DAY 20 - 20 identifiers

When I attended the Human Trafficking training course in November of 2011, I was given a list of 20 clues to help indentify domestic minor victims of sex trafficking.  Of course, we need to use wisdom in using these identifiers.  For example, just because a child is using drugs or alcohol and is truant from school does not mean that she is a victim of trafficking.  Many times, it is the people who see or know these girls in a more intimate context that will be better able to identify her situation.  People like teachers, doctors or nurses, therapists, social workers, friends, family members, etc.   

1.  Hotel room keys
2.  Numerous school absences
3.  False ID's and lying about age
4.  Teen's dating much older, abusive, controlling men
5.  Having large amounts of cash, jewelry, new clothes
6.  Reccurent STD's or sexually transmitted infections
7.  Signs of physical assault including:  branding or tattooing, broken bones, black eyes, etc.
8.  Disappearing for blocks at a time, Chronic runaway
9.  Inconsistenties in stories
10.  Restricted and strict communication
11.  Substance use and abuse
12.  Bruising or injury
13.  Exhaustion, fear, anxiety, depression
14.  Increase in mental health symptoms
15.  Extreme weight loss
16.  Lack of knowledge about a given community or whereabouts
17.  Needing pregnancy tests frequently
18.  Pagers or cell phones not paid by parents or guardians
19.  Inability or fear to make eye contact
20.  Involved in foster care system and child protective services

If you believe someone you know is a victim of sex trafficking, it is your responsibility to report it.  Call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center HOTLINE, 1-888-3737-888.  Call specialists are available ALL the time.  All reports are confidential.

DAY 17 - Definitions and Identifiers

"Advocates and state agencies have identified at least 17 countries from which people have been trafficked to Wisconsin."  http://www.wisconsinwatch.org/2011/08/07/human-trafficking-in-the-heartland/

One of the most significant findings of a survey done in WI is that awareness and understanding of the terms "human trafficking" is limited.  Below you will find "human trafficking" clearly defined.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING AS DEFINED BY 2007 WISCONSIN ACT 116 (MARCH 3, 2008) 1) Knowingly RECRUITING or ENTICING or HARBORING or TRANSPORTING or PROVIDING or OBTAINING an individual without consent of the individual or attempting to do so

2) by
a) causing or threatening to cause bodily harm to any individual or
b) causing or threatening to cause financial harm to any individual or
c) restraining or threatening to restrain any individual or
d) extortion or e) fraud or deception or
e) debt bondage or g) controlling any individual’s access to an addictive controlled substance or
f) using any scheme or pattern to cause an individual to believe that any individual would suffer bodily harm, financial harm, restraint, or other harm

3) for the purpose of
a) commercial sex acts or
b) labor or services.
c) Human Trafficking is also defined similarly (but not identically) by Federal Law.

CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING AS SPECIFICALLY DEFINED BY WISCONSIN LAW

1) Knowingly RECRUITING or ENTICING or HARBORING or TRANSPORTING or PROVIDING or OBTAINING a child or attempting to do so

2) for the purpose of
a) commercial sex acts or
b) sexually explicit performance.

3) No force, fraud or coercion is required in child sex trafficking. 

 Knowing these definitions will aid you in identifying victims of human trafficking.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has initiated the Rescue & Restore campaign to help identify and assist victims of human trafficking in the United States.  They have provided the following victim identifiers:

• Evidence of being controlled
• Evidence of an inability to move or leave job
• Bruises or other signs of battering
• Fear or depression
• Non-English speaking
• Recently brought to this country from Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America, Canada, Africa or India
• Lack of passport, immigration or identification documentation

Traffickers use various techniques to keep victims enslaved. Some traffickers keep their victims under lock and key. However, the more frequent practice is to use less obvious techniques including:

• Debt bondage – financial obligations, honor-bound to satisfy debt
• Isolation from the public – limiting contact with outsiders and making sure that any contact is monitored or superficial in nature
• Isolation from family members and members of their ethnic and religious community
• Confiscation of passports, visas and/or identification documents
• Use or threat of violence toward victims and/or families of victims
• The threat of shaming victims by exposing circumstances to family
• Telling victims they will be imprisoned or deported for immigration violations if they contact authorities
• Control of the victims' money, e.g., holding their money for “safe-keeping”

The result of such techniques is to instill fear in victims. The victims’ isolation is further exacerbated because many do not speak English and are from countries where law enforcement is corrupt and feared.

If you think you know someone who has been trafficked, it's important to understand your role.  Are you a health care provider?  Are you a social worker or counselor?  Are you a police officer?  If you are just a friend or acquaintance, it's important NOT to question the victim, but instead report what you know to the HOTLINE.  This was something that stuck in my mind after I heard it at a human trafficking training that I took in November of 2011.  Asking, "Can you leave your job? or Does your boss physically hurt you?" is okay, but it's important not to ask for details.  These questions must be left to the professionals.