Modern Day Slavery

“Human trafficking is a crime against humanity. We must unite our efforts to free victims and stop this crime that’s become ever more aggressive, that threatens not just individuals, but the foundational values of society.” ~ Pope Francis

Human trafficking is exactly what it sounds like, the selling of a human being into the bonds of slavery for the purpose of engaging in sex for pay or for forced labor. In school, we learned that President Lincoln ended slavery with the Emancipation Proclamation 154 years ago, on January 1st, 1863. The reality is that the slave industry is alive and well here in the United States as well as all around the globe. Where slave markets were once a public affair, the new slave market operates in the shadows of abandon buildings and the cross roads of the interstates. Due to the dark nature of this “industry” there are no hard, confirmed numbers but agencies that fights this abomination such as the US Institute Against Human Trafficking estimate that in the United States alone there could be up to a million persons ensnared in this vial trade as victims. The victims of this modern slavery are people of every age, gender, and orientation…no one is immune.

While Victims can come from every walk of life, there are certain tendencies and vulnerabilities that trafficker seem to be attracted to. According to Polaris, one of the many agencies fighting human trafficking, many victims are runaways or who are homeless as well as victims of domestic violence or sexual assault. These victims are targeted because of their vulnerabilities and are often forced into situations of harsh labor or for sex trafficking. It is estimated that somewhere between 100,000 to 300,000 persons are forced into the sex trade with most of these children under the age of 18 and as young as 5 years old. It is believed that as many as 15 % of those sold for sex are boys and that number is growing. I’m sure some of you might have heard on the news about how host cities step up vice enforcement as tens of thousands of football fans pour in to their city to party…some of those parties involve the exploitation of the innocent to the highest bidder.

There are warning signs that might allow a person to help a suspected victim of trafficking if they are aware… (from https://polarisproject.org/recognize-signs)

Common Work and Living Conditions: The individual(s) in question

Is not free to leave or come and go as he/she wishes
Is under 18 and is providing commercial sex acts
Is in the commercial sex industry and has a pimp / manager
Is unpaid, paid very little, or paid only through tips
Works excessively long and/or unusual hours
Is not allowed breaks or suffers under unusual restrictions at work
Owes a large debt and is unable to pay it off
Was recruited through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of his/her work
High security measures exist in the work and/or living locations (e.g. opaque windows, boarded up windows, bars on windows, barbed wire, security cameras, etc.)

Poor Mental Health or Abnormal Behavior

Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid
Exhibits unusually fearful or anxious behavior after bringing up law enforcement
Avoids eye contact

Poor Physical Health

Lacks health care
Appears malnourished
Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture

Lack of Control

Has few or no personal possessions
Is not in control of his/her own money, no financial records, or bank account
Is not in control of his/her own identification documents (ID or passport)
Is not allowed or able to speak for themselves (a third party may insist on being present and/or translating)

Other

Claims of just visiting and inability to clarify where he/she is staying/address
Lack of knowledge of whereabouts and/or do not know what city he/she is in
Loss of sense of time
Has numerous inconsistencies in his/her story

Human trafficking is a horror against humanity and must be fought with all resources long before we build a wall or cancel health insurance to millions of people…our humanity depends upon it. If you have questions, please call the US Institute Against Human Trafficking (844) 600-7774 or Polaris (888) 373-7888 or if you suspect someone is being held against their will, call your local authority…every bit helps. Thanks for reading and I hope everyone has a safe week moving forward. Take care of yourself and each other, remember, we’re all in this together.

Wm Reid

Best Home Care Services

325 N Eastern Ave

Connersville, IN 47331

765-827-9833

wmreid@bhcshealth.com