Trafficking

Trafficking in persons is the illegal trade in human beings through abduction, the use of threat or force, deception, fraud or "sale" for the purposes of sexual exploitation, forced labor, or debt bondage.  Human trafficking is also referred to as modern day slavery.

Traffickers often transport individuals form their home countries to unfamiliar destination, leaving them defenseless and vulnerable.  Victims are often forced through physical violence and psychological threats to engage in sex acts or to perform work under slavery-like conditions.  Trafficking in persons is a violation of human rights.

Trafficking vs. Smuggling
Trafficking and smuggling are two different crimes that are often confused.  It is important to distinguish between the two crimes in order to identify trafficked persons and provide appropriate services.

Trafficking involves:

• An element of coercion.  A person cannot consent to enslavement.
• A restriction of movement, withholding documents, low or no pay, etc.
• Crime or violation against a person.
• Subsequent exploitation and/or forced labor.
• Trafficked persons seen as victims by the law.

Smuggling involves:

• Unauthorized border crossings.
• No coercion.
• Facilitated illegal entry of person from one country to another.
• Smuggled persons are seen as criminals by the law.

Some Questions to Consider...
If you are a service provider, the Safe Horizon Anti-Trafficking Program recommends that you incorporate the following questions into your client assessment.  Answers to these questions can reveal whether or not your client may be a victim of trafficking.  These questions alone will by no means serve as a comprehensive assessment of a trafficking case.  Please contact Safe Horizon's Anti-Trafficking Program for assistance.

• Did the person come to the United States for a specific job or other purpose?
• Upon arrival, was the person forced to do different work than what he/she was promised?
• Does the person have access to his/her personal documents, identification papers, etc.?
• Does the person owe money to the employer?
• Can the person leave his/her present situation?
• Has the person been threatened with harm or deportation if he/she tries to leave?
• Have family members been threatened?
• Is the person's freedom restricted in any other way?

To Get Help or Report Trafficking
If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, please call the Safe Horizon Anti-Trafficking Program at 718.943.8631 (Monday - Friday, 9-5).  After hours, call the toll-free, 24-hour Safe Horizon Hotline at 800.621.HOPE (4673).  The hotline is equipped to respond to inquiries in many languages and has TTY capability.

For More Information
To get more information about trafficking; to arrange for technical assistance or case consultations; or to organize a training in your area please call the Safe Horizon Anti-Trafficking Program at 718.943.8631.