker may be controlling, older than the victim, and vague about details of their life. On the other hand, the victim may have bruises, a dramatic shift in lifestyle, or seem tired and distracted. Sharing the signs of human trafficking with your friends and family can also be a simple yet effective way to spread awareness. The more that we know about the signs of domestic trafficking, the better we can prevent people from putting themselves in a bad situation and communicate what we see with law enforcement and investigators.
How Can I Report Human Trafficking?
If you see human trafficking, the best thing that you can do is to report it to your local authorities. Time is crucial because human traffickers are often on the move. If they stay in one spot for too long, there is a higher chance that someone will notice their actions and call the police. As an observer, make notes about when and where you might have seen the incident. What kind of car were they driving? What were the people wearing? Knowing these details will expedite the investigation.
The Ukrainian National Counter-Trafficking and Migrant Advice Hotline is jointly run by La Strada International and the Democracy Development Center. You can reach the hotline by either dialing 527 or 0 800 505 501. The United States has a hotline that can be reached at 1 (888) 373-7888. In America, there is also the option to text or live chat with a case manager at National Human Trafficking Hotline. If for some reason you aren’t able to get through to the hotline in your country, you can also contact your local police station.
Photo: Kyiv Post
Hopefully, after reading this article, you feel more informed about how to react if you see an unsafe situation transpire in your community. Even if you question whether or not you saw human trafficking, reaching out to one of the hotlines can put you in contact with a professional who can further explore the information that you shared with them. Human trafficking can happen anywhere, no matter how safe your town may seem. Keep your eyes open, and use your knowledge and best judgment.
Vocabulary list:
designate (v.) - to appoint a thing or person
fundamentally (adv.) - something at its core or its root
violation (n.) - something that breaks a rule or law
threaten (v.) - to tell someone that you will be violent if they do not take action
elaborated (adj.) - detailed or well-planned
relatively (adv.) - in relation or comparison
domestic servitude (n.) - working and living in someone’s private home and helping them with tasks, like cooking, cleaning, and childcare
faulty (adj.) - something that doesn’t function as it should
inherited (adj.) - passed down from parent to child
undefined (adj.) - not clear
entice (v.) - to attract or tempt someone with an offer
harbor (v.) - to hide or shelter
patronize (v.) - to purchase something as a customer
solicit (v.) - to ask for something
discrete (adj.) - unseen or out of view
repercussion (n.) - a consequence of an action
vague (adj.) - unclear or not definite
investigator (n.) - a person who researches an issue and uncovers more information
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bridgette Lang is an undergraduate student studying International Relations at Boston University. On campus, she helps run a collegiate Model United Nations Conference and manages finances for BU College Democrats. In her free time, Bridgette enjoys traveling, trying to learn Spanish, and visiting with her friends and family back home in Pennsylvania.