Human Trafficking
Signs
Recognizing Labor Trafficking
Labor trafficking includes situations where men, women, and children are forced to work because of debt, immigration status, threats and violence. Keeping victims isolated — physically or emotionally — is a key method of control in most labor trafficking situations. But that does not mean you never cross paths with someone who is experiencing trafficking.
Someone may be experiencing labor trafficking or exploitation if they:
Recognizing Sex Trafficking
Sex trafficking occurs when individuals are made to perform commercial sex through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. Any child under 18 who is involved in commercial sex is legally a victim of trafficking, regardless of whether there is a third party involved.
Someone may be experiencing sex trafficking if they:
Source: https://humantraffickinghotline.org
Recognizing Labor Trafficking
Labor trafficking includes situations where men, women, and children are forced to work because of debt, immigration status, threats and violence. Keeping victims isolated — physically or emotionally — is a key method of control in most labor trafficking situations. But that does not mean you never cross paths with someone who is experiencing trafficking.
Someone may be experiencing labor trafficking or exploitation if they:
- Feel pressured by their employer to stay in a job or situation they want to leave
- Owe money to an employer or recruiter or are not being paid what they were promised or are owed
- Do not have control of their passport or other identity documents
- Are living and working in isolated conditions, largely cut off from interaction with others or support systems
- Appear to be monitored by another person when talking or interacting with others
- Are being threatened by their boss with deportation or other harm
- Are working in dangerous conditions without proper safety gear, training, adequate breaks, or other protections
- Are living in dangerous, overcrowded, or inhumane conditions provided by an employer
Recognizing Sex Trafficking
Sex trafficking occurs when individuals are made to perform commercial sex through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. Any child under 18 who is involved in commercial sex is legally a victim of trafficking, regardless of whether there is a third party involved.
Someone may be experiencing sex trafficking if they:
- Want to stop participating in commercial sex but feel scared or unable to leave the situation.
- Disclose that they were reluctant to engage in commercial sex but that someone pressured them into it.
- Live where they work or are transported by guards between home and workplace.
- Are children who live with or are dependent on a family member with a substance use problem or who is abusive.
- Have a “pimp” or “manager” in the commercial sex industry.
- Work in an industry where it may be common to be pressured into performing sex acts for money, such as a strip club, illicit cantina, go-go bar, or illicit massage business.
- Have a controlling parent, guardian, romantic partner, or “sponsor” who will not allow them to meet or speak with anyone alone or who monitors their movements, spending, or communications.
Source: https://humantraffickinghotline.org
Seasonal Depression
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), also known as seasonal depression, is brought on by the change of seasons. The lower levels of sunlight can reduce the serotonin levels in our brains. Symptoms of SAD can be feelings of hopelessness, irritability, reduced energy, and sleep disorders. At most risk of being affected by SAD are individuals who have experienced trauma. Victims of gender-based violence may be more vulnerable to depression. Women, youth, and the elderly are also at increased risk of being diagnosed with SAD.
Listen to Dr. Larry Carnes about coping skills at:
https://youtu.be/uOKeneI8ayY
Listen to Dr. Larry Carnes about coping skills at:
https://youtu.be/uOKeneI8ayY
The Story of a Butterfly
In the life of a Survivor, we go through states, just like a butterfly.
First as a caterpillar, a Victim if you will.
In this stage we are not yet who we can be. We have not yet reached our full potential. We are stuck in a body we know we don’t belong in, yet we cannot escape it.
Then we reach our Chrysalis stage.
A stage of healing, stage of transformation. We reach for freedom and obtain it, only to have many obstacles in our way. We must regroup, and take a look inside ourselves for strength. Time taken to heal ourselves and start our transformation to who we really are, to reach towards our full potential.
Then finally, we get to spread our wings…..
A beautiful Butterfly is Created.
We finally reach our goal as Survivors, as get to glorify in our freedom.
Know that we are no longer the caterpillar, trapped in what we can accomplish, no longer held back. There are no limits, the world is now open to us.
We get to soar to new heights, try new things, spread our wings and truly fly!
First as a caterpillar, a Victim if you will.
In this stage we are not yet who we can be. We have not yet reached our full potential. We are stuck in a body we know we don’t belong in, yet we cannot escape it.
Then we reach our Chrysalis stage.
A stage of healing, stage of transformation. We reach for freedom and obtain it, only to have many obstacles in our way. We must regroup, and take a look inside ourselves for strength. Time taken to heal ourselves and start our transformation to who we really are, to reach towards our full potential.
Then finally, we get to spread our wings…..
A beautiful Butterfly is Created.
We finally reach our goal as Survivors, as get to glorify in our freedom.
Know that we are no longer the caterpillar, trapped in what we can accomplish, no longer held back. There are no limits, the world is now open to us.
We get to soar to new heights, try new things, spread our wings and truly fly!