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do? • Do you feel you were ever tricked or lied to? Were you ever promised something, but it did not happen? • Has anyone ever approached you asking you to get involved in prostitution? • Have you ever had to trade sex for money or something else you needed? Recommended Courses of Action if You Suspect Trafficking • Separate potential victim from anyone accompanying them. • Convey to victim that his or her safety & physical well-being is your highest priority. • Contact National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-3737-888) to report your concerns. The Florida Department of Health is taking a public health approach to combatting human trafficking. Given the diverse populations the Department serves, there is great potential for victims of human trafficking to come into contact with the Department. The Department is committed to moving from awareness to action in its efforts to eradicate human trafficking in Florida. What is Human Trafficking? Human Trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transporting, providing or obtaining, by any means, a person for labor or services involving forced labor, slavery or servitude in any industry, such as forced or coerced participation in agriculture, prostitution, manufacturing, or other industries or in domestic service or marriage (Freedom Network, based on the federal criminal law definitions of trafficking).Estimates in the U.S. exceed 14,500–17,500 annually, of which 80 percent are women and children. Globally, the numbers range from 600,000 to 4 million people who are trafficked worldwide each year (United Nations).SMUGGLING V. TRAFFICKING Smuggling is generally a voluntary arrangement in which a person agrees to be transported into a country through non-legal means. The relationship between the smuggler and the person being smuggled usually ends when the border is crossed. Smuggling fees are paid up front or upon arrival. This ends the transaction between the smuggler and the person smuggled into a country. In contrast, Trafficking in Persons is a crime of exploitation of labor or services. It is not voluntary. It includes threats, deception, coercion, intimidation, or use of force and does not necessarily involve a border crossing or movement from one place to another. Smuggling can turn into trafficking when threats of harm or coercion are used against the person smuggled to compel labor or services, including commercial sex acts. For example, a smuggler/ trafficker may impose new debts for the transportation provided across a border and force victims to work off those debts by holding the victim’s documents, threatening them or their family, and physically harming them. SCOPE The full dimensions of human trafficking are difficult to measure, due to levels at which trafficking goes undetected. Thus, current statistics of human trafficking are limited. Globally, it is estimated that almost 21 million people are victims of forced labor, 4.5 million of whom are victims of forced sexual exploitation.3 In the US, victims are trafficked within the country, brought into the country, and sent out of the country. This means US citizens, as well as citizens of other countries, could be victims of trafficking in the US and abroad. The federal government estimates that between 14,500 and 17,500 persons are trafficked into the US.4 At this time, there are no estimates, statistics, or data as to how many adult US citizens are victims of forced labor. Florida is one of the top three locations in the United States where human trafficking has been identified. Human trafficking in Florida flourishes in part because of its economic climate, which is largely dependent on agriculture and tourism. Certified domestic violence centers in the state of Florida have provided services to victims of all forms of trafficking. 3“Forced Labor, Human Trafficking, and Slavery” 4“Trafficking in Persons Report” 6 TRAFFICKER CHARACTERISTICS It is important to note that there are no general characteristics of traffickers. They come from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds and have varying ages, genders, and educational levels. Traffickers may be related to their victims or be complete strangers. They may work alone, with other family members, or as part of a large network.