085: Human Trafficking: Men, Women and Children can be a victim.

RealTalk with The6thman

The International Labour Organization estimates that there are 40.3 million victims of human trafficking globally. 81% of them are trapped in forced labor. 25% of them are children. 75% are women and girls. According to the United Nations, there are between 27 and 30 million modern-day slaves in the world. And the U.S. State Department cites that 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across borders every year. According to Enrile, anyone can fall victim to human trafficking. However, vulnerable populations who have little social and legal protection are the most at risk. The majority of victims are women—70 percent—and risk for women may be heightened further in areas where extreme gender discrimination prevails. Pimps/traffickers often exhibit the following behaviors or characteristics: Jealous, controlling and violent Significantly older than female companions Promise things that seem too good to be true Encourage victims to engage in illegal activities to achieve their goals and dreams Buys expensive gifts or owns expensive items Is vague about his/her profession Pushy or demanding about sex Encourages inappropriate sexual behavior Makes the victim feel responsible for his/her financial stability. Very open about financial matters. Warning signs that an individual is being trafficked: Signs of physical abuse such as burn marks, bruises or cuts Unexplained absences from class Less appropriately dressed than before Sexualized behavior Overly tired in class Withdrawn, depressed, distracted or checked out Brags about making or having lots of money Displays expensive clothes, accessories or shoes New tattoo (tattoos are often used by pimps as a way to brand victims. Tattoos of a name, symbol of money or barcode could indicate trafficking) Older boyfriend or new friends with a different lifestyle Talks about wild parties or invites other students to attend parties Shows signs of gang affiliation? (ie: a preference for specific colors, notebook doodles of gang symbols, etc.) National Human Trafficking Hotline [phone] The National Human Trafficking Hotline is a national, anti-trafficking hotline and resource center serving victims and survivors of human trafficking and the anti-trafficking community in the United States. The toll-free hotline is answered live 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. humantraffickinghotline.org #realtalkpodcast