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DonateWhat is Human Trafficking: Sex Trafficking
Human trafficking involves a perpetrator, commonly referred to as a trafficker, using force, fraud, or coercion to sexually exploit the victim. Human trafficking is a federal crime. There must be evidence that force, fraud, or coercion was used on a victim to charge the perpetrator with human trafficking. Note: If the victim is under the age of 18, sexual exploitation is always illegal.
Learn more about human trafficking by exploring the following resources:
- Wisconsin Department of Children and Families – Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (Operations Date Jan. 2015 – Dec. 2017)
- Polaris Project
- PCAR.org
Who Can Be A Victim
Sex trafficking can happen to anyone regardless of gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, geographic location, religion etc. It happens every day, in every city and town all over the world.
Traffickers may look for vulnerabilities when targeting individuals. Some vulnerabilities include, but are not limited to:
- A victim’s history in the child welfare system
- A victim’s involvement with substance use
- A victim’s mental health challenges
- A victim’s immigration status
- A victim’s financial or housing insecurities
What Are The Signs
Human trafficking can look different depending on the victim’s vulnerabilities and the intentions of the trafficker. The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape (PCAR) outlines some common red flags:
- Isolation from family and friends
- Controlling and/or abusive relationships
- Lack of control and access to important documents like IDs, drivers licenses, passports, etc.
- For youth, frequent absences from school and runaway attempts or episodes
- Absences from work or other commitments
- Changes in appearance, mood, or behavior
- Signs of malnourishment or abuse