We can continue to contact congressional leaders and encourage them to seek out and prosecute the offenders. We can donate to safe houses and help get victims back to a normal life. We can always stay informed and watch for signs someone may be a victim and make a call to the national hotline.
Be aware of these enduring myths about human trafficking:
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| Photo Kay Chemush US State Dept |
Myth:
Trafficking must involve the crossing of borders.
Fact:
Despite the use of the word “trafficking,” victims can actually
be held within their own country—anti-trafficking laws don’t
require that victims must have traveled from somewhere else.
Myth:
U.S. citizens can’t be trafficked.
Fact:
They can and they are.
Myth: Victims know what they are
getting into or have chances to escape.
Fact: They’re
actually duped into it and may not even think of escaping because of
threats against them or ignorance of the law.
Myth:
Victims are never paid.
Fact: Sometimes they are paid, but not very much.
Fact: Sometimes they are paid, but not very much.
Myth: Victims never have
freedom of movement.
Fact: Some victims can move
about, but are coerced into always returning, perhaps with a threat
against their families back home.
One last note: human
trafficking is often confused with alien smuggling, which includes
those who consent to smuggling to get across a border illegally.
Signs someone may be a victim of trafficking:
- Not free to come and go as he/she pleases
- Under 18 and providing commercial sex acts
- Has a manager or pimp
- Unpaid or paid very little, sometimes only tips
- Works excessively long or unusual hours
- High security measures at work or home (bars, barbed wire, security cameras, etc.)
- Recruited through false promises due to nature of the work
If you feel you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, call the Trafficking Hotline at 1-800-373-7888.
(Information obtained from www.fbi.gov and www.polarisproject.org. )
Links where you can help.
www.theA21campaign.org
www.youcanfree.us
Human trafficking is a blight on the recorded history of mankind. Many people think of females as the victims and males as the villains. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Young males are often abused in this dark trail of aberrant behavior.
ReplyDeleteThat is so true, Jackie. Human traffickers do not discriminate with their victims. Money is the object and humanity has no value to them. Hopefully, more agencies will fight this stain on society and inflict harsher penalties against these criminals. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Blessings!
DeleteI personally consider Human trafficking as the worst epidemic the world has so far witnessed. The Cruel nature of it bleeds my heart while the hypocrisy surrounding it calls for urgency in creating more awareness about ways these young folks could be saved from the mouths of these ravaging wolves. Thank you Barbara for sharing this all important information.
ReplyDeleteBethany, we do need to remain vigilant against this cruelty against humanity. Thank you for your comments and for continuing to fight against human trafficking. Blessings!
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