1 Human Trafficking Kiricka Yarbough Smith COPE Project AdministratorDOA, NC Council for Women
2 What is Human Trafficking?Human trafficking is a crime by which people profit from the control and exploitation of others. for the PURPOSE of ACT of by MEANS of Recruiting Harboring Transporting Providing Obtaining Maintaining Force Fraud Coercion OR Any commercial sex act involving a minor Exploitation Involuntary Servitude Peonage Debt Bondage Slavery Any commercial sex act involving a minor Explain under 18 for sex trafficking
3 The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA)Sex Trafficking “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purposes of a commercial sex act, in which the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act is under the age of 18 years” (22 USC § 7102 (9-10)) Labor Trafficking “The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery” (22 USC § 7102(9)).
4 NC Legislation S279 – Amend Qualifications/Practice of CounselingBoards of education must address sex trafficking awareness and prevention in schools 7th graders will be taught reproductive health and safety education Awareness of sexual assault, sexual abuse and risk reduction S683 – Safe Harbor/Victims of Human Trafficking Provides protections for and responses to minor victims of human trafficking Decriminalizes prostitution related offenses for minors Ensures child welfare system has jurisdiction over child trafficking victims Mandates the creation of a plan of action for law enforcement and child welfare
5 NC Safe Harbor Law(cont’d)Clarifies the statutory language to include the mistake of age not being a defense Increases the penalties for sexual servitude to a Class D felony for adults; already a Class C felony for minors Defines minors as being anyone under the age of 18 Provides immunity for prosecution of minors
6 Shaniya’s Law Unlawful Sale, Surrender, or Purchase of A MinorA person commits the offense of unlawful sale, surrender, or purchase of a minor when that person, acting with willful or reckless disregard for the life or safety of a minor, participates in any of the following: the acceptance, solicitation, offer, payment, or transfer of any compensation, in money, property, or other thing of value, at any time, by any person in connection with the unlawful acquisition or transfer of the physical custody of a minor, except as ordered by the court.
7 Human Trafficking in the US Human Trafficking in NCThe U.S. is ranked as the 3RD largest destination county for Trafficking. According to the US State Department, approximately 20,000 women and children are trafficked annually to the US In the US, the average age of entry to the sex trade is years of age. Less than 1% of trafficking victims in the US are identified. North Carolina is among the TOP 10 in the US for human trafficking Why is NC ranked so high in human trafficking? Major Highways (I-40, I-85, I-95); Large military presence with a transient population; Huge agricultural community; Eastern NC ports and large rural areas Source: Polaris Project, US State Department,
8 Trends of Trafficking in North CarolinaIn 2015, 463 calls were made to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline and 110 cases of human trafficking were reported to the hotline from North Carolina (Polaris) The majority of the cases were sex trafficking Top venues/industries for sex trafficking Hotel/motel based Online ad (venue unknown) Commercial-front brothels The hotline does not reflect the entire problem in NC. Source: Polaris Project
9 Recruitment Targeted Tricked Traumatized Little to no support systemConstantly unsupervised children Poverty stricken areas Tricked Force, fraud, coercion Fear of physical harm Traumatized Controlled by threats Sexually or physically abused
10 Grooming The perpetrators of trafficking employ a “grooming process” to draw their victims away from their homes or to gain the trust and dependency of young victims who may have run away from home. Some victims have described being subjected to extreme physical and sexual violence, being required to commit other criminal acts and to recruit other potential victims.
11 Tricked Manipulation
12 Internet and Social MediaTraffickers can display and sell a victim as they please online. Sites such as Craigslist and Back Page are top sites for human trafficking.
13 Psychological Chains Pimps may use force, fraud or coercion to virtually enslave their victims. Juvenile victims have been controlled by threats of violence to their family or by pornographic images taken and used for blackmail or stigmatization. Victims often remain with pimps out of fear of being physically harmed, of having another victim endure physical harm or by a threat to their family members.
14 Forms of Labor TraffickingBonded Labor Also known as debt bondage Least known form of labor trafficking, but most widely used method of enslaving people Labor is demanded as means of repayment for a loan or service Value of work is greater than the original sum of money “borrowed” Forced Labor Victims forced to work against their will, under threat of violence or other form of punishment Freedom is restricted and degree of ownership exerted Examples: domestic servitude, agricultural labor, sweatshop factory labor, janitorial, food service and other service industry labor, and begging. Source: Office on Trafficking in persons-- Factsheet: Labor Trafficking
15 Agriculture Industry Force Fraud CoercionVictims of labor trafficking have been found among the nation’s migrant and seasonal farmworkers, including men, women, families or children who harvest crops, raise animals in fields, packing plants, orchards and nurseries. Victims are: US citizens, legal permanent residents, undocumented immigrants, and foreign national with temporary H-2A work visas Isolation in migrant camps and rural areas, control over transportation, restricted communication with outsiders, physical or sexual abuse, employer disregard of health related injury or illness, no protections against dehydration or overexposure Force False promises about the job, altered contracts and pay-statements, exorbitant recruitment fees for jobs that pay low wages Fraud Threats of deportation, threats of harm to the victim or victim’s family, document confiscation, manipulation of debt workers took on to obtain the job, pattern of verbal or psychological abuse designed to elicit cooperation, debt bondage through high fees for rent, food, tools, transportation and other expenses. Coercion Source: Polaris Project
16 Case Study: U.S. vs. Ronald Evans In 2007, Florida employer Ron Evans was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison on drug conspiracy, financial re-structuring, and witness tampering charges, among others. Evans recruited homeless U.S. citizens from shelters across the Southeast, including New Orleans, Tampa, and Miami, with the promise of good jobs and housing. At Palatka, FL and Newton Grove, NC area labor camps, Evans deducted rent, food, crack cocaine and alcohol from workers’ pay, holding them “perpetually indebted.” The Palatka labor camp was surrounded by a chain link fence topped with barbed wire, with a No Trespassing sign. In Florida, Evans worked for grower Frank Johns. Johns was 2004 Chairman of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (a powerful lobbying group for the Florida agricultural industry).
17 Force Fraud Coercion Hospitality IndustryVictims of trafficking may be found working against their will in hotels or motels for long hours for little to no pay. Positions include: room attendants, front desk, kitchen, restaurant, server or bell staff, in marketing, in casinos, or in any other service offered by the hotel. Trafficker may be: hotel management or labor recruiter/labor broker, which subcontracts with the hotel to provide a labor supply. Physical and/or sexual abuse; restrictions on movement or confinement to the hotel property; restricted communication with family or friends; constant surveillance. Force Misrepresentation of the work, working conditions, wages, and/or immigration benefits of the job; altered or fake contracts; non-payment or underpayment of wages; visa fraud. Fraud Threats to the victim or victim’s family members; threats of deportation or police involvement; debt manipulation; unreasonable deductions and fees for visas, transportation, rent, food and/or uniforms. Coercion Source: Polaris Project
18 Sales Crews, Peddling, Begging RingsIn sales crews, peddling and begging rings, trafficking victims work long hours each day soliciting money or selling products, such as magazine subscriptions, trinkets or cleaning products. Traffickers confiscate most or all of victims' earnings making them reliant on the controller for transportation and housing. Violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, pressure tactics and abandonment in unfamiliar cities are common. Victims include: US citizens, immigrants, adults or children. Sales crews typically recruit US Citizen youth ages 18-25, with promises of travel, a care-free life, and the ability to make a lot of money. Isolation and removal from familiar surroundings; physical and sexual abuse; abandonment for non-compliance; intentional dehydration and overexposure Force False promises of an opportunity to travel the country and earn money quickly; misrepresentation of the work, working conditions, wages or immigration benefits; visa fraud. Fraud Elaborate systems of rewards and punishments; threats of harm to the victim or victim’s family. Coercion Source: Polaris Project
19 Red Flags to Help Identify VictimsExcess Amount of Cash Little to No Pay/Long Hours Chronic Runaway/Homeless Youth Signs of Branding (Tattoo, Jewelry) Lying about Age/False Identification Inconsistencies in Story Lack of Knowledge about the Community Overly Controlling and Abusive “Boyfriend” Inability to Make Eye Contact Injuries/Signs of Physical Abuse or Torture Restricted/Scripted Communication Demeanor – Fear, Anxiety, Depression, Submissive, Tense, Nervous Doesn’t have control of personal documents (passport, birth certificate)