Combating human trafficking should involve nationwide training. Ideally, everyone should be informed of the pervasiveness of human trafficking in communities throughout the United States.
Sadly, human trafficking occurs in all 50 states. As a result, U.S. citizens have an essential role in recognizing the signs of human trafficking and taking action, which can save lives.
Learning the Signs of Human Trafficking
To effectively fight human trafficking, everyone should learn the indicators of human trafficking and how to report their observations to law enforcement agencies.
Traffickers commonly use threats, coercion and physical force to instill fear into their victims. This fear discourages victims from escaping traffickers because those victims fear serious injury or even death.
Human trafficking in communities has subtle signs. These signs can include:
- Children who are of school age but not attending school or being homeschooled
- An unusually high number of people going in and out of a house at all hours
- Children or adults with bruises, cuts, and other signs of physical injury (such as limping)
- People with tattoos indicating ownership, such as bar codes
- People accompanied by controlling individuals who speak for them
In addition, people should understand how human traffickers recruit and groom their victims, either online or in-person. For example, parents need to be aware of the biggest current online threat to teenagers, which is sextortion.
There are various resources that are available to human trafficking victims. These resources can be especially useful for human trafficking survivors.
My Experience Speaking on Sextortion at the ‘Get In The Fight’ Texas Summit
I first learned of America’s Future Project Defend & Protect Our Children Get In The Fight Campaign late last year. “Get In The Fight” representatives work with community-based organizations, first responders such as law enforcement officers, parent groups, churches, and others to teach the public how to to mitigate human trafficking in their communities.
What sets the “Get In The Fight” campaign apart from others is that they have gathered a team of experts in counter human trafficking with a single focus – defend and protect our children. America’s Future is a non-profit organization, established in 1946.
In February 2024, I traveled to Fort Worth to provide a presentation at the Texas 2024 “Get In The Fight” Summit. Prior to my presentation, I heard an incredible panel of experts discuss many important aspects of combating human trafficking. There were also many informative breakout sessions that included presentations such as:
- A program for real estate agents/brokers, first responders and home appraisers
- “Pitfalls of Pornography”
- A parents and caring adults program
- An overcomer seminar for victims recovering from child abuse and exploitation
- A human trafficking and health care program
- A legal seminar
- An artificial intelligence seminar
- A “Just for Teens” program
Navigating the Emerging Threat of Sextortion
In my presentation on sextortion, I discussed what parents, teenagers, law enforcement and other community members need to understand about this online threat. I provided case studies and discussed resources to use if someone has been a victim of sextortion. I also fielded many questions during the presentation.
The goal is for the “Get In The Fight” campaign to visit each state in the country to bring this important awareness of human trafficking to the public. Any organization or anyone interested in learning more or hosting a “Get In The Fight” Summit is welcome to reach out to America’s Future.