How to identify Signs of human trafficking at your university
Introduction
Human trafficking is a global issue that affects millions of people every year. Victims of human trafficking are often forced into labor or prostitution, and many times they don’t realize they’re victims. Human trafficking can be difficult to identify because the signs aren’t obvious, they’re often hidden by perpetrators who may manipulate victims into thinking that their situation isn’t as bad as it actually is. The more we all learn about these signs and how to report them, the more likely we will be able to save lives! Here you could learn what trafficking means and ways for you to recognize potential human trafficking cases at your university.
Types of human trafficking
There are two main types of human trafficking: sex trafficking and labor trafficking:
â—Ź Sex trafficking is the recruitment, harboring and transportation of people, often women and children, for the purpose of sexual exploitation, if you want to know more, you can always go to popular sites, or read verbatim from students their essay about human trafficking, because most likely they were the ones who faced the problem directly.
â—Ź Trafficking for the purpose of employment occurs when a person uses force or deceit to control a person’s work—his work life. For example: forcing workers to pay lower wages than agreed, withholding wages from workers, or charging excessive hiring fees.
How to recognize signs of potential human trafficking at your university
When it comes to the signs of human trafficking, it’s important to know how they happen. The most common ways traffickers “recruit” victims are through false promises of education or employment, or by pretending that they’re in love with them and would like to be together forever.
Many times, traffickers will also use psychological manipulation—they may convince their victims that their families won’t love them anymore because they’ve been kidnapped by a stranger and that if they try to escape from the trafficking situation, things will get worse for them. Other methods of psychological manipulation include physical abuse (slapping) or threats against loved ones back home.
There are some signs that could indicate you’re being trafficked into forced labor:
-You’re not allowed to contact your family or friends -You have a new job and you’re told that you have to stay in it for a long time (like indefinitely) -You’re forced to work long hours in bad conditions, but are paid very little money;
-You’re being forced to work under the threat of physical violence;
-You have no way to leave your situation, even if you wanted to;
-You’re being threatened with deportation if you don’t work hard enough;
-Your passport has been taken away from you.
What to do if you suspect or witness human trafficking?
If you suspect or witness human trafficking, there are several things you can do to help.
â—Ź Report it. If you think someone is being trafficked, report it to your local law enforcement agency, campus police, and/or a national hotline. In the U.S., contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP to BeFree (233733). In Canada contact your local police department or call 911 if in immediate danger; otherwise contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 for more information on how to report suspected human trafficking activity in your community.
â—Ź Don’t be afraid to ask questions—and take action! If an individual is in danger of being trafficked by another person or organization, then it may be appropriate for you as a concerned citizen with access rights over public spaces (e.g., dorms) where they reside to intervene in order to prevent further harm from occurring and potentially save their lives by removing them from their current situation immediately so that they are no longer vulnerable when alone during such times as sleeping hours which make it easier for perpetrators who want nothing more than easy access without notice while also making sure they don’t escape once caught off guard without proper supervision present.
How to report an incident of human trafficking?
If you are concerned about a student who may be vulnerable to human trafficking, there are steps you can take to help them.
â—Ź Report it to the police immediately by calling 911 or contacting the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
â—Ź Report it to local law enforcement authorities, who will work with federal agencies including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
● Tell someone in authority at your campus or workplace that you suspect someone is being trafficked, such as your supervisor, department head or dean’s office contact person; this could be anyone from someone who works for Student Affairs to another faculty member in your department who teaches in a related field such as sociology or criminology (you can find more information on identifying human trafficking here). If possible, provide details about how the suspected victim might have been affected by this crime so that officials know where they need to look for evidence of trafficking activity – perhaps someone has been missing weekday classes while working all night shifts at an exotic dance club.
Conclusion
Human trafficking is a serious crime that affects millions of people around the world. It’s important to report human trafficking if you see it happening and to work with others who are trying to address this problem. At your university, there are probably many different ways that you can help prevent human trafficking and assist victims of this crime.
Remember: Human trafficking is real and present on college campuses. It is not something that happens only in other countries or large cities; it happens right here in our own backyards! If you see someone being trafficked, don’t assume it’s just a “one-time thing”—report it immediately so officials can get involved and start helping both parties involved as soon as possible.
