Human Trafficking Essay

Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery, in which individuals are being exploited for profit. When most of us hear human trafficking, we instantly conclude that a person is being held against their will to perform sexual acts and someone is profiting. In reality, there is also labor trafficking, where an individual is forced and threatened by employers to work against their will. There is an immense amount of victims of human trafficking not only in the United States, but also globally. Bringing awareness to communities is vital to help individuals who are victims of human trafficking to seek help, but also allow those to help rescue victims. By doing so, it is key to provide information on the rates of human trafficking, recruitment,

One form of recruitment in sex trafficking is street-based, there can be a pimp who controls and exploits the victim(s) for profits. According to Gems Uncovered organization, a pimp will typically target a teenager within that short amount of time after he/she has run away from home. Another form of recruitment is by the use of social media, such as Facebook, Craigslist, Dating sites, etc. Individuals can hide their identity while targeting victims, considering it to be even more dangerous because travel can play a role. As for labor trafficking, in many cases the living conditions individuals experience in the U.S. or a foreign country can drive a person to seek any form of employment. In the case of immigrant victims of labor trafficking, their legal status can impede the person from escaping the work conditions and the constant intimidation of provoked fear. There are various forms in which victims are forced into human trafficking, but it does not mean they cannot ever

These possible signs, whether physical or behavioral can be assets in helping the victim seek help. According to Polaris, victims of human trafficking may be perceived as fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, or paranoid. There can be signs of physical abuse such as bruises, which can often lead to someone concluding that the individual is probably a victim of domestic abuse and not of human trafficking. Polaris states another indicator would be instability in the individual’s life in aspects such as financially or relationships with family and friends. Bringing awareness of the possible signs can help society build a sense of common ground of assistance to help victims of human