The first step to making a difference and preventing Sex Trafficking is knowing what it is, who is involved and learning about it so you can identify it.
What is Sex Trafficking – The crime of using force, fraud, coercion to make an adult of child perform commercial sex acts.
What is a Commercial Sex Act – Any type of sexual performance done in exchange for anything of value, such as money, drugs, shelter, food, or clothes, etc.
Who is at risk – Victim/survivors don’t fit into one category. Sex traffickers look for victims that may be of any culture, socio-economic status, education level, or gender. Most commonly though, people with vulnerabilities are the most likely targets for sex trafficking. Traffickers often look for victims who have some kind of need, typically one that is physical and/or emotional that they can fulfill.
People with the following vulnerabilities are typically targeted (this is not an exhaustive list)
• Minors
• Runaways / Foster Care
• Those with low self-esteem / depression
• History of sexual / physical / emotional abuse
• Low income / homelessness
• Family substance abuse / self-substance abuse
• Developmental / physical disability
• Lack of a support system
Grooming – Traffickers are very patient people. They will groom their victims for months and even years before finally exploiting the victims.
Luring – This stage is to gain the trust of the victim. The trafficker starts by making a connection with the victim and building a relationship. They connect by phone, online or in person and start meeting their emotional needs by telling them things they want to hear (“you’re so beautiful”, “I am here for you”, etc.)
Gaining information and trust – As the trafficker plays the part of a caring person, they find out more about their immediate needs and situation and start to meet their physical wants and needs by buying them things, taking them out to eat, traffickers even go as far as moving into a neighborhood to make connections with someone they have been watching.
Isolation – Once the trafficker has gained the trust and secured a relationship with the victim. They want to victim to become completely dependent on them for all their physical and emotional needs. They will make negative comments about the victim’s family and friends so they will start to see them in a negative light and become isolated from them.
Manipulation and Coercion – Traffickers will use this to ensure continued participation in exploitation making victims feel as if they have no choice but to stay and participate in a sex act as repayment. They use tactics such as physical / emotional / psychological abuse and threats of violence towards them or loved ones. Many victims feel they have no other option because a need is being fulfilled and they have nowhere else to turn.
RED FLAGS OF SEX TRAFFICKING
Victim has to check in frequently with controlling spouse/partner
Sexually explicit pictures on phones or websites
More than one cellphone
Multiple STIs / pregnancies / abortions
Brandings or tattoos (“property of”, “daddy’s”, barcode)
New clothes / gifts / trips they can’t afford or explain
Unexplained injuries, bruises, cuts, etc.
Paranoid behavior / Secrecy / Defensiveness
Coming and going at unusual and/or late hours
Withdrawal from family and friends