Human Trafficking Knocking at Our Doors

Over the Fourth of July weekend, we had an opportunity to visit with Les's extended family at their annual campout. His cousin and wife spoke to us about human trafficking in Wisconsin. They had heard one speaker say it was faster to find a prostitute than it was to order a pizza and having it delivered. It was stunning to discover something you have  read about lurking within your own State. That was the extent of my involvement with this issue until going to the library the other night.
    Hanging below the checkout desk was a large poster advertising Join the Movement, an event to bring awareness on human trafficking. My radar clicked on, and I thought it would be a great article for the newspaper I write for. The editor okay'd it, so I began researching. I thought this topic was also important enough to share with my blog readers. The facts are stunning, and I hope you make yourself aware and share with others.
     The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime explains human trafficking as this: "Trafficking in Persons as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs."
     It added that it can occur within countries, not just at the borders, and men, women and children can be victims.
     Guest speaker for Thursday night's event,  Theresa Flores was 15, when she became a sex slave in her upper middle class home in Detroit, Michigan. She continued going to school, and her family had no idea what was happening at night. This went on for two years until the family moved. She now goes around the country telling people her story and alerting people of this issue. Flores has authored books on the topic and has testified in Ohio to promote trafficking legislation.
     The U.S. Department of State says the numbers are difficult to calculate since the crime is "clandestine" and victims are afraid to report. Though anyone can be a victim, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline runaways, people who have experienced violence, and foreign nationals tend to be more vulnerable to this crime. They also broke down the statistics by states based off of calls to their hotline at 1-888-373-7888. For Wisconsin in 2017 they had 150 calls and 47 human trafficking cases reported. Those are their reported cases...How many have gone unreported?
     According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, the DOJ Human Trafficking Bureau has "Conducted 23 child and adult sex trafficking investigations; Arrested 15 child and adult sex traffickers; Arrested six “Johns; Recovered 20 adult sex trafficking victims; and Recovered four child sex trafficking victims" between Sept. 2017 to Jan. 2018. Thus, it is a problem and it is probably in our own communities.
     You can help in this situation. The State of Wisconsin has developed Wisconsin Child Sex Trafficking and Exploitation Indicator and Response Guild if you suspect human trafficking. The U.S. State Department has a list of "Indicators" to help identify victims of human trafficking. 

They are living with employer; Poor living conditions; Multiple people in cramped space; Inability to speak to individual alone; Answers appear to be scripted and rehearsed; Employer is holding identity documents; Signs of physical abuse; Submissive or fearful; Unpaid or paid very little; Under 18 and in prostitution. 

They also list questions you may ask the person: 

Can you leave your job if you want to?

Can you come and go as you please?

Have you been hurt or threatened if you tried to leave?

Has your family been threatened?

Do you live with your employer?

Where do you sleep and eat?

Are you in debt to your employer?

Do you have your passport/identification? Who has it?

     Don't try to be a hero and attempt to free or drive the victim away. You might put yourself in great risk. Call 911 or local law officials. You may also call the hotline at 

1-888-373-7888.

     I think this is a crime that feeds off inattentiveness to our surroundings. Be aware at all times so you yourself may not fall prey, or you may miss the opportunity to free someone.