Human Trafficking Response

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Once aware, what should be our human trafficking response?

Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is an umbrella term for a set of human rights violations. Namely, the crime involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act or the taking of organs.

Labor Trafficking

Slavery or similar exploitation may seem impossible to some, but it happens here in the US. As a matter of fact, right here in my tiny state of NH. One of the first labor trafficking cases was tried. The case did involve foreign workers, but domestic victims suffer too.

A common scenario might involve runaway youth, displaced foreign nationals unfamiliar with the language and laws, child labor, domestic violence, gang involvement, or any situation where a person is forced to work at jobs or in conditions not in keeping with domestic labor laws.

Sex Trafficking

Traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to lure their victims and force them into commercial sexual exploitation. Force may be in the form of physical violence or captivity. Fraud is any kind of deception: advertising for a modeling job, or a position as a nanny, a dancer, or other job, but the person is subjected to sexual exploitation instead. Coercion is mental manipulation and threats against them or someone else. It could be by the use of drugs too.

Again, vulnerabilities include youth, displacement, developmental delays, gender dysphoria or sexual insecurity, and the most prevalent is adverse childhood experiences, particularly the core violation of child sexual abuse.

Organ Trafficking

We don’t think much about organ trafficking here, but it happens. The most egregious cases involve deception for the removal of organs from living people who may have traumatic head injury or other severe injury. In the US, donation has been culturally acceptable. So, it’s not as prevalent as in some countries.

Abortionists, most notably, Planned Parenthood have been trafficking baby body parts for many years, according to documents and documentaries.

Response

Becoming aware is a good start. Fostering respect for all human life is paramount. Response to the crimes will differ between people and positions. Your job may give you an opportunity to intervene and make a call. Perhaps, one could get involved in a fundraiser for a shelter or a program that serves vulnerable people.

The common term, “See something. Say something.” comes to mind. We each have a sphere of influence. If we each simply address the vulnerabilities of the people we know and behave with grace and compassion, the world will be a safer place. People who are loved and feel connected as less vulnerable. So, be kind always.

It’s easy to turn away from that troubled teen. We can ignore a wayward relative. If we circle back and keep trying to connect, we could save them from a lot of trouble. Let your light so shine among men, that your heavenly Father might be glorified. Humans are created in the image of God. Marred by our broken world, many of us need extra compassion.

Watch the videos from the beginning of the month of January 2020 and consider your response.