Human trafficking is the second-highest grossing crime around the world. It exists in a variety of industries, including, but not limited to, sex services, illicit massage parlors, domestic work, residential brothels, outdoor solicitation, hotels and hospitality, construction, restaurants, traveling sales crews, strip clubs, agriculture, cleaning services, and carnivals. For statistics on human trafficking, download our infographic.

CFPA is the lead victim-service agency in the Central Illinois Human Trafficking Task Force, providing leadership and services over 46 counties and was the first federally granted, sanctioned, and trained provider of beds and services for both labor and sex trafficking victims’ south of Chicago.

Human trafficking is a crime that occurs when a trafficker uses force, fraud, or coercion to control another person for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex acts or soliciting labor or services against their will. A minor under the age of 18 engaged in commercial sex, regardless of force, fraud, or coercion, is considered a victim of sex trafficking.

TYPES OF ABUSE

Sex Trafficking – Commercial sex act induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person performing sex acts is under the age of 18. Examples include exploitation through commercial sex, including prostitution,, and sexual performance done in exchange for any item of value, such as money, drugs, shelter, food, or clothes, etc.

Labor Trafficking – Using force, fraud, or coercion to recruit, harbor, transport, obtain, or employ a person for labor or services in involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. Examples include situations of forced labor, domestic servitude, involuntary child labor, etc.

INDICATORS

There are a variety of indicators that might suggest someone is a victim of human trafficking:

Overall abuse: forced to work against their will, lacks identification papers, claims to be just visiting and can’t clarify where they are staying, numerous inconsistencies in their story, lack of knowledge of whereabouts, has few personal possessions, doesn’t speak for themselves, is not in control of their money, owes a large debt, forced to work due to threats to their family

Physical indicators: lacks health care, appears malnourished, shows signs of physical/sexual abuse, physical restraint, torture

Emotional indicators: fearful, depressed, submissive, tense, nervous/paranoid, avoids eye contact, scared of law enforcement

Questions to ask:

Is someone forcing you to do work or engage in sexual activity against your will?

Are you being paid?

Can you leave your job if you want to?

Where do you eat, sleep?

Does someone control where you go and who you can talk to?