How Traffickers Recruit Their Victims

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Whenever we picture what a trafficking situation involves, there's a stigma that it's done by strangers through kidnapping. That a young girl goes to a foreign country and gets taken. Hollywood and the media certainly gives an interesting version of what human trafficking entails. However, these perceptions are untrue. Most cases of human trafficking don't involve kidnappings and isn't done by strangers. Traffickers use nefarious tactics that make their crime untraceable to the ordinary human eye. Anyone can be a victim of human trafficking, and anyone can be a trafficker.

Traffickers get their victims through manipulation. Instead of using violence, they use mind games. In the recruitment phase, traffickers rarely use violence to get a victim. There are a few main recruitment tactics when it comes to trafficking individuals for sexual exploitation or forced labor. 

Boyfriending

This term is exactly how it sounds. A trafficker will appear as whatever that child or adult needs them to be: a friend, parent, girlfriend/boyfriend, or mentor. "Boyfriending" is how a trafficker gains that person's trust, by giving them whatever they need. Money, new clothes, constant attention, flattery, promises of a happy life, the list goes on. Traffickers always target people in vulnerable situations. Children in foster care, a woman who just escaped an abusive boyfriend, drug addicts, or homeless. It's like your vulnerability is an invisible target on your back that abusers and traffickers can find.

An example comes from Stop Modern Day Slavery. An interviewee and survivor, Kimberly Blitz, shared how she met some man when she was 14 (after dealing with personal loss and moving to a new city), and that man eventually became her trafficker. Kimberly shared, "I thought things were great between us until our first fight where he ended up hitting me. I remember thinking how wrong it was, but at the same time justifying it. The next day he showed up with flowers, crying about how he never meant to hurt me. And then he said the three words I was craving to hear: 'I love you.'"

Boyfriending is probably the most common way traffickers recruit their victims. By using psychological and emotional abuse, it makes it seem impossible for their victim to leave, let alone tell their family or law enforcement.  By pretending to care or show love, a trafficker gains power over their potential victim, because that person thinks they cannot live or survive without the trafficker. 

False Advertisements

Traffickers will tell people or post online about some well-paying job, travels, or modeling/acting gigs. Traffickers ensure the advertisement looks legitimate, so there is no doubt surrounding your mind. People who are desperate for money or a job will view the advertisement and think it is legit, only to learn the hard way it was a lie. If it involves travels to another country, that person or persons involved will seize documents and essentially hold you captive, forcing you to do horrendous things.

Such was the case for Jane Doe, in an article shared by Fight The New Drug. This Jane Doe would become another victim to the GirlsDoPorn organization. She was told that she was auditioning for a fitness modeling job. Instead, she was flown out to San Diego, where she was forced to sign a contract, fed drugs and alcohol, and forced to perform for a porn video. She was raped for six hours. Many other women experienced similar situations from GirlsDoPorn. The GirlsDoPorn founder was wanted by the FBI, and was caught in Spain back in December. He is currently being charged with "sex trafficking, production of child pornography, sex trafficking of a minor, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments." Others involved in the company were caught and charged with sex trafficking. False advertisements are commonly used by traffickers.

Familial trafficking

This is exactly how it sounds. Many people think human trafficking happens between strangers, but in many cases, traffickers target someone they know personally. According to the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline, these are the statistics of people brought into trafficking by someone they knew in 2020:

• 42% were brought into trafficking by a member of their own families. (Sex trafficking)
• 39% were recruited via an intimate partner or a marriage proposition. (Sex trafficking)
• 69% were recruited by a potential or current employer. (Forced labor)
• 15% were recruited into trafficking by a member of their own family. (Forced labor)
• 5% by an intimate partner or marriage proposition. (Forced labor)

Polaris Project shares several stories (which you can read or watch) of survivors of familial trafficking. It's easier for traffickers to target someone they know, since they already have that individual's trust and love, which they can manipulate against them. In the story of Sam, he explained the reason he never told anyone of his father trafficking him. "I loved him and I wanted him to be proud of me. I wanted him to love me as unconditionally as I loved him. To get that, it was my job to do what dad wanted me to do – and not to tell anyone. That was how I would have a father-son relationship." 

Conclusion

Human trafficking doesn't happen in a vacuum. It's not a black or white issue. As you can see, it's very easy to be manipulated by people who claim to have your best interests at heart. It's important to be aware of these recruitment tactics, so we can know how to recognize if this is happening and prevent it from happening to ourselves and our loved ones. 

The Hard Truth on Labor Trafficking

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National Human Trafficking Hotline

There is a common misconception that human trafficking consists only sexual exploitation. This couldn't be further from the truth. While sexual exploitation does make up most cases of human trafficking, there is another type that makes up nearly as many cases: labor trafficking. Labor trafficking, commonly referred to as forced labor, is the second most common type of human trafficking, yet doesn't get nearly as much attention as sex trafficking. Labor trafficking is a horrendous crime, and deserves to be recognized. As January is National Human Trafficking Awareness month, I will be writing articles dedicated to human trafficking.

What is labor trafficking? Defined by the Human Trafficking Hotline, "Labor trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery in which individuals perform labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion." The top 5 states for labor trafficking are the following: California, Florida, Texas, Georgia, and New York. Why is labor trafficking so prevalent? Unfortunately, for the same reason sex trafficking is prevalent: supply and demand. 

Labor trafficking has, unfortunately, become mainstream in our society. Consumers demand the latest products, the newest clothes, or the best foods. Agriculture, textiles, and manufacturing are some of the top industries where labor trafficking occurs. Traffickers take advantage of vulnerable individuals to meet these demands, because this makes money. According to the Bureau of International Labor Affairs, "The most common agricultural goods listed are sugarcane, cotton, coffee, tobacco, cattle, rice, and fish. In the manufacturing sector, bricks, garments, textiles, footwear, carpets, and fireworks appear most frequently. In mined or quarried goods, gold, coal and diamonds are most common." These items are certainly shocking, because you probably buy these things a lot.

Why is labor trafficking so horrible? People living under these conditions are rarely paid (if paid at all), and forced to work in dangerous conditions. They're forced to work long, hard hours, with little to no breaks. It's backbreaking labor. They're also not allowed to leave or the trafficker threatens them (usually with deportation, violence, or harm to their families). It's an evil practice. In an interview for FRONTLINE documentary Trafficked in America, a former Trillium worker revealed how the children forced to work were constantly threatened if they didn't do their work or complained about the pay. "Many of my friends told me that they received death threats — they would kill their father, their mother — if they didn’t want to pay or work." Trillium is currently under investigation for allegedly trafficking illegal minors for labor.

This is why many experts believe that labor trafficking cases actually surpass sex trafficking. The reason we see sex trafficking is higher is because it is more mainstream and somewhat easier to detect. We won't know how prevalent labor trafficking is unless the media, the government, law enforcement, and even society recognizes the seriousness of labor trafficking.

How can you recognize the signs of labor trafficking? Based on Polaris Project's model, here are the top red flags you should be aware of for labor trafficking:

• Feel pressured by their employer to stay in a job or situation they want to leave
• Do not have control of their passport or other identity documents
• Owe money to an employer or recruiter and/or not being paid what they were promised or are owed
• Are living and working in isolated conditions, largely cut off from interaction with others or support systems
• Appear to be monitored by another person when talking or interacting with others
• Are living in dangerous, overcrowded or inhumane conditions provided by an employer
• Are being threatened by their boss with deportation or other harm
• Are working in dangerous conditions, without proper safety gear, training, adequate breaks and other protections

You can check out Polaris Project to learn more facts about labor trafficking.

Labor trafficking is equally evil as sex trafficking. Traffickers take advantage of the most vulnerable among us, and use them for profits. The best way you can fight this issue is by becoming a conscious consumer. By paying attention to what you buy, you can make an impact against these evil traffickers. You want to make a statement? Buy organic groceries or from a local farmer. Buy products from certified, transparent and responsible companies that place people over products. Tell your friends and family about this, and help others become informed in becoming a conscious consumer. If we all do our part, we can make a difference in this fight.

Four Common Industries Used by Human Traffickers

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I've discussed several myths surrounding human trafficking, but this one really interested me. I wanted to talk about it! Another common myth surrounding human trafficking is that this crime only happens in underground or illegal industries. A large part of this belief is due to the stereotypes pushed by the media and Hollywood. For example, Liam Neeson's Taken showed his daughter get kidnapped and sold into sex slavery. I came across an article, where the author talked about the music video for Bad Romance by Lady Gaga. Lady Gaga appeared to be kidnapped and sold into sex slavery and killed her buyer at the end. These cases can happen, but it's not as common as people believe. Human trafficking happens in broad daylight in common industries or businesses. Here, I will discuss four industries used by human traffickers, as well as how we can combat human trafficking in these industries.

#1: The Hospitality Industry.

I have discussed how traffickers appreciate the hospitality industry, but I will reiterate. Hotels and motels make trafficking easy, due to the privacy and anonymity provided. Additionally, traffickers can pay in cash and leave to continue their operations, while police cannot determine where that trafficker is moving from and to. As I previously wrote, "The ability to pay cash, the ability to change locations quickly, and underprepared staff makes hotel rooms an easy place to make money." 

How to fight human trafficking in the hospitality industry: There is an app you can download called TraffickCam. When you go to a hotel or motel, you can take pictures of your room. Victims are usually advertised online in their hotel/motel room. This app allows law enforcement to view the photos taken with photos on the advertisements to determine where a trafficker and/or their victim is. The Department of Homeland Security also provides a toolkit to educate the staff in hotels or motels. You can also read this to become aware on how to recognize the signs. 

#2: Agriculture.

Agriculture is certainly surprising. Every state has some form of agriculture. For some states, it's a large part of their economy (i.e. California, Florida, Iowa, Texas). As you can see, the states that depend heavily on agriculture have higher trafficking rates. The agriculture industry depends on migrant workers. Many are on a temporary work Visa. When does this become trafficking? When their boss threatens them with deportation. Traffickers will threaten their workers with their loved ones by stating they might report them to I.C.E. 

How to fight human trafficking in the agriculture industry: Research which companies you buy from. Ensure you get your products from ethical companies that value their workers. Buy produce and meat from local farmers or markets. If you've got some land, start a garden. If you have more land, raise your animals. 

#3: Massage Parlors/Nail Salons.

I paired these two together because they're one in the same. Many traffickers target vulnerable individuals needing to provide for their families (usually women are targeted). Similar to the agriculture industry, traffickers manipulate and coerce victims that 1) no one else will help them, and 2) they'll face deportation if they try to do anything. Some of these victims face long hours with little pay, sometimes forced to live in terrible conditions. These victims are told false promises, only to learn their true conditions for work. 

How to fight human trafficking in massage parlors/nail salons: Learn the signs. Know what indicators and red flags are visible with human trafficking victims working in massage parlors or nail salons. 

#4: Tourism.

Another industry several states depend on. What states come to mind when you hear the word "tourism?" California, Florida, New York would be common answers. Again, these states (at least the first two) depend heavily on tourism in its economy, and it also has high human trafficking rates. Tourism makes it easy for traffickers to continue their practice. Through the guise of simply visiting the States, a trafficker can have their victim work in hotels or motels for a limited amount of time with no suspicion of criminal activity. Most tourists are in their own world and pay little attention to what is happening around them, because they're too busy enjoying their vacation. In the case of human trafficking, ignorance is NOT bliss.

How to fight human trafficking in the tourism industry: As mentioned with the massage parlors and nail salons, education is a large part of this. Constantly educating staff members and others makes a larger impact than anyone can realize. 

As you can see, both sex trafficking and forced labor are evident in these industries. Cases of forced labor are harder to recognize due to the fact you cannot tell who is working freely versus someone forced into working to pay off a debt. Not to mention, in many cases of forced labor, victims are forced to labor during the day, then forced into sexual services during the night. These operations occur in plain sight, but without the proper knowledge or education in this issue, we cannot fight back. Please, get educated on how to recognize the signs of someone being trafficked.

Human Trafficking and Social Media

Who remembers being taught the idea of "stranger danger?" As children, we were told never accept a stranger's request to speak with them or be alone with them. We can often remember that going into a stranger's white van was extreme danger. Social media is now used as predators and traffickers "white van." Because we are so enthralled with the technological advances we experience through social media, we often ignore the dangers of speaking with strangers or sharing personal information with unknown bodies. Targeting victims through social media has made human trafficking much simpler. Instead of having to stalk, follow, or speak to a potential victim, traffickers can click a button and find several victims at once. 

What is common with human traffickers? They're adaptable and cunning. Traffickers understand how technology advances and learn how to use it to their benefit. One FBI specialist shared with Thomas Reuters Foundation how traffickers use websites and chat rooms to target victims. "They [the traffickers] are keeping up with technology and exploiting it for their purposes, their illegal businesses. They’re not opposed to using what’s available to them."

How do traffickers use social media to target victims? To answer this question, let me ask another question: What's a common theme you see on social media? People posting how depressed or hard their life is. I'm sure at one point or another, you've posted that you're having a hard day or life is too horrible. Many minors will make similar posts, as a seemingly innocent way to get sympathy from followers and vent their frustrations. A trafficker, on the other hand, will see these posts and realize they've got a new target. Traffickers, after taking the time to read similar posts or view different photos, will "approach" that person (or child) and tell them what they want to hear. For example, a 14-year-old girl named Mary posts how she thinks she is so ugly. "Nobody will love a face like mine!" she shares. Another "14-year-old girl" comments saying, "You're so beautiful!" The self-conscious Mary contacts the other girl, thanking her for her words. Little does Mary know that her soon-to-be "girl friend" is actually a 30-something old man pretending to be a 14-year-old girl. This is just a fictional example, but this does happen. 

As stated by Fight The New Drug, "After trust is built, traffickers will convince the potential victim to meet up with them or may even coerce the potential victim to send a risky picture, which the trafficker can then use to extort the potential victim."

The Human Trafficking Institute reported that in 2020, over 50% of online recruitment cases for human trafficking came from Facebook. Even worse, the report shared that "65% of identified child sex trafficking victims recruited on social media were recruited through Facebook." Instagram and Snapchat were also responsible for online recruitment of children in 2020. This is a major problem, and it won't go away. We live in a technological era and are reliant on technology. So how do we fight this issue?

The answer, believe it or not, isn't to get rid of social media. At least in the case for adults. You can use social media platforms like Tik Tok or Instagram to educate children and teenagers. If you follow me on Instagram, majority of my Reels involve information about human trafficking and domestic abuse. Through these short videos, you can inform thousands or more on these dark subjects. Social media can also be used for good, not just evil. With younger children and even teenagers, parents have to be vigilant. It's easy to say, "My child knows better." There's no way to avoid this. It's better to be safe than sorry, wouldn't you agree? There is more hope. An affiliate of Fight The New Drug called Bark helps fight the issue of potential trafficking. There is an algorithm that alerts parents of predators contacting their children. You should constantly teach your children to not accept messages from random accounts. You should also tell your child they can trust you. Often, children victimized by human trafficking think that their trafficker knows what is best for them, instead of a parent or mentor. Constantly tell your children they can trust you. 

We live in scary times, but that doesn't mean we just have to sit back and allow it to happen. The solution to fighting online recruitment and human trafficking is simple. In order to prevent children from longing for safety from strangers, we must continue to be vigilant, compassionate, and vocal. The safety of our fellow man has never been more important.

If you suspect human trafficking or know someone in a human trafficking situation, contact law enforcement or call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to 233733.

The Link Between Fast Fashion and Human Trafficking

Fast fashion has become an intricate part of modern society. Everyone loves the uses fast fashion has. You can get the cutest clothes at a decent price fairly quick. Nothing appears out of the ordinary, right? Unfortunately, that is not the case. Not many people know this. I didn't even know of this, until I read an article from Stop Modern Day Slavery. Fast fashion and human trafficking have a direct link to each other.

What is fast fashion? Merriam-Webster describes fast fashion as "an approach to the design, creation, and marketing of clothing fashions that emphasizes making fashion trends quickly and cheaply available to consumers." Some companies that produce clothing through fast fashion include the following: Nike, Forever 21, Fashion Nova, H&M, Victoria's Secret, Guess, Fashion Nova. I'm sure you know at least two or three of these companies, and they're all guilty of using fast fashion to make a profit. Now, how does fast fashion tie into human trafficking?

Related: The Abortion Industry Profits Off Human Trafficking

Let's revisit the definition of human trafficking. Human trafficking involves "the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act," according to the Department of Homeland Security. Clothing produced by fast fashion are not meant to be worn several times. They're not made for that. They become worn out. That's why they are sold at cheaper prices. Consumers then purchase the clothing, even when they don't need it. How many of us are guilty of that? Nothing to be ashamed of. Again, how does this tie into human trafficking? Human trafficking is about supply and demand. In this case, the demand is clothing.

Globally, we consume 400% more clothing than nearly two decades ago. Think about that. Two decades wasn't that long ago. That was the 1990s. It's insane. When there's such a large demand, there has to be someone supplying the demand. That's where you see sweatshops, forced labor, or child labor come in. In many countries like India or China, people are forced or coerced to work hard hours in a sweatshop for little to no pay. These individuals also work in dangerous conditions, such as breathing in toxic dyes which contain lead or work with heavy machinery. Dressember shared that, "Garment workers work 96 hours per week, often in unventilated spaces where they are forced to breathe in toxic substances. When garment workers fail to meet daily quotas, they may be denied breaks or forbidden from drinking water." The impact of fast fashion on humans is terrible. Sweatshops do go under forced labor. Stop Modern Day Slavery stated, "Children and adults who work in fast fashion are often coerced, forced, or tricked into working conditions that barely supply them with enough money to survive and place them in dangerous working environments that pose a threat to their safety."

Related: Discussing Human Trafficking w/ Sophia Fisher

If you've ever read that your clothes said on the tag, "Made in Bangladesh," "Made in China," or "Made in India," there's a good chance that the item of clothes you are wearing was made by a victim of human trafficking.

This isn't an issue only affecting third world countries, for the record. This is also happening in the United States. Places like Los Angeles or New York has long been known for containing sweatshops, yet nobody seems to know this. Hard to believe! Sweatshops do exist in the United States.

What can be done to combat this issue? It's definitely difficult, I won't lie. Everyone can't afford designer clothes at major brands or make the time to go in-store to shop. Fast fashion makes it easy for you to get a nice outfit at an affordable price. Nobody says you have to give up fast fashion. Of course there are occasions where you need a nice outfit quickly, but you don't have the time to go to the mall and look. You can avoid the brands that use fast fashion, despite knowing the impacts it has on the environment and people. Buy clothes from brands who are either certified by Fair Trade or B Corporations. Get clothes you can wear for years. This eliminates the need to buy new clothes so often. It's easy to be manipulated by what you see on social media. Don't listen to what influencers or advertisements try to sell you. What I have described are simply, but effective, ways to fight trafficking in the fast fashion industry. Remember: Change begins with you. Everyone has the power to fight modern day slavery!

Human Trafficking and The Grooming Process

Discussing the grooming process of human trafficking is an uncomfortable issue. Many will turn away from this conversation. Some may even scoff at the thought that the trafficked individual is a victim. "How could they not see through these lies? It's so obvious!" Traffickers are experts at manipulation. Recruiting victims isn't through violence. Understanding how this process will not only educate you further on the complex issue that is human trafficking, but will teach you how to detect traffickers.

What does the term "grooming" mean? Defined by RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), grooming involves manipulative behaviors used to gain victims. This can be done to children, teenagers, and vulnerable adults. 

The information provided below doesn't account for ALL trafficking cases, but this is how the grooming process works overall. The process provided came from research provided by Polaris Project: 

#1 - Target the victim: The obvious first step would be the trafficker targeting their victim. When someone has a vulnerability, whether that be low self-esteem or loneliness, this creates an invisible target on their back. Traffickers see these targets from a mile away. Sometimes, a trafficker may just be charming and friendly to a potential victim. Multiple sources (i.e. Fight The New Drug, NY Post, Deliver Fund) have shared that social media made targeting victims much easier. For example, FTND shared how a team from online safety company, Bark, pretended to be an 11-year-old girl on Instagram, only to be bombarded by numerous messages from older men asking for sex. Social media has made grooming easier.

#2 - Gain trust: After meeting their victim, a trafficker works hard to gain that person's trust. Traffickers will pretend to care about what their victim tells them. Appearing to be a good listener is common among traffickers' tactics. This causes the victim to believe their potential trafficker cares about what is happening in their life. When it comes from someone the individual knows, such as a family member or family friend, gaining that trust is simpler. 

#3 - Meet the victim's needs: Traffickers will now move to meet their victim's needs. Deliver Fund says that "Traffickers utilize the information they gathered to fill a role in the victim's life. Through gifts, love, friendship, drugs, or alcohol, traffickers force the victims into a dependent relationship." Unbeknownst to the victim, the trafficker gains a power over their victim: the power to give or take away. Traffickers will threaten their victim with taking away that thing they provided, which gives them the upper hand. Not immediately, but later on.

#4 - Isolate: Now a trafficker will make the victim feel totally dependent on the trafficker. By isolating a victim from friends or family, that person now feels completely dependent on their trafficker. Feeling as if they cannot live or survive without that trafficker. A simple way a trafficker may do this is by telling their victim they don't have anyone who cares about them "like I care about you." Once that person feels isolated, a trafficker knows their victim cannot reach out for help.

#5 - Exploitation: Exploitation is manipulating someone to do their will. It may begin as the trafficker asking their victim, "Will you have sex with my friend for money?" Overtime, the victim will become conditioned to believe that having sex for money (or performing other acts) is normal. As stated by Polaris Project, "A victim may even feel like they owe their trafficker for all they have done for them or believe their trafficker when they say that the situation is just temporary or a way for them to reach their common goals, such as getting out of the sex trade and starting a family."
#6 - Control: Polaris Project shared, "The trafficker may keep their victim in the trafficking situation by continuing to isolate them, threatening them or their loved ones if they attempt to leave, controlling them through their addiction, or even manipulating their sense of self." Control is what a trafficker's end goal is. To have their victim completely dependent on them. The process then restarts for the next victim.

Once I learned about how the grooming process works, there is no doubt in my mind (based on what I read from victims' testimonies/transcript) that Ghislaine Maxwell was a trafficker. 

How can we determine who is in a trafficking situation? As discussed in my previous article, get trained. There are free programs you can use to get properly trained in recognizing human trafficking. Both Polaris Project and On Watch have excellent courses. Not to mention it is free, so it's no risk to take it! I just started my training at Polaris Project. These conversations are uncomfortable, but we have a responsibility to help others in need. If you notice something is wrong, speak up. STOP THE DEMAND.

Check out my article for Gen Z Conservative, where I discuss the history of human trafficking!

Other Forms of Human Trafficking

When you hear the words "Human Trafficking," what are the main forms that come to mind? Usually sex trafficking or labor trafficking. There's no shame in thinking this. After all, sex trafficking makes up an estimated $99 billion, while labor trafficking makes an estimated $45 billion. This accounts for about 96% of the $150 billion made from human trafficking altogether. While both forms account for majority of human trafficking, there are other forms that deserve attention. To fight human trafficking, we must address all forms. 

What are the different types of human trafficking? In researching this article, I came across seven. This includes sex and labor trafficking. The other types of human trafficking are organ trafficking, child soldier, debt bondage, bride trafficking/child marriage, and infant/child trafficking. Let's discuss each in further detail.

Organ Trafficking

I've previously discussed organ trafficking, but I will still give a quick overview of what this is. Organ trafficking is defined as the illegal activity of removing organs from a living or deceased person. As stated in my article, "A 2018 report from the International Labor Organization showed that "40 million people are victims of human trafficking." Around 10% were victims of organ trafficking (the equivalent of 12,000 organs). " The most common organs to be sold is the liver, heart, kidneys, and corneas. 

Recently, China has been caught profiting from organ trafficking. A Human Rights Council concluded that the CCP removes certain organs from their prisoners. One doctor gave the story of removing an organ from a living person. He shared the following statement to the tribunal: "What I recall is with my scalpel, I tried to cut into his skin, there was blood to be seen. That indicates that the heart was still beating. At the same time, he was trying to resist my insertion, but he was too weak." This issue needs more attention.

Child Soldier

Child soldiers is a global issue, and one anti-trafficking advocates should speak out against. Child soldiers are "any children under the age of 18 who are recruited by a state or non-state armed group and used as fighters, cooks, suicide bombers, human shields, messengers, spies, or for sexual purposes." Most times, the "recruiters" (aka the traffickers) find children from disadvantaged homes, and bring them in by force or manipulation. Many of the children brought in for the military are under the age of 10. These children can be used as human shields or sexual objects. It's a horrible problem in many countries. It must be addressed.

Debt Bondage

This is often considered a similar form of forced labor/labor trafficking, but there is notable difference. Debt bondage (also called bonded labor) is where someone voluntarily enters an agreement to pay off a loan or debt, but gets forced into remaining with their trafficker, working hard hours for little to no pay. The debt essentially can never be paid off.

Child Marriage/Bride Trafficking

Child marriage (also referred to forced marriage or bride trafficking) is when a child or person (one or both) are forced to marry. Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children are sold or forced into marrying. There is no consent by one or both party. 

Infant/Child Trafficking

To discuss this one, I'd first like to share a video from Blake Lively. She described her experience in dealing with child pornography. To be honest, this should be considered a form of child sex trafficking. Blake was speaking to a police officer about the truth behind child porn. The age for child porn is getting younger and younger. The officer told Lively that this included infants. Blake told the audience that she was confused by what he meant by infants. He said babies with the umbilical cord still attached. Pedophiles are getting off on babies. Your stomach turning? So did mine.

Infant trafficking makes up 27% of all human trafficking victims. This form of human trafficking is defined as "the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, and/or receipt" kidnapping of a child for the purpose of slavery, forced labor and exploitation." These children are harvested like crops to be used for labor or sex in the future. This is probably on par for one of the worst forms of human trafficking today. To think someone gets turned on by a child or infant? It's impossible to stomach.

Conclusion

While sex or labor trafficking are horrible, the other seven I described are almost or equally as bad. Many of these go under sex or labor trafficking, but have notable differences. As abolitionists, it is our job to fight these forms of human trafficking by bringing awareness to them. We must bring awareness to these types, so we can combat and end human trafficking.

BONUS: Check out my article for The College Fix, where I discussed what colleges and universities can do to fight sex trafficking on campus. https://www.thecollegefix.com/heres-how-colleges-can-help-fight-sex-trafficking-and-porn-usage/

What is Florida Doing to Combat Human Trafficking?

I'm currently reading a book titled, Land of the Free, which is about fighting human trafficking. The author is from Florida, and discusses how he saw human trafficking happen first-hand. It wasn't in some third world country, but in his home state. I was very emotional at what I read. Not only because of the fact the crime was so horrible that he described, but that this is happening in my home state of Florida. I wanted to do some research into what the state has done or is doing to currently fight modern day slavery.

For those who may not know, Florida is #3 for highest trafficking rates. Why does Florida have such a high human trafficking rate? The main factor is demand. The United States is the number one consumer of sex, and also the number one consumer of child pornography. As long as there is a demand for humans (sexually or manual labor), there will be traffickers who provide that demand. 

Other factors into the high rate of human trafficking in Florida is tourism and unskilled labor. Florida's economy relies heavily on agriculture and tourism, which feeds the demand for human trafficking. There's no real solution I can think of that would make human trafficking decrease in these two areas, because it's such an intricate part of the Florida economy. However, it's important to recognize what state officials and legislators are currently doing to fight modern day slavery.

Here is a list of the different laws that have been passed in Florida to combat human trafficking:

• The Safe Harbor Act (2012): This law helps ensure the victims of child sex trafficking receive the help they deserve, as well as help stop these traffickers.
• 2017 Florida Statutes 823.05- Public Nuisances: Places where human trafficking rings are known to work through (i.e. massage establishments), as well as putting criminal activity as a public nuisance.
• 2017 Florida Statute 787.06- Human trafficking: Perpetrators of human trafficking will be penalized for the illegal activity. Victims of trafficking must be protected and receive assistance by the state and their agencies.
• SB 540 (2019); Human Trafficking: As stated on the Florida Senate government website, "Requiring the Department of Legal Affairs to establish a certain direct-support organization; requiring the direct-support organization, in conjunction with the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking, to form certain partnerships for specified purposes; requiring a public lodging establishment to train certain employees and create certain policies relating to human trafficking by a specified date; requiring that the criminal history record of a person who is convicted of, or who enters a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, soliciting, inducing, enticing, or procuring another to commit prostitution, lewdness, or assignation be added to the Soliciting for Prostitution Public Database."
• HB 851 (2019): Gov. DeSantis signed another law that "requires spas and hotels teach staff to spot signs of sex trafficking and all law enforcement officers complete four-hour training on how to investigate the crime." (Source: The Florida-Times Union)
• SB 1826 (2021): From the Florida Senate government website, "Providing that a communication between a human trafficking victim advocate or trained volunteer and a human trafficking victim is confidential in certain circumstances; prohibiting a person from engaging in specified criminal acts relating to human trafficking with an adult believed to be a child younger than 18 years of age; prohibiting a clerk of the court from charging certain fees for petitions for expunction of human trafficking victim criminal history records; requiring a court to impose specified conditions on probationers or community controllees who are placed under supervision for committing a specified human trafficking offense on or after a certain date, etc."

Attorney General Ashley Moody serves on the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking Florida, which serves to do the following: 

1) "Develop recommendations for comprehensive programs and services including recommendations for certification of safe houses & safe foster homes"; 

2) "Make recommendations for apprehending and prosecuting traffickers and enhancing coordination of responses"; 

3) "Hold an annual statewide policy summit with an institution of higher learning"; 

4) "Work with the Department of Children and Families to create and maintain an inventory of human trafficking programs and services in our state"; 

5) "Develop overall policy recommendations."

I know it would appear I am biased to Florida since I live here, but I believe you should be aware of what laws are in place in your home state. Knowing what is being done to prevent human trafficking, to combat human trafficking, and to assist the victims is all important to ending modern day slavery. To be honest, I didn't know Florida does so much to fight human trafficking. While I'm very impressed to see them leading the fight, it clearly isn't enough. I do hope the legislators continue to do work that will stop human trafficking. If you don't know what laws are in your state to fight human trafficking, I would recommend looking into it.

Human Trafficking vs Human Smuggling

To bounce off my post from regarding Democrats ignoring the border crisis, I thought I could write about something that is often confused. The difference between human trafficking and human smuggling. I think a lot of conservatives conflate the two to bring attention to what's happening and the border. I agree we need to focus on the border, but I'd prefer to be informative on what I'm sharing. So, what is the difference between human trafficking and human smuggling?

Human smuggling (better known as people or migrant smuggling) is defined as moving people across the border illegally. This act does not involve coercion or trickery. Most people being smuggled are doing so voluntarily, and paying for a service to be transported. Most people use smuggling as a form of transportation to get out of a country where poverty or crime has riddled their nation. 

Human trafficking, on the other hand, involves the use of coercion and exploitation for the purpose of either commercial sex (sex trafficking) or forced labor. A significant difference between trafficking and smuggling would be that trafficking isn't only related to migrants (or transporting them). Human trafficking can occur anywhere, even at home. One of the main group of traffickers, according to victims, come from family members. 

The three main forms of human trafficking are sex trafficking, forced labor, or debt bondage. Forced labor is the most common form of human trafficking, but in countries like the United States, sex trafficking is greater because of the high demand for sex. Another form of human trafficking that is unforeseen to the public eye is organ trafficking, which is the illegal trade of human organs for a profit. You might have heard of this term because Planned Parenthood has been caught repeatedly for selling aborted fetal organs.

According to ICE, this doesn't mean human trafficking and human smuggling don't mix. A trafficker may disguise themselves as smugglers, then force their victim to join their business. A smuggler may be transporting migrants, but then chooses to give them to a trafficker. 

This actually makes me think of the movie, Priceless, which focused on this exactly. The main character has the responsibility of transporting two young girls from Mexico to their destination. Once he arrives, the truth comes out that he transported the young girls to a trafficker. He decides he has to save them and shut down the trafficking ring. I saw the movie (which was amazing), and I found out we have the book, so I will be reading this and writing a review. I actually had no idea that the guys from For King and Country wrote this. I had the pleasure of meeting them too!

I hope this article helped inform you on what the difference between human trafficking and human smuggling. Both are serious issues, and we have to hold our elected officials responsible to ensure we are doing what's best for us first, but also those coming here. 

Was Britney Spears A Victim of Human Trafficking?

There's a lot of speculation surrounding Britney Spears. The most common would be the question of if she was trafficked. While there is no direct evidence to prove or disprove this, I do believe she was. I see a lot of conservatives say "Why should I care about some rich celebrity?" As someone who is heavily involved in fighting human trafficking, I think what is happening to Britney is horrendous.

Human trafficking defined is "the act of using coercion or fraud to force someone into commercial sex or forced labor." Based on what Britney has said, as well as the evidence shown throughout her 13 year conservatorship, here are some reasons why we can believe Britney was trafficked. Credit to Polaris Project for these reasons, but I did my research to prove what is said.

Reason #1: Exploitation of mental illness.

Britney clearly suffers from anxiety and depression. She stated that she was forced to be on medication for these illnesses, including Lithium. She stated during her court hearing that she felt like she'd be punished if she didn't go to rehab, which in one case, she described her experience in a rehab center to sex trafficking. Those with mental illness are vulnerable to traffickers. There needs to be a bigger discussion of the importance of mental health.

Reason #2: Physical isolation or emotional abuse.

Britney said her father and other conservators have kept her from seeing other people. She wasn't allowed to see her friends, making her feel "left out and lonely." Lance Bass said he and Britney were forcefully kept apart. "I definitely believe in the #FreeBritney movement." Bass said in an interview with Heather Dubrow's World. "I haven't spoken to her in years. We've been kept away from each other for quite a while." Further proof Spears was placed in isolation by her conservators. Polaris Project states one of the main methods a trafficker will use on their victims is isolating the from family members or friends who could potentially help them. "By making their victims entirely dependent on them, traffickers can continue to maintain control."

 Reason #3: Nonstop scrutiny.

Britney described that her security personnel, nurses, or other staff members (most likely put in place by her father, James) were too involved in her privacy. It went as far as they would watch her change. She cannot control what is put on social media. Someone is in charge of what is done in her personal life. Traffickers use “constant surveillance” to watch their victims to ensure they don’t try to escape or reach out to someone for help.

Reason #4: "Coercive contracts."

Britney said she was forced to sign a contract to perform in Las Vegas. Britney said she didn’t want to sign or go on tour, but she had no choice from this (as she described in her testimony) a “threatening and scary” encounter. Again, traffickers will use contracts and coercion to keep their victims in this life.

I wouldn't call what Britney went through sex trafficking (as she likened her conservatorship to). I do believe Britney was put in forced labor. Forced labor, defined by the Department of Homeland Security, is when an individual is "compelled to provide work or service through the use of force, fraud, or coercion." Victims may find it difficult to escape their environment because they either cannot escape their environment or are in a vulnerable situation to seek help. 

Britney has spoken about being "drugged into submission" which makes me worried about that IUD in her. If she didn't consent to having that IUD placed in her, how did it get into her in the first place? In an interview with The Sun, former friend to Spears, Sean Phillip, revealed that Britney was beyond overworked, and becoming increasingly paranoid thanks to the drugs her "management team" gave her to keep her working. 

When Britney collapsed in 2007, Philip said "I had to get her out, carrying her over my shoulder with a black suit jacket thrown over her, and stopping people trying to take pictures on their phones." Her management team then tried to give her meds to get her back up and working, and he told them no. After that incident, she was placed under the conservatorship. Sean also mentioned how Mel Gibson reached out to Britney and said "Christianity would save you. Turn back to God."

It's worth noting the "punishments" Britney would face if she didn't do what she was told. Britney said, "If I didn’t do any of my meetings and work from eight to six at night, which is 10 hours a day, seven days a week, no days off, I wouldn’t be able to see my kids or my boyfriend. I never had a say in my schedule. They always told me I had to do this."

After writing this, I believe Britney Spears was trafficked. She really needs help. Arrest anyone who had anything to do with putting Britney in this conservatorship. To close, I'd like to include an excerpt from an article on The Church Militant written by Milo Yiannopoulos (who has been sharing about the Britney on his Telegram channel): "We should care about Spears because we are all Britney Spears. We are all suffering under a corrupt, self-serving and venal conservatorship. We have no authority to shake off these manacles. Our freedoms are being curtailed, and our souls are in crisis. Spears is, once again, a perfect shorthand for the American zeitgeist."