Human Trafficking Awareness Month

By Lillian Battey

Did you know January is human trafficking awareness month? Human trafficking is a form of abuse. It happens to a lot of  different people of all ages, from adults to children and all of the in between. There are several forms of trafficking but the two main forms are sex and labor trafficking.

Sex Trafficking 

Sex trafficking happens when a person is forced, manipulated, or coerced into performing sexual acts. That means they are forced to partake in prostitution, pornography, escorting, or other forms of sexual exploitation.

Victims of sex trafficking may include:

• Runaway of homeless youth  

• Children or teens 

• People struggling with addiction or mental health challenges

• Survivors of abuse or neglect

• Individuals experiencing poverty or instability

Labor Trafficking 

Labor trafficking is forcing people to work under abusive or exploitative conditions. There is little or no pay as well. Victims may be threatened with violence, deportation, job loss, or financial harm if they attempt to leave.

Labor trafficking can occur in industries such as:

• Agriculture and farming 

• Domestic work and housekeeping 

• Restaurants and food service

• Landscaping and cleaning services

• Construction 

• Factories and warehouses

The victims may work long hours, have their identification withheld, live where they work, and be isolated from the outside world. 

How the traffickers operate

1. Targeting vulnerabilities 

Traffickers look for people who experience hardships-financial stress, homelessness, abuse, isolation or unmet emotional needs. Vulnerabilities create opportunity. Doesn't mean you can't be vulnerable. You can be vulnerable just To protect yourself, know who you're talking to, and make sure it's not strangers, make sure it's people you trust. 

2. Grooming and Trust-building

Traffickers  may offer affection, gifts, protection, job opportunities, or promise of a better life over time that builds emotional dependence. Grooming  manipulates people and it gains trust quicker. That's why most traffickers use grooming. 

3. Gradual control 

Once trust is established, traffickers introduce rules, debt, or expectation. Control often escalates slowly, making it harder for the victims to recognize what's happening to them. Soon it will become harder for them to have control of their own life. The traffickers  will soon have full control over them. 

4. Isolation 

Victims may be cut off from friends, family, or community support. Phones, transportation, or identification may be restricted. Traffickers love control and if they don't have control they will lose it as in not letting you do anything with anyone.

5. Fear and threats 

Threats may be physical, emotional, financial, or legal. Many victims fear punishment, shame, or consequences if they seek help. If the victims seek help they will get punished as in getting beaten, starved, and locked in a room for days.

I am lucky enough to know an advocate against human trafficking. I interviewed Katie Gregory who works at  Kids FIRST as a Victim Advocate and Trafficking Intervention Coordinator for the Lane County CSEC (Commercial Exploitation of Children) Task Force. There are two different ways Kaitie works. She either goes out to the community and can help report trafficking, or the kids and adults go to her center.  I asked Katie how often human trafficking happens in Oregon and the United States. “According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, in 2024, 227 victims of human trafficking were identified in Oregon. In 2024, 21,865 victims of human trafficking were identified nationally. As with other forms of abuse and violence, human trafficking is often under-reported which impacts statistics.” says Katie.

Who does human trafficking affect most? Gregory said “ Human trafficking can happen to anyone, at any age but certain populations are at greater risk, including people affected by abuse, violence, poverty, unstable living situations, or social disconnection.” says Katie. She says it’s helpful to do the following: 

1)  “Know the Facts - Understanding how human trafficking occurs is the first step in combating it. Trafficking happens both locally and globally, and it often targets vulnerable youth.

2) Educate yourself on the contributing factors—such as economic hardships, lack of education, and social isolation—can help you identify ways to prevent it. 3)  Increase Education and Training - Training and education are critical in identifying and preventing human trafficking. Participating in workshops or training programs can equip you with the knowledge and skills to recognize vulnerable populations, who the traffickers are, how traffickers lure people in, and how to respond to trafficking situations.

4) Talk to Others, Including Kids - Open communication is key. It’s never too early to start talking to children and answering their questions in an age-appropriate way and have conversations around healthy relationships and boundaries. “  It's important to know the signs and say something if you see something.

This is how we can keep our communities and loved ones safe. Gregory said “Identify supportive, trusted and safe adults in your life that you can talk to, learn what healthy relationships look like, practice safe boundaries, consent and refusal skills, and understand online safety and use strong digital privacy settings”

After talking with Gregory I have learned the signs to look out for.  "Some signs of human trafficking we see in our community are those seeking frequent treatment for sexually transmitted infections and injuries, engaging in substance use, experiencing houselessness, avoiding answering questions or letting others speak for them, having a romantic partner who is noticeably older, confusing or contradicting stories, being in possession of material goods inconsistent to the person's access to money or socioeconomic status, and youth who chronically run away from home/placement. It's important to remember that this list is not exhaustive and that these examples are only indicators not confirmation of human trafficking - a person may have several indicators but not be a victim of human trafficking.”

Ultimately we all have a responsibility to look out for one another and if you see something say something. There are many different ways to report human trafficking. Remember this affects all ages, genders, and nationalities, if you see something say something. 

To report human trafficking call 1-888-373-7888

How to report human trafficking 

• WHO you saw.

• WHAT you saw.

• WHEN you saw it.

• WHERE it occurred.

• WHY it is suspicious.

Work Cited

Steps to Hope. “What Is Human Trafficking? Signs, Facts, and How It Affects Our Communities.” What Is Human Trafficking? Signs, Facts, and How It Affects Our Communities, steps to hope, 1 Jan 2026, https://www.stepstohope.org/blog/what-is-human-trafficking-signs-facts-and-how-it-affects-our-communities  Accessed 1 Jan 2026