Sex Trafficking Awareness
January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. It serves as an essential reminder that sex trafficking happens all around us, but when people learn to recognize the signs of sex trafficking and how report it, it can help prevent this abuse. The first step in raising awareness is increasing understanding about what sex trafficking is and what it can look like.
By definition, sex trafficking is the prostituting of a minor or the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel an adult into commercial sex work. In 2015, the United States federal definition of sex trafficking expanded to include sex buyers. So sex trafficking does not only involve pimps who profit from selling commercial sex. Men who purchase sex are also considered sex traffickers, and they can be arrested for human trafficking.
Women and girls are disproportionately impacted by sex trafficking. For every 10 victims detected, five are adult women and two are girls. Most of the women who come to Engedi Refuge were first commercially sexually exploited when they were children. This is because traffickers often target vulnerable people. This can include children, people with disabilities, people experiencing family disruptions, and people who are homeless or living in poverty. Some of the initial warning signs that a person is being sex trafficked can include:
Living in unsuitable or unstable conditions
Lack of food, sleep, or medical care
Sudden and dramatic change in behavior
Disconnecting from family, friends, and the community
Stopping attending school
Fearful, timid, or submissive behavior
Appears disoriented, confused, or shows signs of mental or physical abuse
Starts acquiring expensive items without any clear explanation for increased income
Has a new boyfriend who is older
Often in the company of a person that appears to be in control
Sex traffickers will often take excessive measures to control women and girls. Some behaviors and indications of control include:
A woman or girl is not allowed to speak for herself
A woman or girl is not in possession of her own wallet, ID, phone, ticket, or other documentation
A woman or girl has tattoos that show ownership, often her trafficker’s name
A woman or girl does not know where she is, and is confused about her whereabouts
The people she is with take excessive security measures
A woman or girl is not allowed to be alone
So why does Engedi Refuge recognize National Human Trafficking Prevention Month each January? Because increasing awareness about sex trafficking leads to understanding. Understanding leads to action. When communities learn to recognize the realities of sex trafficking, they can respond with compassion, coordination, and action. More survivors can be identified and helped, and more traffickers can be held accountable.
When more people learn to recognize the signs of sex trafficking and how to report it, this information could save lives. If you witness a situation you think may be sex trafficking, and if you are able to talk with someone you suspect could be a victim, what can you do? Kindness can go a long way. Here are three questions that can help.
Are you okay?
Do you need help?
Do you want me to call someone for or with you?
If someone needs help, you can contact the following resources.
Call 911 immediately anytime someone is in imminent danger
Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888
Text the word HELP to 233733 (BEFREE)
Call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 800-843-5678 (800-THE-LOST)
To report the commercial sexual exploitation of a child, you can file an online report with the Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s Cyber Tipline