What is Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking is the exploitation of individuals through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for things such as labor or commercial sex. Each year, millions of people, including women, me, and children, are trafficked all across the globe, including within the United States. Human trafficking can occur in any community and victims come from all different backgrounds. 

Traffickers typically look for people who are easy targets, such as those who experience:

Traffickers may use specific methods to lure their victims into trafficking situations:


Trafficking of Undocumented Children. 

While child trafficking can look the same for each victim, undocumented children who are trafficked have a unique experience as they have key vulnerabilities. For example, unaccompanied children who are migrating are especially vulnerable to being trafficked as they are traveling without a parent or guardian. There is also a lack of oversight from the government and legal protection. They may be extorted for smuggling fees or forced to pay off any acquired debt while in transit countries. They can also be forced to work in a multitude of sectors such as agriculture, mining, or manufacturing. 

Educational Resources: Different Types of Trafficking.

Sex Trafficking: Sex trafficking is a type of human trafficking, and is a form of modern day slavery. This could look like children being controlled by an adult ("boyfriend", family member, pimp), staying in hotels or constantly moving spaces, fearful, withdrawn, or coached when talking to others.

Learn more about child sex trafficking here: https://www.cdc.gov/sexual-violence/about/about-sex-trafficking.html

Labor Trafficking: Labor trafficking is a form of human trafficking which involves individuals being coerced, deceived, or forced into working under exploitative conditions. This could look like children working long hours in unsafe conditions, pulled out of school to work, lured with false promises. 

Learn more about child labor trafficking here: https://polarisproject.org/labor-trafficking/. 

Domestic Servitude: Domestic servitude is considered to be a form of modern day slavery where people are forced to work in private homes doing daily tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and taking care of children. This could look like a child being subjected to harmful abuse such as working excessive hours, doing hazardous tasks, and overall violence and neglect. 

Learn more about child domestic servitude here: https://www.freedomfund.org/what-is-modern-slavery/child-domestic-work/

Forced Criminal Activity: This type of trafficking happens when the victim is exploited and forced to engage in a plethora of illegal activity sich as begging, street crimes, and drug trafficking. 

Learn more about children and forced criminal activity here: https://www.unodc.org/e4j/data/_university_uni_/child_trafficking_for_exploitation_in_forced_criminal_activities_and_forced_begging.html?lng=en