Virtual Toolkit for Human Trafficking Prevention & Support

The Psi Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and the Prince George’s County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc. have joined together on an important initiative to combat Human Trafficking in Prince George’s County. These two historic organizations have committed to be “United for the Fight” to help end human trafficking in Prince George’s County

Human trafficking encompasses both sex and labor and is the second largest and fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world It is estimated that human trafficking generates billions in profits each year. For this reason, migrant trafficking is increasingly recognized as a form of organized crime.

NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE

Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-3737888 24 hours a day.

IINTRODUCTION NTRODUCTION

Maryland and Prince George’s County are human trafficking hot spots because of its proximity to the District of Columbia and Virginia and access to major transportation routes (I-95 and Route 1). There are also many truck stops and rest stops, bus depots, train stations, and airports where victims are trafficked. The area also offers many conventions, events, and tourist attractions, which increase the demand for trafficking victims.

Welcome to our Human Trafficking Awareness Toolkit brought to you by The Psi Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.®, and The Prince George’s County Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.®

The Toolkit has been created to provide you with valuable information about human trafficking, its impact, and what you can do to help combat this global issue. Human trafficking is a serious crime that affects millions of people around the world, including in Prince George’s County, Maryland It is important that we all take action to raise awareness, prevent trafficking, and support victims and survivors

The Toolkit includes a range of resources, including an overview of what human trafficking is and how to

recognize it, information about the diverse types of trafficking and their impact on victims, as well as strategies for preventing trafficking and supporting victims. It also provides guidance on how individuals can take action to combat human trafficking, including reporting suspected cases and supporting anti-trafficking organizations.

We hope this Toolkit will be a valuable resource for you and that it will empower you to take action and make a difference in the fight against human trafficking. By working together, we can create a world where human trafficking no longer exists and where all individuals are free to live their lives without fear of exploitation or abuse.

Thank you for your commitment to this important cause

UNDERSTANDING UNDERSTANDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING HUMAN TRAFFICKING

WHAT IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING?

A crime involving the exploitation of someone for the purpose of compelled labor or a commercial sex act through the use of force, fraud, or coercion; where a person younger than age 18 is induced to perform a commercial sex act, it is a crime regardless of whether there is any force, fraud, or coercion (22 U S C § 7102)

DID YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF TRAFFICKING?

Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act Human trafficking generally falls into two categories: sex trafficking and forced labor. The following are different types of human trafficking

Sex trafficking and child sex trafficking

The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act in which the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age.

Debt Bondage

Debt Bondage is a type of forced labor involving a debt that must be paid off through work.

Forced Labor

Forced labor is “all work or service which is exacted from any person under the threat of a penalty and for which the person has not offered himself or herself voluntarily.”

Forced Child Labor

When a child is under the minimum age of work, any labor may be considered forced labor. Children older than the minimum age of work are considered working in forced child labor if their work is involuntary and they are under the menace of penalty for not working.

Involuntary Domestic Servitude

Involuntary domestic servitude occurs when a domestic worker becomes ensnared in an exploitative situation where he or she is not free to leave.

Unlawful Recruitment

Children are recruited and used in armed conflict as combatants and in support roles. When their recruitment or use is a result of forced fraud, or coercion, then it amounts to trafficking.

HOW BAD IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING AROUND THE WORLD AND IN MARYLAND?

Global Impact

Globally, human trafficking is a multi-billion-dollar industry affecting millions of people in virtually every country Countries around the world struggle with both internal and cross-border trafficking. The response involves international cooperation and a combination of stringent law enforcement, victim support, and preventive measures through public education and economic development

Currently, 49.6 million people are estimated to be trafficked worldwide

35% of the people trafficked are children

Human trafficking is the second most profitable illegal industry in the U.S.

50% of the World's Sex trafficking occurs in the U.S.

Human trafficking is a $150 billion industry

Local Impact

In Prince George's County, MD, human trafficking remains a significant issue, with both sex and labor trafficking being present The County's strategic geographic location near major cities like Washington, D.C., and its major transportation networks make it a target area for trafficking activities

Local law enforcement and community organizations actively work to combat this problem through awareness campaigns, educational programs, and collaboration with federal agencies to identify and support victims while pursuing traffickers

The complexity of human trafficking requires coordinated global and local responses that include law enforcement action, public awareness campaigns, and support systems for victims. The use of data and technology also plays a crucial role in understanding and combating trafficking patterns effectively

Sources: https://ourrescue org/resources/education/human-trafficking-statistics

https://www unodc org/unodc/en/press/releases/2023/January/globalreport-on-trafficking-in-persons-2022.html

https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en-us/posts/human-trafficking/specialreport-human-trafficking-insurance-sector-2024/

SIGNS AND SIGNS AND IINDICATORS NDICATORS

DO YOU KNOW HOW HUMAN TRAFFICKERS TARGET YOU?

Everyone has basic needs and traffickers exploit them. Dr. Abraham Maslow’s Theory of Human Motivation and Hierarchy of Needs proposed that human needs are arranged in a hierarchy and that a person must satisfy lower-level needs before progressing to higher-level needs.

Maslow’s model is particularly useful in analyzing how vulnerable individuals can be enticed and trapped in exploitative situations Those who lack basic needs such as safety and security may be more susceptible to manipulation and coercion as they strive to fulfill these fundamental human requirements

This vulnerability can explain why individuals might enter or remain in harmful situations, including human trafficking and other forms of exploitation The model provides a lens through which to view the motivations behind human actions, particularly in contexts of vulnerability and exploitation.

HOW SEX TRAFFICKERS LURE PEOPLE

Many sex traffickers lure victims by providing basic survival needs. They systematically provide distorted versions of higher needs to manipulate victims Using threats, force and coercion, traffickers exploit the fact that, for many victims, “the life” may be their first experience of ‘family’ and belonging

MASLOW'S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS

Self-Actualization

Esteem

LoveandBelongingness

Safety

PhysiologicalNeeds

Sources: https://www.doj.state.wi.us/sites/default/files/ocvs/Maslow%20Hand%20out.pdf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhbfGo7voB8

DID YOU KNOW THAT TRAFFICKING BEHAVIORS CAN BE HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT?

Human traffickers often operate in plain sight They blend into communities and can appear as ordinary citizens, which makes identifying and combating trafficking networks challenging Here are several ways traffickers manage to hide their operations

Work Conditions

Are you witnessing a person:

Experience verbal or physical abuse (particularly from a supervisor), prevented from taking adequate breaks, made to work in unsafe conditions, or forced to meet daily quotas?

Work excessively long and/or unusual hours?

Accept a specific job but feels coerced or forced into a different job?

Appear to be living at their place of work?

Receive paychecks with negative balances or unreasonably low amounts for the pay period? Is the employer or someone else:

Creating debt for the potential victim or adding to a never-ending balance of debt?

Processing payroll infrequently, not giving worker's compensation insurance outlays where mandated, or forcing the potential victim to transfer funds to an employer's account?

Escorting the potential victim to the bank and/or using their bank accounts?

Threatening the potential victim with deportation, arrest, or jail?

In possession of the potential victim's identification, travel documents, money, or cell phone?

Behavior or Physical State

Are you witnessing a person:

Act fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous, particularly around their work or someone they know?

Defer to another person to speak for them and avoid eye contact?

Show signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture?

Show signs of being harmed or deprived of food, water, sleep, medical care, other life necessities, or personal possessions?

Social Behavior of the Trafficker

Is someone else:

Restricting the potential victim's contact with friends or family?

Limiting the potential victim's social media use and/or stalking or monitoring their accounts?

Preventing the potential victim from socializing or attending religious services?

Preventing children from attending school and forcing them to work?

Holding a large group in one place with poor conditions and limited space?

Constantly watching or accompanying the potential victim?

Threatening the potential victim or their family with harm if they leave or quit work?

Posting harmful content online about the potential victim to compel them to engage in a commercial sex act?

RISK FACTORS AND RISK FACTORS AND VULNERABILITIES VULNERABILITIES

People you know might be vulnerable to trafficking if they:

Have an unstable living situation

Have a history of domestic violence

Has a caregiver or family member who has a substance abuse issue

Are runaways or involved in the juvenile justice or foster care system

Are undocumented immigrants

Are facing poverty or economic need

Have a history of sexual abuse

Are addicted to drugs or alcohol

GROOMING, EXPLOITATION, AND CONTROL

Traffickers employ a systematic approach to manipulate their victims by gradually earning their trust, fostering dependence, and normalizing the sale of sexual services as both acceptable and necessary. There are typically six steps to this grooming process The following sections describe the six steps

Targeting the Victim

Traffickers identify a potential victim based on perceived vulnerabilities such as emotional neediness, low selfesteem, economic instability, or familial disruptions. These vulnerabilities make the individual more susceptible to manipulation.

Gaining Trust

The trafficker presents themselves as a caring and supportive figure, often pretending to be a friend or romantic partner. They spend time building a relationship to gain the victim's trust and confidence.

Fulfilling a Need

Once trust is established, traffickers exploit the victim's vulnerabilities by positioning themselves as a key figure in their life. They may provide them with affection, gifts, money, or drugs, creating a sense of indebtedness.

Isolation

Traffickers isolate their victims from friends, family, and any support networks. Isolation may be physical, emotional, or both, effectively cutting off any potential help and making the victim entirely dependent on their trafficker.

Creating Dependency

Traffickers will increase the victim's dependency on them for emotional support, sustenance, and identity. This can involve controlling their finances, dictating their physical appearance, and making critical life decisions for them.

Exploitation

Finally, traffickers exploit their victims, coercing them into illegal activities such as sexual services. The victims are led to believe that such activities are normal or necessary and that they are making these choices freely, even though they are being manipulated and controlled.

Sources: https://polarisproject org/vulnerabilities-and-recruitment/ Child Sex Trafficking Recruitment and Grooming, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

OFFLINE SAFETY

Keep an Eye on Your Drink

Traffickers look for opportunities to impair your judgement. This can take the form of buying you drinks that may be laced with drugs or adding drugs to your drink while you are not paying attention. If you lose track of your drink, dump it out.

Be Wary of Instant Love

Traffickers who shower potential victims with attention, affection, and gifts, on their first meeting, are known as “Romeo pimps.” They establish an emotional attachment right away and will ask probing questions to find out if you’re alone.

PREVENTION PREVENTION STRATEGIES STRATEGIES

GUIDELINES ON HOW TO STAY SAFE ONLINE AND OFFLINE

Do not at any time attempt to confront a suspected trafficker directly or alert a victim to your suspicions.

Call 911 for emergency situations –threats of violence, physical assault, emergency medical needs, etc.

Call 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-3472423) to report suspicious criminal activity to federal law enforcement Highly trained specialists take reports from both the public and law enforcement agencies

If you are a victim and need help or if you want to find support for a victim, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline Call 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733).

Have a Safety Plan

Follow your instincts. Make sure you have a safe way to get home if you need to leave. If you don’t feel safe, go to the bar and ask the bartender to call a cab for you to get home. Stay with the bartender until the cab arrives.

ONLINE SAFETY

Human trafficking has established a presence online through social media and gaming sites As more people under the age of 18 have established a presence, the opportunities for online abuse have also increased What you can do to be safe:

Never share personal information online

Don't respond to emails, texts, or messages from strangers

Use caution when posting or sharing photos.

Don't click links, open attachments, or accept gifts from someone you don't know.

Never agree to meet someone you met online.

Let your parents or another trusted adult know if you need help

Never post your full name

Never post your date of birth

Never post your contact information, including your phone number, email, or address.

Never post pictures that you don't want everyone to see.

Never assume any online communication is private.

Never post information about your school or work.

Never share places or times of where you ' re going to be.

Never post information about new purchases

Never add friends you don't really know

DO enable privacy on all accounts

MIA’S STORY

See Mia's story about a young girl who meets her trafficker on social media.

Sources: https://www.safewise.com/resources/internet-safety-kids/ https://surviveandthriveadvocacy.org/human-trafficking-and-social-media-safety-forkids/

Traffickers target people who post in a particular language that could make them vulnerable Be careful about what you say and who responds

Social media posts that could draw attention from predators

What teens are posting

“Nobody gets me”

“I’m sick of being single”

“I’m so ugly”

“How do I look?”

“My life sucks”

Trafficker’s response

“I understand you”

“I love you”

“I think you’re beautiful”

“You could be a model/singer/athlete”

“I’ll make your life better”

There's also a secret, coded language lurking within cyberspace that includes the use of emojis and messages that are blatantly visible yet often unrecognized

Sources: https://www.kgun9.com/news/human-trafficking/secret-codes-and-language-used-bykids-and-traffickers

Cybersmart Detectives explores what could happen when someone reveals too much information online and what to do if it ends up in the wrong hands

Check out Cybersmart Detectives at https://vimeo com/140275053 if you think someone might need help

1.

Learn the indicators of human trafficking. Red flags that could alert you to a potential trafficking situation include:

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

Signs of physical abuse

Under 18 and in prostitution

2. Learn how to safely navigate out of suspicious or uncomfortable situations and where to reach out for help at any time 3

Be well-informed about how human traffickers often target and recruit people. Check out CNN's Freedom Project for information about different forms of human trafficking around the world

Take action and join or establish a club to raise awareness about human 4

MYTH REALITY

When someone is trafficked, they are kidnapped and held against their will

Traffickers are old men who prey on young girls

Being trafficked may be a gradual process. It may take weeks or months of grooming and manipulation by the trafficker before the victim is exploited Victims may appear to have free will but are often controlled by their trafficker through fear and other forms of mental manipulation They may not even identify themselves as a victim

The person that lures a youth into a trafficking situation is often one of their peers, a member of their family, or someone they think they trust Traffickers can be any race, gender or age

Only girls are sex trafficked

Youth experience human trafficking do not go to school.

Youth of all genders are vulnerable to experiencing sex trafficking. This includes boys, transgender youth, non-binary, and nonconforming youth

Youth who attend school and are involved in community activities are still at-risk for being trafficked. Even during a trafficking experience, a victim may still attend school regularly and participate in their usual programs.

Traffickers target victims they do not know.

In many cases, traffickers target vulnerable people who they already know Traffickers may target friends, family, or any mutual connections to victims in order to establish contact

Only undocumented individuals are forced labor victims

Forced labor doesn’t occur in legal or legitimate business settings.

Anyone can be a victim of forced labor. Youth of every race, gender, and immigration status are vulnerable to being forced to work for little or no pay

Forced labor takes place in all kinds of businesses and settings, both legal and illegal A variety of industries, for example illicit massage businesses, domestic work, agriculture, factory work, door-to-door sales crews, bars and restaurants, construction, hospitality, and commercial cleaning services, have uncovered forced labor

REAL STORIES REAL STORIES

DO YOU THINK HUMAN TRAFFICKING COULD NEVER HAPPEN TO YOU?

View stories of human trafficking survivors who are able to share their stories.

Markie Dell, human trafficking survivor, recounts her experience and her journey healing through the trauma After trying to reclaim her life, it was the unusual advice from a friend that lead to her healing

Casandra Diamond shares a harrowing story of her experience inside these modern day brothels: in this raw and honest talk, learn about the systemic issues that enable businesses to operate in plain sight and how you can help to advocate for change

Markie Dell

Casandra Diamond

REAL STORIES REAL STORIES

Elijah shares his story of silence, shame, abuse, and ultimately escape from the human trafficking of slave labor He spent his childhood and early adulthood in a human trafficking cult, that dictated every aspect of his life

By her own estimate, 43,200 is the number of times Karlo Jacinto was raped after falling into the hands of human traffickers Her story highlights the brutal realities of human trafficking in Mexico and the United States

Survivor Voices of Human Trafficking

The Combating Trafficking in Persons Program Management Office presents Survivor Voices of Human Trafficking. We encourage you to read their stories and watch the survivors relate their experiences in the videos.

Elijah Muhammed

Karla Jacinto

DOCUMENTARIES DOCUMENTARIES AND MOVIES AND MOVIES

Black Girl Missing

When Cheryl gets into an argument with her daughter Lauren over her desire to drop out of college, she initially thinks Lauren is simply ignoring her calls and texts, but Cheryl soon realizes Lauren is missing.

Sex Trafficking in America

This 2019 documentary tells the stories of young women coerced into prostitution and follows one police unit that’s committed to rooting out sexual exploitation.

Sex and Money

Black and Missing

The series follows sisters-in-law and Black and Missing Foundation founders Derrica and Natalie Wilson as they fight an uphill battle to bring awareness to the Black missing person cases that are marginalized.

Tricked: The Documentary

This character-driven film considers the evolving sex trafficking landscape as seen by the main players: the exploited, the pimps, the johns that fuel the business, and the cops who fight to stop it.

Sex+Money: A National Search for Human Worth is a documentary about the shocking reality of domestic minor sex trafficking in the United States and the rising movement of advocates fighting to abolish it

RESOURCES RESOURCES

WHERE CAN I FIND HELP?

The Survivor Hotline

Maryland Human Trafficking Task Force

U S National Human Trafficking Hotline

1-888-261-3665

1-866-347-2423 or humantrafficking@oag.state.md.us

1-888-373-7888 or Text "HELP" or "INFO" to 233733 humantraffickinghotline org

The Black and Missing Foundation, Inc (BAMFI) https://blackandmissinginc.com/

Polaris Project

Human Trafficking Front

The Exodus Road

The Prince George's County Human Trafficking Task Force

1-888-373-7888 http://www polarisproject org/

561-921-5853 https://humantraffickingfront.org/

719-941-9755 https://theexodusroad com/

301-883-6170 or 311 https://www endhumantraffickingpgc o rg/

The Prince George's County Family Justice Center

Love146

301-780-8008 https://pgcfamilyjusticecenter.org/

203-772-4420 https://love146 org/

Blue Campaign https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign

CONCLUSION CONCLUSION

Human trafficking remains one of the most heinous crimes, impacting millions of lives across the globe. It is a form of modern-day slavery that involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some form of labor or commercial sex act. Everyone, regardless of their background, can play a crucial role in combating this grave issue by staying informed and vigilant.

The fight against human trafficking is ongoing and requires constant vigilance. By staying informed, educating others, leveraging technology, and collaborating with various organizations fighting this crime, we can build a safer environment for everyone. It's essential for every individual to be aware of the signs of trafficking, report suspicious activities to the authorities, and support organizations that are working on the front lines.

Maintaining safety and promoting awareness are not just acts of civic duty but are moral imperatives that empower us to protect the most vulnerable in society. Let's continue to educate ourselves and others, engage in meaningful conversations, and take actionable steps to eradicate this pervasive crime.

Together, we can make a significant impact in the global fight against human trafficking. HOW CAN YOU HELP END HUMAN TRAFFICKING?

GLOSSARY OF TERMS GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Coercion

May involve threats of serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; any scheme, plan, or pattern intended to cause a person to believe that failure to perform an act would result in serious harm to or physical restraint against any person; or the abuse or threatened abuse of the legal process (22 U S C § 7102)

Force

May involve the use of physical restraint or serious physical harm; physical violence, including rape, beatings, and physical confinement, is often used as a means to control victims, especially during the early stages of victimization when the trafficker breaks down the victim's resistance

Harboring

Sheltering or hiding trafficked persons

Human Trafficking

A crime involving the exploitation of someone for the purpose of compelled labor or a commercial sex act through the use of force, fraud, or coercion; where a person younger than age 18 is induced to perform a commercial sex act, it is a crime regardless of whether there is any force, fraud, or coercion (22 U S C § 7102)

Intimate Partner Violence

Physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, and psychological aggression (including coercive acts) by a current or former intimate partner

Mandated Reporter

A person who, because of his or her profession, is legally required to report any suspicion of child abuse or neglect, intimate partner violence, and/or human trafficking to the relevant authorities per federal and state requirements

GLOSSARY OF TERMS GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Recruitment

Enlisting persons under false pretenses into a situation in which they may be trafficked

Smuggling

Illegal transportation of consenting individuals across a national border

Survivor

An individual working toward healing in the aftermath of the trauma of being a victim of trafficking

Traffickers

People who are involved in the criminal activity of trafficking in persons The term does not apply solely to persons convicted of human trafficking offenses but also refers to suspects and arrested and prosecuted persons who, through various means, have come to the attention of the criminal justice system

Victim

An individual who has experienced trafficking; the term "victim" is used when referencing rights or resources that a victim is legally mandated to receive

Vulnerability

Something that makes it easier for someone to be taken advantage of

Sources:

https://www.unodc.org/documents/e4j/Secondary/Human_Trafficking_4_Glossary.pdf https://nhttac.acf.hhs.gov/soar/eguide/common_terminology