The Signs of Slavery: Indicators that an individual is being held in captivity
RED FLAGS TO LOOK OUT FOR A TRAFFICKING VICTIM:
-Living with Employer
-Poor Living Conditions
-Multiple People in Cramped Space
-Inability to Speak to an Individual Alone
-Employer Holding Identity Documents
-Signs of Physical Abuse
-Submissive or Fearful
-Unpaid or Paid Very Little
-Under 18 and in Prostitution
-Heavy security at the commercial establishment including barred windows, locked doors, isolated location, electronic surveillance. Women are never seen leaving the premises unless escorted. Victims live at the same premises as the brothel or work site or are driven between quarters and "work" by a guard.
-For labor trafficking, victims are often prohibited from leaving the work site, which may look like a guarded compound from the outside.
-Victims are kept under surveillance when taken to a doctor, hospital or clinic for treatment; trafficker may act as a translator.
-High foot traffic especially for brothels where there may be trafficked women indicated often by a stream of men arriving and leaving the premises.
IF YOU ARE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS OF A PERSON YOU THINK HAS BEEN TRAFFICKED, THESE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO ASK:
-Can You Leave Your Job if You Want?
-Can You Come and Go as You Please?
-Have You Been Hurt or Threatened if You Tried to Leave?
-Has Your Family Been Threatened?
-Do You Live With Your Employer?
-Where Do You Sleep and Eat?
-Are You in Debt to Your Employer?
-How did you arrive at this destination?
-Do You Have Your Passport/ID? If Not, Who Has It?
INDICATORS THAT OFTEN POINT TO A PERSON HELD IN A TRAFFICKING CONDITION:
Health Characteristics of a Trafficked Person
Some of the health problems that may be evident in a victim include:
-Malnutrition, dehydration or poor personal hygiene
-Sexually transmitted diseases
-Signs of rape or sexual abuse
-Bruising, broken bones, or other signs of untreated medical problems
-Critical illnesses including diabetes, cancer or heart disease
-Post-traumatic stress or psychological disorders
You don't want to create a situation that puts the victim in danger, so ask questions with great care and sensativity. The person may be traumatized or too fearful to speak about their experience and most victims will not easily volunteer information because of the abuse and fear they have suffered at the hands of their trafficker. The following indicators in and of themselves may not be enough to meet the legal standard for trafficking, but they indicate that a victim is controlled by someone else and, accordingly, the situation should be further investigated.
REPORT INSTANCES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING:
If you suspect someone has been trafficked, call the:
Department of Health and Human Services-sponsored, toll-free, 24 hour
NATIONAL HOTLINE: +1-888-3737-888
or
Department of Justice-sponsored, toll-free, 24 hour
Trafficking in Persons and Worker Exploitation Task Force Complaint Line
+1-888-428-7581
These hotlines will help you determine if you have encountered victims of human trafficking, will identify local resources available in your community to help victims, and will help you coordinate with local social service organizations.
**This information was quoted from HumanTrafficking.org and all of the material on this page is credited to the Academy For Educational Development**
