HUMAN TRAFFICKING

The following is excerpted from the website of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Fact Sheet: Human Trafficking, www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/about/fact_human.html.

Human trafficking is a form of slavery where victims are subjected to force, fraud, or coercion, for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) defines “Severe Forms of Trafficking in Persons” as:
Sex Trafficking: the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act , in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person forced to perform such an act is under the age of 18 years; or
Labor Trafficking: 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.

Human traffickers use force—rape, beatings and/or confinement—to control their victims, especially during the early stages of victimization.

Human traffickers make false offers that induce people into trafficking situations. Women and children who reply to advertisements for jobs as waitresses, maids and dancers in other countries are sometimes forced into prostitution once they arrive at their destinations.

Human traffickers coerce victims with threats of serious harm to them or their loved ones back home. Victims are also led to believe that they will be arrested or deported if they don’t follow the traffickers’ demands.

Human traffickers sometimes loan money to people to entice them to move to another country. To repay these transportation fees victims fall into debt bondage. Victims do not realize that their debts may be legally unenforceable and that it is illegal for anyone to dictate how to pay off debts.

Traffickers may also take away the victims’ travel documents and isolate them to make escape more difficult. Victims are usually not allowed to have the money they are supposed to be earning and may not know the amount of their debt. Victims who realize that their bondage is illegal or unjust are often unable to obtain help because of language, social, or physical barriers.

DOMESTIC TRAFFICKING WITHIN THE UNITED STATES

IDENTIFYING VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

The following may help identify victims:

• Is the person accompanied by another person who seems controlling (the trafficker or the pimp)?
• Are there any signs of physical or psychological abuse?
• Does the person seem submissive or fearful?
• Does the person have difficulty communicating because of language or cultural barriers?
• Does the person have any identification?

HELP FOR VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has established a Human Trafficking Information Hotline, http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/hotline/index.html (1-888-373-7888). The hotline helps intermediaries determine whether they have encountered a victim of human trafficking, connects victims to local non-governmental resources and coordinates with local social service organizations to protect and assist victims of trafficking. The hotline helps victims rebuild their lives by connecting them to basic services including: housing; health care; immigration assistance; food; income; employment; and legal assistance.
• Victims of human trafficking who are not U.S. citizens are eligible to receive benefits through the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000. Furthermore, victims of human trafficking are eligible for a "U Visa" which gives noncitizens temporary legal status and work eligibility if they are victims of criminal activity that occurred in the United States or a U.S. Territory, or that violate U.S. law. If you think someone is a victim of human trafficking, call the Trafficking Information and Referral Hotline.
• The International Institute of Connecticut, http://www.iiconn.org/, provides services to victims of trafficking in Connecticut. The Institute's Project Rescue offers language and cultural assistance, legal and immigration services, housing, health services, transportation, job training skills and referrals to other organizations for victims of trafficking.
• The Barnaba Institute, http://www.barnabainstitute.org, raises awareness about domestic human trafficking and how to identify and aid human trafficking victims. The Institute also provides preventive lectures to students and parents on how to stay safe from predators and traffickers. An Outreach Team from the Barnaba Institute provides outreach to commercially sexually exploited and trafficked youth and young adults in Connecticut. The Team conducts outreach one to three times per week. At each visit, the Team passes out health information, emergency contact information, hygiene products, packaged snacks and clothing.

TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE
Search by service names:
Crime Reporting for Victims of Human Trafficking
Crime Victim Support for Victims of Human Trafficking

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SOURCES: Polaris Project: Domestic Trafficking within the U.S., http://www.polarisproject.org/; The Barnaba Institute, http://www.barnabainstitute.org; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Fact Sheet: Human Trafficking; Office of Victim Services, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Brochure: Look Beneath the Surface; U.S. Department of State: Major Forms of Trafficking in Persons, http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2009/123126.htm.
PREPARED BY: 211/rj
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: August2011