The gleaner Human trafficking in Jamaica - watch the red light

Published: Sunday | December 1, 2013 0 Comments Orville Taylor, Contributor Slavery exists in Jamaica, and it is not of the mental type only. If that were so, the problem would be a humongous one, because hundreds of thousands of party faithful, wrapped incessantly in green and orange cloth, can't liberate themselves enough to realise that our leaders have kept them like sheep. However, that is not the issue this time. I am actually talking about persons being held against their will, across national or parish boundaries. Last week, I hosted a forum at the UWI, and despite the existing knowledge and research that I have had at my disposal, the disgusting picture of human trafficking hit me in the face like the incriminating odour of stale jackfruit on one's fingers. The transportation of living human flesh for the purposes of exploitation and sexploitation is big business. Globally, the illicit flow of goods, armaments, humans and natural resources is estimated to be worth some US$650 billion. Illegal drugs account for more than half that figure, but as a source of blood money, at US$32 billion, people trafficking tops the illegal trade in wildlife, ivory and blood diamonds. Only the international arms dealers and drug smuggling earn more from criminal enterprises. An estimated 20 to 30 million persons have been trafficked for exploitation worldwide. Of that number, only 46,570, a mere fraction of one per cent, were identified in 2012. The International Labour Organisation, my favourite UN body, estimates that around 68 per cent are kept under conditions of forced labour, while another 22 per cent are forced into various forms of sexual exploitation, and incredibly, 10 per cent of them are in situations of coerced labour, where the government is complicit or actually imposes it. Women and girls comprise more than half of all those in forced labour and around 98 per cent of individuals transported for sex trafficking. More than a quarter of sexually exploited females are children under the age of 18. Last year, some 4,746 convictions for human trafficking were recorded globally, with the majority of those being for sexual offences. THE BIGGER PICTURE

It might seem like a simple matter, but there is a problem with human trafficking in this country, the land of wood, water and now contraband people. But let's start with the positive. Recently, Jamaica was upgraded by the US Department of State to Tier 2. This means that although the Government does not fully comply with the minimum standards, we are making significant efforts to achieve compliance with its standards. Much work has been done by the police, with its specialised Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Intellectual Property Vice Unit. Last year, more than 200 raids led to the rescue of more than 24 children, including 21 Honduran boys. With more than 40 persons being rescued in recent times, victims range in nationality from Haitian, to Burmese, to Indians, among others. Still, Jamaicans are also involved as both victims and perpetrators. True, Government had, in early 2007, enacted its Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Suppression and Punishment) Act. It was amended in 2009 and has seen support in other legislation passed, including the Cybercrime Act 2010, and the Child Pornography (Prevention) Act, 2010. Nonetheless, Sybil Ricketts and Leith Dunn, conducting a study in 2007, observed, "... Human trafficking is a serious issue and should not be taken lightly. It is not limited to females only, even though females constitute the greater number of victims." Interestingly, many of the females did not consider themselves victims or exploited, and many of them were sometimes physically, emotionally and mentally abused. Most disturbing was that "girls as young as 13 years are full-fledged prostitutes. Some of them are living on their own, while others are taken to holding areas in the community and are used as dancers in the more popular nightclubs." The numbers are unimportant, because even a single case is one too many. Shockingly, the persons who are the traffickers and exploiters have been reported by the police as being unanimously female. This suggests something about the victim cycle, as previous victims become victimisers. Notwithstanding the research and the legislative steps being taken by the Jamaican Government, the United States Department of State placed the red mark against the country in 2012, declaring that "Jamaica is a source, transit, and destination country for adults and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labour. The exploitation of local children in the sex trade, a form of sex trafficking, remains a problem." It further argued that the Jamaican press, the freest media in the hemisphere, which digs out its own dirt, "... has reported that pimps are luring Jamaican children under age 18 into prostitution, especially in urban areas in Jamaica." Consequently, it penalised the country with a Tier 2 watch rating because it feels that Jamaica "does not fully comply" with the standards. Thankfully, we are better off in 2013 than we were last year. While there is a self-acknowledged problem, it is with some irony that the Americans, who recognise that the "... United States is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women,

and children - both US citizens and foreign nationals - subjected to forced labour, debt bondage, involuntary servitude, and sex trafficking", could make such a judgement. Furthermore, the (American) National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reveals that "at least 100,000 children across the country are trafficked each year". Doubtless, Jamaica is doing things to reduce the spread of this scourge and blight on the nation. Our Ministry of Labour has a unit that deals with the subject, and along with the justice ministry, it is spreading the information. However, there are some puzzling questions. For example, how does a person enter into Jamaica via immigration and get to work in store as a clerk or a wholesale worker when those skills are not in short supply or high demand? There are some loopholes in the system that must be plugged. Evidence suggests that the Internet has become a feeding ground for the predators, who are so skilful they could probably balance the budget while giving interviews to the public on matters of national interest daily. A simple rule exists: if it sounds too good to be true, it likely is. There are some basic guidelines I would like to share with the public. If you see an offer with a private recruiting agency, please check with the Ministry of Labour to see if it is registered. Also, research to see whether or not anyone you know has returned with good stories. Furthermore, if you notice strange persons in your neighbourhood who seem glued on to the house interior to the extent that their complexion turns aquamarine, call the cops. Pay also particular attention to those households with non-Jamaicans where persons are packed into small numbers of bedrooms like canned mackerel. I am aware that this is a slight departure from the regular commentary, and the Jamaican numbers are small compared to other countries.. But imagine if the one or two persons being exploited are your missing relatives. More anon. Dr Orville Taylor is senior lecturer in sociology at the UWI and a radio talk-show host. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and tayloronblackline@hotmail.com.

The Jamaican observer

Jamaican police rescue 27 human trafficking victims over two years
Friday, January 31, 2014 | 6:24 PM

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) says it has rescued 27 human trafficking victims over the past two years, and 41 in total. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Carl Williams, seven of the cases are before the courts, while 28 are being probed, four of which involve transnational investigations. DCP Williams, who was addressing the opening ceremony for a four-day Trafficking in Persons (TIP) unit training seminar on Thursday at the Sunset Jamaica Grande in Ocho Rios, credited the achievements to the collaborative efforts of the JCFs various units, and the vibrant partnership with agencies, both locally and overseas. According to Williams the gains made have resulted in Jamaica being upgraded from the US State Departments Tier 2 Watch list to Tier 2.

Proceeds from human trafficking is valued at approximately US$32 billion per annum, and is regarded by the United Nations as one of the fastest growing transnational organised criminal activities in the world.

Ministry of justice
Combating Trafficking in Persons in Jamaica
The National Taskforce against Trafficking in Persons (NATFATIP) was established in June 2005 as a multi agency approach to enhance national capacity and to develop and implement Jamaicas legislative, institutional and operational response for combating Trafficking in Persons. NATFATIPs core emphases are the prevention and suppression of Trafficking in Persons; the prosecution of offenders; as well as the protection and provision of assistance to victims of trafficking. In keeping with domestic legislation- the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Suppression and Punishment) Act, 2007- trafficking in persons is defined by three criteria: 1. 2. Activity: The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons. Means: By means of threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power, or a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person. Purpose: for the purpose of exploitation.

3.

www.jamaica-kidz.com
TRAFFICKING IN CHILDREN CALLING ALL JAMAICANS - BEWARE OF MODERN DAY SLAVERY also known as "Trafficking in Children" or "Trafficking in Persons" What is Trafficking? Trafficking is when persons, especially women and children, are fooled up or forced into being taken from one part of Jamaica to another, or from Jamaica to another country, where they are forced to work, usually in prostitution. In some cases children's body organs (such as heart, liver, kidneys) are cut out in an operation, and sold. PACT's Pilot Project on Trafficking Focuses on Prevention With funding from USAID, PACT (People's Action for Community Transformation) operates an Educational and Skills Training Project which targets young people who may be at risk from, or already victims of sex trafficking. The Project offers youth, especially young women aged 14 - 24 years, the opportunity to re-order their lives through educational improvement, upgrading of literacy skills and an introduction to marketable skills training. It is based on the principles of dignity, self-esteem, respect, acceptance without judgement or prejudice, and a belief that people who listen to each other learn from each other. PACT is an innovative and successful coalition of 24 community-based organisations and non-governmental organisations which work mainly in the inner-city areas of eastern Jamaica. However the Educational and Skills Training Project is an islandwide one, with outreaches in Negril, Montego Bay, Spanish Town and Kingston.

Beware of the Lies and Traps Is somebody offering you any of these things? Lots of money and great things A fabulous new life An easy way to go abroad A job that will make you rich soon Love and care if you go away with them.

These are some of the LIES a Trafficker uses to trap children and young people. They will trick you by going on 'nice' - but they really want to SELL you into slavery! If somebody tries to persuade you to do something suspicious or out of the ordinary: Say NO and keep far Do NOT get into a car with them Do NOT let them persuade you to get into go-go dancing or prostitution.

Trafficking is ILLEGAL in Jamaica and most other countries

PROTECT YOURSELF: WARNING SIGNS Does a job or other opportunity sound too good to be true? Are you being promised lots of money, a great life, and lots of nice things? Are you being chosen because you are young, good looking, and of a particular sex? Is it unimportant that you have no skills or qualifications? Is someone offering to pay your travel expenses, saying they can be repaid once you start working? Will somebody get travel and/or identification documents for you? Are these documents legal or fake (illegal)? If you have a passport, have you been told to give it to somebody who will "keep it safe" for you? If you are to go abroad, will you be illegal in the other country? Can you not give your family and friends exact information about who is taking you, where you will be working and how to get in touch with you? Are you being told what to say to officials at airports or seaports? Are you being urged to lie? Will the journey be dangerous? Will you have to hide or travel only at night? Is there fear of the police?

These are all signs that a TRAFFICKER is trying to lure you into a life of exploitation, prostitution, forced labour, and possibly even death. DO NOT GO, and STAY AWAY from the person urging you to go with him or her. Who is a Trafficker? A trafficker can be a man or a woman, young or old, even somebody you know. He or she: Has a nice and friendly manner Tells you how much money you can make if you go with him or her Has a nice car and will show you money Tells you they love you, and want to take care of you

They pretend to be nice, but they are very wicked people who will hurt you Unfortunately, there are people who seem nice, but who make lots of money by exploiting children (using them for evil purposes). They may sexually molest and otherwise abuse you,

and they will sell you to others who will abuse and exploit you. There are people like this in Jamaica and all over the world. Sometimes they are even friends or family members you know and trust. So whenever someone tries to persuade you to do something suspicious or out of the ordinary, especially if they promise you money, riches and a wonderful new life: Say NO and keep far from them Do NOT get into a car with them Do NOT let them persuade you to get into go-go dancing or prostitution

How Traffickers Work : 3 STAGES OF MISERY Trafficking in children or other persons can happen in many different ways, but there are usually three stages to this crime. They are:

1. Recruitment - by force or deception. A Trafficker may kidnap somebody or may fool

them up to trick them into going with them.

2. Transportation - moving the victim to a different part of the country, or to another

country, legally or illegally.

3. Exploitation - through selling or using the victim to make money for the Trafficker.
Traffickers use violence and force to keep their victims working for them. Sometimes they threaten to hurt the victim's family members if they escape. Many victims are so badly abused they die. You Will Get Hurt You can get badly hurt, injured or die if you get involved in prostitution or trafficking. Some of the sad facts are: Go-go dancing and prostitution involve working very long hours at night, with no rest. Children have been gang raped (raped by many men) to get them accustomed to having sex with several men. In many cases prostitutes get beaten and killed by men they have sex with or by the person they work for. There are cases where children in prostitution have been murdered. If you are a girl or a woman, you can become pregnant and you will be forced to have an abortion. You can contract HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Why Traffickers sell children and others Wicked people have found that they can make a lot of money by selling children and young people and others into Modern Day Slavery. Unfortunately, not many countries have yet passed laws to punish Traffickers, when they are caught. But not many of them have been caught so far. That is why people all over the world are working to stop trafficking in persons. You can help by being careful not to be caught, and by warning your friends, family members and neighbours about the dangers of trafficking. Remember the old Jamaican saying: The long way will bring sweat, but the short cut will bring blood! WHY JAMAICAN CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE ARE TEMPTED Poverty and lack of opportunity are two of the main reasons that Traffickers are able to tempt children and young people with their false promises of riches and better lives. Inequalities affecting women, and parents who entrust their children to others, including those who are better off financially, can also put women and children at risk. In addition, many youngsters do not believe in their own worth, and do not understand that hard work and consistent effort - keeping on faithfully even when you feel like giving up DO really pay off in the end. Remember the old Jamaican saying: The long way will bring sweat, but the short cut will bring blood!

A Better Way To Get Ahead Do your best with your school work. If you are falling behind, ask for extra help at school Take part in wholesome after school activities like sports, school clubs, youth clubs Join a church or community group, and help others by volunteering for positive community projects Choose your friends wisely, do not keep company with boys or girls who break the rules or try to get you to do things you know are wrong Think seriously about the career you want, find out more about it, and see how you can get a "head start" in that field If you can get a part time job in a reputable business, try and save your money for the future. Be prepared to work for the good things you want in life. The "Get Rich Quick Schemes" almost always bring you grief.

Youngsters in Danger Worldwide: facts & figures According to UNICEF, one million children are trafficked every year, around the world. 600,000 - 800,000 adults are trafficked every year, around the world, according to an estimate by the U.S. Government. Traffickers make a profit of US$8 million each year , according to the United Nations.

TRAFFICKING IS ILLEGAL IN JAMAICA AND MOST OTHER COUNTRIES. Trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. The United Nations has declared that trafficking in persons is a violation of their human rights. NOT JUST GIRLS - AND OTHER SURPRISES Many people have mistaken ideas about trafficking. Here are some of them, and what is really true. NOT TRUE: Some people think only women and children are victims of trafficking.

THE REAL TRUTH: Men can also be at risk of being trafficked, especially to be exploited or used for labour.

NOT TRUE: Some people believe people are only trafficked for sexual exploitation.

THE REAL TRUTH: Though some people are trafficked for sexual exploitation, people are also trafficked for many other reasons, including forced labour, for example in factories or on farms, for domestic servitude, and to fight in wars and other armed conflicts.

NNOT TRUE: Some people think that if you choose to migrate illegally, you cannot be a victim of trafficking.

THE REAL TRUTH: Sometimes people who choose to be smuggled, end up as victims of trafficking. Traffickers prey on newly arrived immigrants, including those who arrived illegally. All victims of trafficking deserved special assistance and attention when they are found out, even if they arrived in the country illegally.

NOT TRUE: Some people believe that people who migrate legally cannot be victims of trafficking.

THE REAL TRUTH: Although some victims of trafficking are brought into countries illegally, others travel using legal documents or enter on valid work visas.

NOT TRUE: Some people think that everyone who is trafficked goes to another country.

THE REAL TRUTH: Trafficking also takes place within countries, known as internal trafficking.

NOT TRUE: Some people believe that only uneducated, poor people are trafficked.

THE REAL TRUTH: Poverty is one of the main things that puts a person at risk, but all types of people are trafficked.

NOT TRUE: Some people think that all victims of trafficking are kidnapped or abducted.

THE REAL TRUTH: Some victims of trafficking are forcibly taken, but many are actually lured into going willingly with somebody, often because of false promises about opportunities at the destination.

WHAT DO THESE WORDS REALLY MEAN? Trafficking in Persons Trafficking is when persons, especially women and children, are enticed or forced into being taken from one part of their own country to another, or from their homeland to another country, where they are forced to work, usually in prostitution. In some cases children's body organs (heart, liver, kidneys, for example) are surgically removed and sold. Prostitution Prostitution is an activity in which people sell sexual favours for money. PROSTITUTION IS ILLEGAL IN JAMAICA

Child Prostitution It is usually women and men who are involved in prostitution, but many children, some as young as 8 and 9 years old, are being forced into prostitution. This is called CHILD PROSTITUTION. IT IS ILLEGAL. Many youngsters are lured into prostitution when they start working as dancers in go-go clubs or massage parlours. Exploitation Selling or using a person for your own profit. This is a violation of the person's human rights. Exploitation is at the heart of trafficking in persons. Some forms of exploitation include: Sexual exploitation - on streets, in bars, brothels, massage parlours, saunas, call-girl agencies Forced labour - in mines, agriculture, fisheries, construction, sweatshops, catering Domestic servitude - in child care, as house keeper, cook, gardener Street peddling Force military service Organ removals.

Funded by: United States Agency for International Development (USAID) For further information contact: People's Action for Community Transformation (PACT) 2-6 Grenada Crescent, Kingston 5 Tel: (876) 920-334, Fax: (876) 960-7208 e-mail: pactsec@cwjamaica.com www.jamaica-kidz.com Copyright 2005 PACT (People's Action for Community Transformation). All rights Reserved. Terms of Service.
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Us department of state
HUMAN TRAFFICKING DEFINED
The TVPA defines severe forms of trafficking in persons as: a. sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age; or b. the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. A victim need not be physically transported from one location to another in order for the crime to fall within these definitions.

THE COST OF A JOB

Most people think only about how much they will earn from a job. But for people desperate to obtain employment to provide for and support their families, a job can also come with extreme costs, sometime in the form of modern slavery:

The cost of a job for a 15-year-old Indian girl could be three years of her life spent working in a garment or textile factory, forced to work excessive hours in dangerous conditions, and often subject to verbal or sexual abuse. At the end of this three-year period, she might receive a payment of approximately $645 - $860, which would be used as a dowry to give to the family of her future husband.

In the Middle East, the cost might be imprisonment because the employer fails to properly renew a workers visa. For a Guatemalan, the cost of a job could include becoming an undocumented worker in the United States when he or she is forced by traffickers to perform labor that is not covered by the visa provided by his or her labor broker. He or she would then have to repay the broker and travel fees, all while working nearly 80 hours a week for less than minimum wage.

The cost of a job for Vietnamese migrant workers seeking work abroad may be the equivalent of $4,250 or three times Vietnams per capita income. When they go abroad, some of these workers have debts that exceed the earnings they expect in the first year of typical three-year contracts. As the ILOs global report on forced labor, Cost of Coercion, shows, the cost of this exploitation worldwide is an estimated $20 billion annually. This is the amount of wages and other benefits denied to migrant workers by fraudulent labor recruiters in their home countries, labor brokers in the country of work, and employers who refuse pay wages.

ADDRESSING THE INTERNAL WOUNDS: THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AFTERMATH OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING

The trauma associated with trafficking and its psychological effects can be devastating and, if left unaddressed, can undermine victims recovery and potentially contribute to vulnerability to re -victimization. Because traffickers dehumanize and objectify their victims, victims innate sense of power, visibility, and dignity oft en become obscured. Traffickers also use coercive tactics and force to make their victims feel worthless and emotionally imprisoned. As a result, victims can lose their sense of identity and security. A variety of psychological symptoms can surface over a period of time even after victims escape or are rescued from the trafficking environment. Thus, it is critically important to incorporate psychological support and treatment within victims services and protocols. Steps to reinstating psychological well being include:

Establishing a dependable safety network for victims to utilize and ensuring all their basic needs are met; Ensuring privacy and confidentiality to protect victims and their families and friends; Soliciting the support of medical experts, social workers, and psychologists who are trained in human trafficking and can provide trauma-specific therapy; Attending to victims physical well-being, as sometimes there are physical symptoms existing simultaneously with or indicative of underlying psychological disorders; Providing collaborative therapies that are culturally sensitive; Fostering an empowering environment in which victims actively participate as consumers of therapeutic and other services; Assessing victims for self-injurious and suicidal behavior; Screening for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse/dependence, depression, and anxiety mental disorders that can develop as a result of being trafficked; Providing unconditional support, especially amidst victims potential denial, distrust, reticence, shame, or anger; Working towards social and familial reintegration; Rebuilding identity; and Reestablishing skill-sets, self-esteem, and personal interests.

IMMIGRATION RELIEF FOR FOREIGN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS: DEBUNKING THE FEAR OF MASSIVE FRAUD
Foreign victims not only face a fear of their traffickers in the countries where they are exploited, but also are afraid that their cooperation with authorities will lead to harm to their families in their home countries. Traffickers routinely threaten to harm or even kill victims or their families if victims ever report what is happening to law enforcement. Overcoming this fear is thus a hurdle for both law enforcement and victims. One approach for governments to encourage foreign trafficking victims to participate in prosecutions, and also provide them and their family members increased stability and protections, is to offer them a path to permanent residence and potentially citizenship. Governments, however, sometimes fear that offering such longer-term immigration relief to foreign trafficking victims will lead to a massive number of illegal migrants fraudulently claiming to be victims of trafficking.

The concern of massive fraud related to the provision of immigration relief for victims of trafficking existed in the United States when the U.S. Congress passed the TVPA in 2000. To protect against fraud, a cap of 5,000 approvals per year was placed on the special status designated for trafficking victims the T nonimmigrant status, also commonly referred to as T visas and named after section 1101(a)(15)(T) of title 5 of the U.S. Code. The feared rush on T visas, however, has not materialized. Although the number of applications for T nonimmigrant status is increasing every year, less than half of the yearly allotment of T visas for one year has been approved since 2002. This illustrates that, even with strong incentives, encouraging foreign victims to overcome their fears and come forward with their stories still remains a challenge. Many NGOs and legal advocates also note that the eligibility requirements under U.S. law related to the T nonimmigrant status also serve to deter fraudulent applications. These eligibility requirements include demonstrating by credible evidence that the individual was a victim of human trafficking, is present in the United States on account of that trafficking, and is willing to cooperate with law enforcement in prosecuting traffickers (except for minors or especially traumatized victims), and that the victim would suffer extreme hardship, including severe and unusual harm, if removed from the United States.

THEN AND NOW: FLEEING SLAVERY

Ads, like the one pictured to the left, were common in U.S. newspapers in the 1700s and early 1800s before slavery was abolished. Now, ads like the one pictured to the right show that this practice continues in the modern era. Those who escape severe abuses from their employers risk hardships of fugitive life, danger of capture, and the threat of death.

THE LIMITATIONS OF FAIR TRADE AND CODES OF CONDUCT FOR COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING
The 3P approach to combating human trafficking promotes collaboration among stakeholders across government, private-sector, and civil society. Businesses are increasingly aware of the role they can play in prevention efforts by decreasing the demand for products made by modern slaves. This is usually seen through fair trade schemes or labor codes of conduct, which seek to voluntarily regulate the social and environmental impacts of the production of certain goods. They reflect consumers growing awareness of the risk of labor exploitation and their willingness to factor ethical questions into their purchasing habits, despite paying a price premium for doing so. Several instances highlighted by the media over the last year, however, brought to light some corporate buyers who in the past advertised their fair trade credentials loudly but were found to have not made a strong effort to know their supply chains and monitor them regularly to ensure they were free of forced labor. Whether they are products from Africa and Latin America or clothes made with cotton in West Africa or Central Asia, companies must be responsible for the full length of their extended supply chains. While efforts to harness market power to drive down demand for modern slave-made goods can serve as preventive efforts to combat trafficking, private-sector initiatives should be seen as a complement to governmental efforts to prosecute traffickers, and government and civil society collaborations to protect victims. Because market-based initiatives rely on the market to correct itself, and lack sufficient mechanisms to ensure meaningful accountability, they

are not a substitute for vigorous government efforts to end impunity through prosecuting and punishing those who subject others to compelled service.

VICTIMS EMPOWERMENT AND ACCESS

The essence of the trafficking experience is the denial of freedom including the freedom to choose where and how you live, the freedom to work or choose not to work, the freedom from threats, and the freedom of bodily integrity. Unless carefully crafted and adopted with flexibility, victim assistance programs can sometimes replicate the trafficking experience by removing victims prerogative from questions of housing, employment, residency, and disclosure. For example, in order to stay in many government shelters throughout the world, victims surrender their right of movement they are restricted to the shelter grounds or may only leave with the permission of shelter staff. In some countries, the disclosure of victims identities by government authorities results in victims stories and name being revealed to the press or to their families. A fundamental premise of victim assistance programs should be to place choices back into the hands of the trafficking victims. The following good practices set the stage for a victim -centered approach to care that allows victims the opportunity to make choices in their care. These approaches can help victims put distance between the trafficking experience and the rest of their lives. Open Shelters Victims should not be detained in shelters in any form. Victims should be allowed to leave the shelter at will and without chaperones. Staying in a shelter should be an option; many victims may have access to other accommodation and should be allowed to choose those alternatives. Full Information to Victims Victims should be informed of their rights as early as possible in a language they understand. Victims should be informed about what will and will not be expected of them during a criminal trial. Victims should be educated about their options in the immigration context and told that they have right to consular or diplomatic access. Countries can accomplish this in a variety of ways, including appointing counsel for trafficking victims, appointing victim advocates for victims, or involving NGOs. Some countries develop brochures and other literature in many languages to facilitate early disclosures. Victims of trafficking crimes should also be put in touch with their countrys embassy or consulate for additional assistance. Confidentiality Victims should be given the choice of how much of their information is shared. They should not be exposed to media without their full and informed consent. It should be their choice whether their families are told about their trafficking. Residency

Generous benefits for trafficking victims, including permanent residency, facilitate the law enforcement process. Immigration regulations that offer victims permanent residence, rather than mandating forced return, are best practices. Residency schemes should allow some flexibility for victims of trafficking to have time to determine if they wish to participate in the criminal process, with special exemptions for victims who are minors or who have experienced severe trauma. There are many reasons a victim of trafficking may initially refuse to cooperate with an investigation. Sometimes victims do not trust the police to protect their rights; sometimes law enforcement has participated in a victims exploitation; and sometimes victims are simply too traumatized by their experiences to discuss them with law enforcement. Right to Work Countries should consider granting foreign national trafficking victims the right to work. In many countries, even formal entry to a victim assistance program does not give a victim the right to a work permit. Accordingly, without material aid, victims are again placed in vulnerable situations.

COSTS OF MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS OF TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS

Myths and misperceptions about trafficking in persons and its complexities continue to hinder governments ability to identify victims, provide them the services they need, and bring their traffickers to justice. These challenges are made worse by the unfortunate tendency to conflate human trafficking and human smuggling. Persistent practices, including the following, contribute to this conflation: Prevailing concerns about illegal immigration continue to guide governments initial responses to potential trafficking victims. Trafficking indicators are missed and victims are wrongly classified as illegal migrants and criminals. Narrow definitions and continued stereotypes of trafficking as a problem confined to women and girls in prostitution result in the mistreatment of other victims of trafficking. For example, instead of receiving protective services they need, migrant men in forced labor may face immigration charges or deportation if not identified as trafficking victims. A focus solely on initial recruitment of migrant workers and prostituted individuals whether or not they consented to their situation can impede the proper identification of subsequent trafficking. Authorities often fail to look beneath the surface for possible indicators of forced labor, debt bondage or sex trafficking. The risk of conflation leading to the treatment of victims as criminals increases when responsibilities of anti-trafficking enforcement and victim identification lie solely with immigration, as opposed to criminal justice, authorities. As the anti-trafficking community continues to debunk these misperceptions, governments have an obligation to move away from flawed and outdated interpretations of human trafficking that focus on the process of bringing someone into exploitation, as opposed to the compelled service that often results after a migrant arrives in a country. Domestic law enforcement, not border interdiction, is usually what catches traffickers and frees victims from modern slavery.

ENDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS SMART BUSINESS

A growing number of companies are integrating corporate social responsibility into their business models and embracing the responsibility to protect human rights, promote economic and social development, and look after the environment. Many have learned through experience that ethical practices contribute to sustainable profits and economic advantage, and benefit both investors and employees. Globalization has led to increasingly complex supply chains. While challenging, supply chain monitoring enables companies to manage risk while protecting both their reputation and workers. Supply chain traceability is becoming a business necessity and initiatives like Cal ifornias Transparency in Supply Chains Act mean companies can no longer afford not to incorporate anti-trafficking measures into their corporate policies. Companies do not have to reinvent the wheel in order to become good corporate citizens. Advocates have collaborated on a number of initiatives offering a wealth of proposals and ideas to help companies begin to implement policies to reduce the likelihood of modern slavery in their corporate supply chains. For example, Verite, a U.S.-based NGO, developed a fair hiring toolkit that provides brands, suppliers, governments, investors, NGOs, and auditors with guidance to support the responsible recruitment and hiring of migrant workers in global supply chains. End Human Trafficking Now and UN.GIFT (the UN Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking) partnered with Microsoft to create an e-learning tool for business leaders, managers, and employees to identify the risks of human trafficking in their supply chains and point to actions they can take to address this risk. Generated by business, government, and civil society, the Luxor Implementation Guidelines facilitate integration of anti-trafficking values into corporate policies, while the multi-stakeholder driven Dhaka Principles outline measures for businesses to support migration with dignity. Members of the socially responsible investment community the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, Christian Brothers Investment Services, and Calvert Investments cooperated on a guide to effective supply chain accountability to assist investors with implementation of the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act.

LAW ENFORCEMENT AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Effectively responding to modern slavery requires law enforcement measures informed by concerns for trafficking victims rights. Anti-trafficking law enforcement actions, such as raids on suspected sites of exploitation, are often essential for the identification and liberation of trafficking victims. Such raids, however, can negatively impact the vulnerable populations that are meant to be helped. For instance, some trafficking victims have been arrested for prostitution several times by law enforcement authorities vice squads before finally being correctly identified as trafficking victims; some found the law enforcement interventions they experienced to be as distressing and confusing as their trafficking experience. Victims who have been threatened by traffickers with police action sometimes believe police action meant to protect them is actually directed against them. Trafficking victims rights can also be compromised by shelters that lock up victims in order to ensure they will testify during trials or to protect them from their traffickers. While victim testimony and security from re-trafficking and retribution are important, detention of victims in shelters amounts to a deprivation of liberty, which is a hallmark of the trafficking experience. Furthermore, many foreign national trafficking victims are desperate to pay off the large loans taken to fund their migration and presumed employment, and government policy or shelter rules may not facilitate

their ability to find work during the judicial process. Employment is equally important for victims without debt. As alternatives, governments should support victims to ease the burden of testifying; police should be trained to assemble strong cases with supporting evidence that can withstand a lack of victim testimony; and governments should support non-traditional modes of testimony, such as video testimony. While these alternatives are under the purview of the government, civil society groups can help when governments face resource constraints. Key to balancing these human rights and law enforcement equities is maintaining a victim-centered approach throughout criminal justice procedures in human trafficking cases. In Kosovo, for example, advocates represent victims of trafficking from the time police officers bring them to the police station. These advocates explain legal rights to victims, ensuring that they understand both what care is available and that they have the right to refuse care. These rights are established in standard operating procedures for the treatment of trafficking victims. This kind of collaboration between law enforcement and service providers can help ensure that anti-trafficking efforts are effective and keep the appropriate focus on the victim.

VICTIM PROTECTION ON A SHOESTRING

A survey of trafficking victims protections around the world finds a number of countries with limited resources that have nevertheless developed innovative methods to protect victims. While the solutions vary, what they have in common are creative engagement with the private and non-profit sectors and high-level political will to address human trafficking. A local population that recognizes and condemns the trafficking problem as it exists on the ground is essential to forging effective partnerships. Widespread awareness of trafficking increases its visibility and importance to NGOs and businesses, making them more receptive to partner with the government in assisting victims. Governments can raise public awareness without large financial expenditures through media appearances and effective use of state news services. Those holding political office can also embrace human trafficking as one of their national priorities, encouraging local media outlets to report on the problem and government efforts to fight it. Where high levels of community awareness exist, governments have effectively partnered with organizations to improve services to human trafficking victims. For example, in Aruba where there is no shelter tailored specifically for trafficking victims, the government has initiated a public-private partnership with several hotels for free or deeply discounted rooms for use as emergency shelters when urgently needed. This program has worked well to provide temporary shelter until long-term arrangements can be made. Addressing another area of victim protection, the Government of Antigua has developed a close working relationship with the local airports and airline companies to train staff to recognize trafficking indicators and obtain deep discounts on tickets for foreign victims voluntarily wishing to return to their home country. In Rwanda, the government supports an NGO that provides counseling to women in prostitution by offering a government-run community center as an operating space. Innovative and low- or no-cost measures like these present the potential for all governments to provide victim services when large budgets are not available.

CHILD SOLDIERS
The Child Soldiers Prevention Act of 2008 (CSPA) was signed into law on December 23, 2008 (Title IV of Pub. L. 110-457) and became effective on June 21, 2009. The CSPA requires publication in the annual TIP Report of a list of foreign governments identified during the previous year as having governmental armed forces or government-

supported armed groups that recruit and use child soldiers, as defined in the Act. These determinations cover the reporting period beginning March 1, 2011 and ending February 29, 2012. For the purpose of the CSPA, and generally consistent with the provisions of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict, the term child soldier means: (i) any person under 18 years of age who takes a direct part in hostilities as a member of governmental armed forces; (ii) any person under 18 years of age who has been compulsorily recruited into governmental armed forces; (iii) any person under 15 years of age who has been voluntarily recruited into governmental armed forces; or (iv) any person under 18 years of age who has been recruited or used in hostilities by armed forces distinct from the armed forces of a state. The term child soldier includes any person described in clauses (ii), (iii), or (iv) who is serving in any capacity, including in a support role such as a cook, porter, messenger, medic, guard, or sex slave. Governments identified on the list are subject to restrictions, in the following fiscal year, on certain security assistance and commercial licensing of military equipment. The CSPA prohibits the following forms of assistance to governments that are identified in the list: international military education and training, foreign military financing, excess defense articles, section 1206 assistance, and the issuance of licenses for direct commercial sales of military equipment. Beginning October 1, 2012 and effective throughout FY 2013, these types of assistance will be prohibited to the countries listed, absent a presidential national interest waiver, applicable exception, or reinstatement of assistance pursuant to the terms of the CSPA. The determination to include a government in the CSPA list is informed by a range of sources, including firsthand observation by U.S. government personnel and research and reporting from various United Nations entities, international organizations, local and international NGOs, and international media outlets. The 2012 CSPA List includes governments in the following countries: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Burma Libya Democratic Republic of the Congo South Sudan Somalia Sudan Yemen In March 2012, the International Criminal Court (ICC) convicted Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga (pictured on page 37) for enlisting or conscripting children under the age of 15 in 2002 and 2003 during the conflict in eastern

Democratic Republic of Congo. As the leader of the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) and its armed wing, Lubanga was responsible for enlisting or conscripting boys and girls under the age of 15 some as young as nine-years-old to act as soldiers and bodyguards. Others were forced into sexual servitude. Lubangas conviction is the first verdict issued by the ICC; he faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. In April 2012, the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague convicted former President of Liberia Charles Taylor (pictured on page 37) of 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the conscripting, enlisting, and using of child soldiers under the age of 15. Taylor was found guilty of aiding and abetting the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) and Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) in the commission of such crimes between 1996 and 2002 during Sierra Leones civil war; the courts judgment held him criminally liable for his participation in these crimes from Liberia. He is the first former head of state to be convicted by an international court for the use of child soldiers. In May 2012, he was sentenced to 50 years imprisonment as punishment for his role in these atrocities.

EXPLOITING THE WORLDS OCEANS

Over the last year, a series of media, government, and NGO investigations have drawn attention to the high prevalence of forced labor on fishing boats around the world. Oftentimes, forced labor appears alongside illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing that international organizations have identified as threatening food security and the preservation of marine resources. The March 2012 report of a ministerial inquiry commissioned by the New Zealand government found that migrant laborers recruited in Indonesia alleged physical and psychological abuses as well as severe underpayment or nonpayment of wages by Korean fishing vessels operating under contract to New Zealand companies. Other reports received during the year indicate that the Thai fishing fleet operating in open waters committed horrendous abuses of foreign crew members. For years, the fishing industry has targeted vulnerable populations. In the case of boats operating in New Zealands Exclusive Economic Zone, abuse allegedly begins when an Indonesian recruiter persuades a worker in his home country to sign a contract to work aboard one of the vessels. Once on the boats, some victims are forced by senior crew employed by fishing corporations to work 18 or more hours per day, threatened, prevented from leaving the boat, and in some instances were exposed to physical abuse or sexual harassment. Living quarters are cramped with little or no heating, fresh water is scarce, and food supplies are rationed and hidden away from crew members. Medical treatment for sick or injured victims can be inadequate. Seafood caught by these vessels ends up in freezers and shelves in grocery stores and restaurants, and eventually on a consumers plate. Because some purchasers of fish on the international market do not monitor their supply chains for slave labor, including the crew recruitment processes and treatment of fishermen on chartered vessels, an estimated 44.9 million people directly engaged in the fishing industry will continue to remain vulnerable to human trafficking.

DISABILITIES AS A RISK FACTOR

This Report includes recent reports of the abuse of deaf domestic workers in the United Kingdom, addicts forced to labor in fields in the United States, people with mental illnesses and developmental disabilities enslaved in Chinese

kilns, and persons with developmental disabilities forced to work as peddlers on the streets of India. Persons with disabilities remain one of the groups most at risk of being trafficked. Due to disability-based discrimination and exclusion common in many places, however, governments often ignore this risk factor or fail to make provisions for persons with disabilities as part of anti-trafficking efforts. The stigma and marginalization of a person with disabilities creates a particular vulnerability. For example, parents who see no hope of jobs or marriage for their disabled children may place those children in exploitative situations with the intent of shedding a burden or seeking income. Where schools fail to accommodate students with disabilities, high drop-out rates leave them on the streets and at much higher risk of being trafficked in forced begging or other criminal activities. The commonly held view that persons with disabilities are not sexually active increases the risk of sex trafficking for persons with disabilities, especially disabled women and girls. For example, a Global HIV/AIDS survey conducted by the World Bank and Yale University showed that women and girls with disabilities were assumed to be virgins and thus targeted for forced sex, including by HIV-positive individuals who believed that having sex with a virgin would cure them. Societal barriers limit the access of persons with disabilities to systems of justice. Lack of training of police, prosecutors, and judges on how to accommodate persons with disabilities (through, for example, sign language interpreters, plain language, and physical access) can leave victims with disabilities unable to provide effective statements and report the abuse they have endured. Laws expressly prohibiting people with disabilities from being witnesses, especially those who are blind, deaf, or have mental or developmental disabilities, leave such victims excluded from processes that should provide them with redress. Even when the justice system is not to blame, societal prejudices that devalue or discount the experiences of persons with disabilities can mean that their evidence is given less weight, and that sentences given to perpetrators may be lower than comparable cases where nondisabled people are the victims. This exclusion of persons with disabilities from the justice system in turn contributes to their being targeted by traffickers, who might assume that such victims will be less likely to raise an alarm or seek help. Even in instances in which victims of trafficking do not have disabilities, the experience of being trafficked substantially increases the risk of victims acquiring disabilities as a result of physical and psychological trauma. It is thus essential that victim service programs include resources for those with a wide range of physical, sensory, learning, mental, and developmental disabilities.

EU DIRECTIVE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING

In April 2011, the EU passed a new comprehensive anti-trafficking Directive (21011/36/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2011 on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims) defining human trafficking and setting standards for member states responses to trafficking. Similar to the Minimum Standards for the Elimination of Trafficking of the TVPA, the standards set forth in the EU Directive require member states to criminalize all forms of trafficking and to assign significant penalties for trafficking offenses. Member states must investigate and prosecute trafficking cases without depending on victim testimony and may continue their investigations and prosecutions even when victims have withdrawn their statements. The Directive also requires member states to extend certain protections to trafficking victims, including appropriate assistance and support not conditioned on the victims willingness to cooperate in criminal proce edings, and to ensure that victims of trafficking

are not prosecuted for crimes they were compelled to commit. In addition, it requires that special measures be put in place to provide child trafficking victims with specialized care and support. Further, the Directive requires that member states establish provisions to prevent secondary victimization of victims during the law enforcement process. Finally, Member states are obliged to establish a national rapporteur or equivalent to assess trends and government actions to address trafficking, including the measuring of results of anti-trafficking actions and the gathering of statistics, in close cooperation with civil society. If implemented by member states, these new provisions carry a significant promise for enhanced investigations of trafficking and protection of its victims.

JUSTICE FOR ALL: SAFEGUARDING THE RIGHTS OF VICTIMS AND THE ACCUSED
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) not only prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude (Art. 4), but also sets forth a number of other protections relevant to global efforts to address human trafficking. Some of these provisions, such as the guarantees of freedom of movement (Art. 13), freedom from forced marriage (Art. 16), and free choice of employment (Art. 23), protect victims and those who may be vulnerable to trafficking. Others, such as Article 11, provide baseline protections for the accused in criminal proceedings. Done correctly, law enforcement action can achieve not only the criminal justice goals of deterrence and punishment, but also fairness, due process, and the ability of crime victims to see their abusers brought to justice. Indeed, these goals are not in conflict. In striving to implement best practices to address trafficking, and consistent with the standards of the UDHR, the Palermo Protocol, and the TVPAs minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, governments should act in accordance with the UDHRs admonition in Article 11 that [e]veryone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence. It is critical for countries to have clear and well -constructed trafficking laws, with elements of the offense that can be understood by police, courts, parties, civil society, and at-risk persons. It is also imperative that when governments vigorously enforce those laws, they apply them fairly based on careful and thorough investigation and in proceedings that protect the due process rights of the accused. In recent years the victims rights movement has made great strides in ensuring that those against whom a crime was committed are not then re-victimized by the very judicial system that should be protecting them. The re-traumatization possible in judicial proceedings can be minimized by a number of best practices, such as alternatives to in-person testimony or use of pseudonyms, access to a victim advocate, and the right to be heard in court proceedings, especially at sentencing. Moreover, vigorous victim identification mechanisms and use of prosecutorial discretion can identify and protect arrestees who may have committed crimes, as a result of having been trafficked. Incorporating these rights-based best practices into the judicial process allows for better law enforcement training and increased victim identification, and ensures that the right people are brought to justice. The result? Justice for all, and the enhanced legitimacy of the governments efforts to fight against modern slavery through systems that meet the fundamental rights and needs of all those involved.

NEW ESTIMATE OF MODERN SLAVERY IN THE WORLD

On June 1, 2012, the International Labor Organization released its second global estimate of forced labor, which represents what the U.S. Government considers to be covered by the umbrella term trafficking in persons. Relying

on an improved methodology and greater sources of data, this report estimates that modern slavery around the world claims 20.9 million victims at any time.

The ILOs first estimate of forced labor, in 2005, was 12.3 million victims of forced labor and sex trafficking. Unlike the 2005 estimate, this new finding does not disaggregate human trafficking victims as a subset of the global forced labor estimate. This recognizes that human trafficking is defined by exploitation, not by movement. The ILO estimates that 55 percent of forced labor victims are women and girls, as are 98 percent of sex trafficking victims. The ILO identified a higher percentage of sex trafficking victims, than in the 2005 Report. By region, the Asia and the Pacific region (which includes South Asia) remains largest in terms of number of victims, though the estimate of trafficking victims in Africa has grown since the 2005 estimate.

stoptraffickfashion.com

How Does Human Trafficking Occur?

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Traffickers use fraud, force, and coercion to entrap their victims. Each victims story is unique, but here are some common methods traffickers use to gain access to their victims and manipulate them:

the false promise of employment buying the daughters of impoverished families kidnapping befriending runaway teens confiscating victims legal documents financial debt, often with exorbitant interest, dishonest bookkeeping, and a hold on multiple generations of a family companionship and romance, which transforms in to force and coercion

These survivor stories highlight how people fall victim to trafficking. While its tough to read about exploitation, understanding the causes is a big step to ending the problem. In Disposable People, Kevin Bales tells the story of one man working as a slave in a Pakistani brick kiln: His brother-in-law had left the kiln in search of better work, as a result this man was taken captive by the owner of the kiln where the brother-in-law had worked. I had never been to this kiln before in my life and I had never worked there; I didnt owe this man any money The kiln owner just said that was tough, he was holding my brother and me as ransom against my brother-in-laws debt. At the kiln they made me work and told me that if I tried to escape they would beat me or shoot me. Bales also describes how victims are entrapped in charcoal production in Brazil: Recruiters, called gatos (cats), come to the abundant slums in eastern cities to find workers for charcoal batterias in the west. They offer to provide transport of Mato Grosso, good food on site, a regular salary, tools, and free trips home to see the family. Once the men agree, they climb on the trucks and ride across the country, enjoying the generous free meals at restaurants that the gato provides. Then once theyve been taken deep into the wilderness, the gato lets the men out in a forest camp surrounded by armed guards and says, You each owe me a lot of money: there is the cost of the trip, and all that food you ate, and the money I gave you for your familiesso dont even think about leaving. The Trafficking in Persons report includes several survivor stories including this one about Sabine who was trafficked as a domestic worker in France: Sabine was 23 when her parents gave her to another family as partial payment for a used car. The family who took Sabine used her as a domestic slave for three years, making her look after their seven children and hiring her out to other men for sex. They burned her with an iron and cigarettes and beat her with iron bars

and sticks, took her identity papers and claimed her unemployment benefits for themselves, and chained her up in a squalid shed at night to prevent her from escaping. They threw scraps of food on the ground for her to eat, treating her worse than an animal. The TIP also includes this story of Josephine who was trafficked in the Democratic Republic of Congo: The Lords Resistance Army (LRA) attacked Josephines village, she and her family had too little time to flee. A group of about 80 LRA men surrounded her house. They tied up the family and shot and killed Josephines grandfather in front of her. They took Josephine and her three brothers into the bush. She was forced to carry heavy loads, find food, and cook. She and other girls, some as young as 12, were forced to become LRA wives. Josephine was assigned to a boy who had also been kidnapped and forced to be an LRA fighter. She watched as the men forced him to kill another boy by striking him on the back of the head with a machete. The Polaris Project tells the story of Keisha: After running away from her foster family at 14 due to sexual harassment, Keisha met an older man who offered to help her find her biological family. Then he forced her into commercial sex to pay him back. The Polaris Project also tells Maris story: With four children between them and a 16-year relationship, Mari couldnt imagine leaving Darrell. She didnt see any viable options, even though he was physically abusive and forced her into commercial sex when money was tight. Nicholas Kristof describes the situation of one girl rescued in Brooklyn: Among those rescued was Baby Face, who had run away from home in September. Her pimp allegedly found her on the street, bought food for her and told her that she was beautiful. Within a few days, he had posted her photo on Backpage and was selling her five to nine times a day, prosecutors say. When she didnt earn enough money, he beat her with a belt, they add. Kristof also tells the story of a 13-year-old girl kidnapped in Cambodia and taken to a brothel in Phnom Penh then tortured with an electric current. Go to back to the top Email to ask a question about human trafficking Shop products made by survivors

What Industries Does Trafficking Affect?

TRAFFICKING HAPPENS IN:

agriculture food processing construction garments and textiles catering and restaurants domestic work entertainment the sex industry

Victims of human trafficking harvest grain, work in packaging plants, and supply labor for building projects in hopes of providing for their families. They weave carpets, wait tables, staff kitchens, and clean homes and hotels in fear of deportation. They sing in bars, film porn movies, and sell their bodies to keep pimps from beating them. The prevalence of trafficking in supply chains makes it imperative that consumers think about the ethics of their spending. You can look for fair trade labels or other certifications (like Rainforest Alliance) that help make sure slaves havent been involved in making a product. Free2Work is also a great resource. It grades companies on their compliance with slave-free standards. (Plus, they have an app for on-the-go ethical shopping.) There are a growing number of advocates in these industries who are standing up for ethical treatment of workers. As a consumer, you have the power to encourage businesses to eradicate human trafficking. Neil Kearney, former President of the International Garment and Leather Workers Federation, states it this way: If a business cannot afford to be ethical, then they cannot afford to be in business. Consumers can help make this a reality. Go to back to the top Email to ask a question about human trafficking Shop products made by survivors

How Are Human Trafficking Victims Rescued?

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It goes without saying that rescue is a key turning point for trafficked people. But exactly how does it happen? There are four main ways:

RESCUE
This is the most commonly talked of rescue. The dramatic raid: doors kicked in by police, captives set free by compassionate social workers. This work is the specialty of the International Justice Mission. These rescues are very powerful because only they can free to the most deeply enslaved, the most abused, and the youngest victims of trafficking and exploitation. Nicholas Kristof has written about brothel raids with IJM and Somaly Mam.

ESCAPE
This is perhaps the most dangerous road to freedom. A covert run for it under the cover of night almost always brings armed captors chasing, hoping to recapture their investment. Its even more treacherous when the police arent a safe haven. Trafficking survivor and abolitionist Somaly Mam ran away from the brothel where she was help captive after years of torture and abuse. She tells her story in The Road of Lost Innocence: The True Story of a Cambodian Heroine.

EARN FREEDOM

Much modern day slavery is debt based. Families working at brick kilns across India and Pakistan are stuck because a father or grandfather needed to borrow some money. Now, charged exorbitant interest or cheated in the paperwork, theyre trapped. In some rare cases families in this situation earn enough to buy their freedom. But not until after years of dawn-todusk back breaking labor for every member of the family.

JUST WALK AWAY

Many of the women at Freeset are trafficked from Bangladesh and the Murshidabad region of West Bengal, India. Once they arrive in the red light district many are simply abandoned. They have no education, no help. So theyre trapped selling sex to pay high rent. But many can walk awaytheres no one holding them. Their enslavement has become situational. Given opportunities like work at Freeset or Sari Bari, women can leave the trade. While these women are some of the luckiest trafficking victims, just walking away is not as uncomplicated as it seems. Go to back to the top Email to ask a question about human trafficking Shop products made by survivors

What Is Life Like for Survivors of Trafficking?

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Life has changed for trafficking survivors. In so many ways everything is different. Life has started over again, and this time there are options and hope. But trafficking victims start this new life with a deficit. Theyre often mentally, physically, and financially in need. Many lack basic skills like writing their name or using scissors and have deeper issues like building selfconfidence and trusting others. They dont have a source of income to provide for themselves and their families. Often theyre a long way from home. And if their trafficker wants them back (or wants to have the income they earned from their victim), life can be quite dangerous. Their stories are all differentfrom success stories like Somaly Mam to this boy in Haiti who cant speak and is just learning to smile again. Amidst the challenges we cant forget hope. With the right help, survivors can make steps toward safety, freedom, education, financial stability, and health. In the struggle and the murkiness, remember: Before these words (derived directly from their stories) characterized their lives.

Then change came: They were rescued or worked for their freedom or were abandoned by their captors, left helpless and alone but with the freedom to start again. In their time of vulnerability, help came along. A friend, a counselor, a family member, a judge. Freeset, Hagar, IJM, 31 Bits, Magdalene House, Made by Survivors, Nomi Network, Wonderfully Made. This time no one took advantage of their poverty, their lack of education, their weakness. This time they were given a chance at a new life.

AND NOW THIS IS WHO THEY ARE: