Human Trafficking - Continued...
Victims of trafficking may look like many of the people coming to your organization for assistance every day. Victims are young children, teenagers, men, and women. By looking beneath the surface and asking yourself these questions, you can help identify potential victims:
• Is the person accompanied by another person who seems controlling (possibly the trafficker)?
• Is the person rarely allowed in public (except for work)?
• Can you detect any physical or psychological abuse?
• Does the person seem submissive or fearful?
• Does the person have difficulty communicating because of language or cultural barriers?
• Does the person lack identification or documentation
• Is someone else collecting the person’s pay or hold their money “for safe keeping”?
Remember gaining the trust of a victim of human trafficking is an important first step in providing assistance.
Next week: Questions to ask if you suspect you are speaking to a victim of human trafficking.