Lighthouse Operators

Who are victims? Sex trafficking victims can be found in many industries, including massage parlors, brothels, escort services, and strip clubs. While some myths suggest that only women and girls are victims, one study estimates that up to half of victims may be male. LGBTQ boys and young men are also considered particularly vulnerable. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse, people living in poverty, and those who are unemployed or homeless are also at higher risk.

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What is human trafficking? Amy is an 18 year old woman from Cleveland. Her uncle, David lives in Atlanta, Georgia, but occasionally comes home. On one of his visits, Uncle David tells Amy that there are good restaurant jobs in Atlanta for young women. He says that if she comes to Atlanta with him, he will help her find a good job so that she can earn a lot of money. Amy agrees to go to Georgia, but when they arrive in Atlanta, he takes away her ID documents, including her passport. Uncle David tells Amy that she must pay for all their living expenses by working as a prostitute. Amy is very afraid, but when she refuses, he threatens to kill her. Eventually, after being threatened and beaten, Amy agrees to work as a prostitute for her uncle. Amy is a victim of human trafficking.

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Why don’t victims of trafficking try to escape? Traffickers use many kinds of tricks to discourage their victims from escaping. One common ploy is to confiscate the victim’s passport once she is in the destination country, while telling her that if she escapes, the police will imprison her for being an illegal immigrant. Another trick, known as “debt bondage”, is to have the victim sign a contract that says she will pay the trafficker for transportation services, making her believe she must pay the debt even if she is forced to work in deplorable conditions. Some victims are locked up and not allowed to leave the premises where they are being exploited. Many are beaten, raped, and tortured by their traffickers so that they will be too afraid to try to escape. A trafficker may also threaten to harm the victim’s family if she does not agree to his demands.

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Can traffickers be family? Yes! It’s not uncommon for a trafficker to be a relative, family friend, or even a significant other. One study found that in child trafficking cases, over 60 percent of the victims are familiar with their traffickers. Coercing a victim into forced sex or labor can be easier if the predator has a connection to the victim. The number one type of trafficking is familial especially in the US.

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How do traffickers groom their victims to enter into the life of human trafficking? Human trafficking is less obvious then we might imagine. Movies and pop culture often paint the picture that human trafficking cases involve a dramatic abduction, but this only happens 5% of the time. Instead, in almost every instance, traffickers create a relationship with a victim so that he or she can exploit that relationship for profit. This process takes time and intentionality, and victims are often isolated and vulnerable long before they meet a trafficker. Traffickers take advantage of a victim’s vulnerabilities, which might include drug addiction, mental illness, homelessness, low self-esteem, or the need to belong. They might offer gifts, make promises, or confess love. Then, once trust is built, the trafficker uses force, fraud, or coercion to make a person submit to the life of human trafficking.

 

What role, if any, does pornography play in sex trafficking? Porn plays a major role in perpetuating sex trafficking. Unfortunately, there is a misconception that all porn is consensual and harmless for both the participant and the viewer. There is nothing harmless about porn. The consumption of pornography supports the sex trade industry, which feeds the business of human trafficking. There are also long-term harmful effects to the viewer. This brief article from End Slavery Now gives a great explanation about the role of porn in the sex trafficking industry.