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Home 5 Trafficking Today

The State of
Trafficking Today

Understanding human trafficking is the first step towards effecting change.

Through education, awareness, and action, we aim to empower communities to be able to spot the signs and act.

Home 5 Trafficking Today

The State of Trafficking Today

Understanding human trafficking is the first step towards effecting change.

Through education, awareness, and action, we aim to empower communities to be able to spot the signs and act.

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What is Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. It is a multifaceted problem that affects millions of individuals worldwide, with its roots deeply entrenched even in the fabric of contemporary American society.

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Spotting the Signs

Recognizing the signs of human trafficking is a crucial step in prevention.

High-risk factors include recent migration, substance use, mental health issues, involvement with the child welfare system, or being a runaway or homeless youth. Traffickers skillfully manipulate these vulnerabilities to foster dependency among their victims. Human trafficking can occur in plain sight, yet remains concealed in everyday locations such as construction sites, restaurants, elder care centers, nail salons, agricultural fields, and hotels.

Coercion tactics used by traffickers, including threats of deportation or harm to the victims or their families, can be so overpowering that victims may fear accepting help even when offered. Being aware of the indicators of human trafficking and understanding how to respond can empower you to trust your instincts and take action. Reporting these situations can initiate the help these victims desperately need.

Human Trafficking Indicators

Physical Signs

  • Signs of physical abuse, malnourishment, or exhaustion
  • Evidence of repeated substance abuse
  • Unpaid or receiving very little for work done, excessive work hours, or doing dangerous tasks
  • Lack of access to personal documents, such as ID or Passport
  • Lives in poor conditions with employer
  • Multiple people living in a cramped space
  • Restricted freedom, unable to leave home or workplace as desired

Behavioral Signs

  • Answers appear to be scripted or rehearsed
  • Sudden changes in behavior: frequent absences, running away, or untruthfulness
  • Avoids eye contact, unwilling or discouraged from speaking independently
  • Submissive or fearful
What Should I Do If I Suspect Someone Is Being Trafficked?
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Contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888

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If you believe someone is in immediate danger, call 911

Human Trafficking Defined

Human trafficking is defined by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) from 2000. It comprehends “severe forms of trafficking in persons” across two main dimensions:

Sex Trafficking

Sex trafficking covers situations where an individual is coerced, deceived, or forced into performing commercial sex acts. 
Sex trafficking also accounts for circumstances where the person engaged in such acts is a minor, emphasizing the egregious exploitation of those under 18, regardless of the presence of force, fraud, or coercion.

Labor Trafficking:

Labor trafficking involves recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing, or obtaining a person for labor or services, utilizing force, fraud, or coercion. The intended outcome of such illicit activities is to subject victims to conditions akin to involuntary servitude, peonage (a type of debt bondage), debt bondage more broadly, or outright slavery.

A critical insight from the TVPA is that the movement of the victim isn’t a requirement for an act to be recognized as trafficking. The crime encompasses both the physical and psychological means of exploitation that result in individuals performing acts against their will.

Fact Check

Myth: Human Trafficking is a violent crime

The Reality: Trafficking does not always involve kidnapping or physically forcing a victim to comply. Most traffickers use psychological means such as, tricking, defrauding, manipulating or threatening victims into providing commercial sex or exploitative labor.

Myth: Trafficking victims are kidnapped and moved across borders
The Reality: Human trafficking is often confused with human smuggling. “Trafficking” is based on exploitation, “smuggling” is based on movement across borders. Although human smuggling can turn into trafficking, not all trafficking begins with human smuggling. Human trafficking does not require crossing a border or a state line; In fact, human trafficking does not require any movement from one place to another whatsoever. Often, human trafficking takes place in a victim’s home and community.
Myth: Traffickers only target victims they don’t know
The Reality: The majority of the time, survivors are trafficked by friends or family members, including spouses and parents.
Myth: Trafficking victims are always held against their will
The Reality: Sometimes victims are physically unable to leave their situation or are held against their will. More often, however, victims stay in trafficking situations for more complicated reasons. People in trafficking situations can be controlled through drug addiction, lack of financial independence, or isolation. Some victims do not have the transportation to leave or a place to go. And some have been so effectively manipulated that they do not yet identify as being under the control of another person.
Myth: Trafficking mostly occurs in developing countries
The Reality: Trafficking happens all over the world. The United States is one of the most active sex trafficking countries in the world. Labor trafficking also occurs in the U.S., but at lower rates.

Did You Know:

Most reports identify that women are the most common victims of human trafficking. However, human trafficking can happen to men, women, and children of any age, race, or country of origin.

82% Female Cases

18% Male Cases

Trafficking In the United States

Human trafficking is a serious problem that happens right here in the United States. It’s not just something that occurs in other countries or far-away places. Thousands of people in the U.S. are affected by trafficking every year.
This crime can happen in any community—big cities, small towns, and everywhere in between. Traffickers often target vulnerable individuals, using force, fraud, or coercion to make them perform labor or sexual acts against their will.

Trafficking In New Hampshire

You might not expect it, but human trafficking also happens in New Hampshire. Our state, known for its beautiful landscapes and friendly communities, is not immune to this issue.
Cases of both sex and labor trafficking have been reported, showing that trafficking is a local issue as well. It’s important for everyone in our community to be aware that this is happening around us and to know how to help stop it.
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Understanding The Impact On Survivors

Human trafficking deeply affects those who go through it, leaving scars both seen and unseen. Healing from such experiences is a tough journey that touches every part of a survivor’s life.

Emotional and Psychological Effects

Many survivors carry the weight of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health challenges. The manipulation and abuse they experienced can make it difficult to trust others, leading to isolation and compounded emotional distress.

Physical Health Issues

The physical abuse survivors might face can lead to lasting health problems. 
These issues may include injuries from physical abuse, complications from forced substance abuse, and the long-term effects of inadequate medical care.

Social and Economic Challenges

Survivors might find it tough to make friends, get a job, or go back to school. Sometimes, people may not understand what they’ve gone through, making it even harder to make new connections.

Recovery and Support

Healing from human trafficking is not a linear process, and the support needs of survivors can vary widely. Comprehensive care—encompassing safe housing, mental health support, medical care, legal assistance, and job training—is critical to address the multifaceted needs of survivors as they rebuild their lives.

How Brigid’s House of Hope Helps

Brigid’s House of Hope is stepping up to address human trafficking in New Hampshire. 
We provide one of the state’s only long-term housing programs for survivors of trafficking.
Besides offering a safe place to stay, we give survivors the support they need to heal and rebuild their lives.
Want to help? By supporting Brigid’s House of Hope, you can make a real difference in the lives of trafficking survivors. Your support helps us offer a safe haven and vital services to those in need.

Explore Donation Options to Help Us Grow

Your donations provide essential resources and support for those in need.

Give Your Time to Support Survivors As A Volunteer

Volunteering at Brigid’s House allows you to directly impact the lives of survivors.