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Abstract

er words, although many people may be convinced that this is an issue that only happens to women and children or that every victim is violently dragged from their homes across borders and chained up in empty rooms, this is not always the case.Many human traffickers gain control over their victims using psychological trickery, threats, and manipulation. Moreover, rather than choosing random targets, many traffickers gain their victim's trust before striking.Additionally, authorities believe that even though sex trafficking is more commonly discussed, forced labor trafficking may actually be far more widespread than sex trafficking.Oddly, the most common sectors involving human trafficking are as follows:<ul><li>Domestic work</li><li>Agriculture</li><li>Construction</li><li>Restaurant/food service</li><li>Illicit industries</li></ul>This means that spotting and eradicating this massive issue is likely more complex than we had hoped.Also, according to the <a href="https://www.state.gov/identify-and-assist-a-trafficking-victim/">U.S. Department of State</a>, here are the top indicators that someone may be human trafficked:<ul><li>Living with employer</li><li>Poor living conditions</li><li>Multiple people in a cramped space</li><li>Inability to speak to individual alone</li><li>Answers appear to be scripted and rehearsed</li><li>Employer is holding identity documents</li><li>Signs of physical abuse</li><li>Submissive or fearful</li><li>Unpaid or paid very little</li><li>Under 18 and in prostitution</li></ul><h2 id="3d01">How Can We Help Each Other?</h2>The first thing you can do is wear blue

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and post a photo online with the hashtag #WearBlueDay. You can also post facts and stats to help raise awareness.Another tip is to learn simple self-defense tactics and encourage others to do the same. This is not simply learning how to strike and escape potential attackers but also learning where to park your car, stay safe when out at night, safely provide help to others while on the road, and recognize when you or others are in danger.Here are the questions the Department of State recommends asking if you suspect someone is being trafficked:<ul><li>Can you leave your job if you want to?</li><li>Can you come and go as you please?</li><li>Have you been hurt or threatened if you tried to leave?</li><li>Has your family been threatened?</li><li>Do you live with your employer?</li><li>Where do you sleep and eat?</li><li>Are you in debt to your employer?</li><li>Do you have your passport/identification? Who has it?</li></ul>If you suspect that someone is in danger of being trafficked, is presently being trafficked, or if you, yourself, are in danger, call the <a href="https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/statistics">National Human Trafficking Hotline</a>: 1–888–373–7888 or Text Text* 233733.New to Medium? Follow the <a href="https://medium.com/empath-survival-guide">Empath Survival Guide</a>, and don't forget to <a href="https://medium.com/subscribe/@ivylockewrites?source=publishing_settings---user_settings----------------------------------">subscribe to my email list</a>! It's free! As always, all tips, donations, shares, hand claps, comments, follows, and subscriptions are greatly appreciated!</article></body>

Wear Blue Today to Raise Awareness of Human Trafficking

Do It Now!

Today is #WearBlueDay.

January 11 is also known as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day; this day was set aside to help raise awareness of global human trafficking.

I joined the efforts to address this massive issue by offering some sobering statistics.

Did You Know?

According to the Polaris Project:

In 2021, 10,359 situations of human trafficking were reported to the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline involving 16,554 individual victims.

Sadly, as jarring as these numbers may seem, these numbers only represent a fraction of the problem.

Additionally, there are plenty of myths being spread about human trafficking.

However, human trafficking does not necessarily involve the following:

Strangers
Sexual acts
Women/children
Violence
Undocumented foreign naturals
Illegal/Underground industries
Chains/ captivity
Traveling across national/international borders

In other words, although many people may be convinced that this is an issue that only happens to women and children or that every victim is violently dragged from their homes across borders and chained up in empty rooms, this is not always the case.

Many human traffickers gain control over their victims using psychological trickery, threats, and manipulation. Moreover, rather than choosing random targets, many traffickers gain their victim's trust before striking.

Additionally, authorities believe that even though sex trafficking is more commonly discussed, forced labor trafficking may actually be far more widespread than sex trafficking.

Oddly, the most common sectors involving human trafficking are as follows:

Domestic work
Agriculture
Construction
Restaurant/food service
Illicit industries

This means that spotting and eradicating this massive issue is likely more complex than we had hoped.

Also, according to the U.S. Department of State, here are the top indicators that someone may be human trafficked:

Living with employer
Poor living conditions
Multiple people in a cramped space
Inability to speak to individual alone
Answers appear to be scripted and rehearsed
Employer is holding identity documents
Signs of physical abuse
Submissive or fearful
Unpaid or paid very little
Under 18 and in prostitution

How Can We Help Each Other?

The first thing you can do is wear blue and post a photo online with the hashtag #WearBlueDay. You can also post facts and stats to help raise awareness.

Another tip is to learn simple self-defense tactics and encourage others to do the same. This is not simply learning how to strike and escape potential attackers but also learning where to park your car, stay safe when out at night, safely provide help to others while on the road, and recognize when you or others are in danger.

Here are the questions the Department of State recommends asking if you suspect someone is being trafficked:

Can you leave your job if you want to?
Can you come and go as you please?
Have you been hurt or threatened if you tried to leave?
Has your family been threatened?
Do you live with your employer?
Where do you sleep and eat?
Are you in debt to your employer?
Do you have your passport/identification? Who has it?

If you suspect that someone is in danger of being trafficked, is presently being trafficked, or if you, yourself, are in danger, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1–888–373–7888 or Text Text* 233733.

New to Medium? Follow the Empath Survival Guide, and don't forget to subscribe to my email list! It's free! As always, all tips, donations, shares, hand claps, comments, follows, and subscriptions are greatly appreciated!