AUTHOR’S NOTE
While the characters and events found in Reclamation are fictional, the premise surrounding the heinous crime of human sex trafficking and enslavement is very real. My goal as the author of this story is to help readers become more aware of the seriousness of sex trafficking by empathizing with the story and experiences of relatable characters.
Human trafficking is a multibillion-dollar industry in the United States. It is one of the largest industries in the world, second only to illegal drug trade. Below are strategies and tips to help you stay safe and alert while traveling.
Statistics and Facts
In 2016, 3.8 million adults and 1 million children were victims of forced sexual exploitation, according to a 2017 study from the United Nations’ International Labour Organization.
The study also reported more than 70 percent of sex trafficking victims were located in Asia and the Pacific, compared with 14 percent in Europe and Central Asia and 4 percent in the Americas.
Women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by forced labour, account for 99 percent of victims in the commercial sex industry and 58 percent in other sectors, according to a report by the Global Slavery Index.
The International Labour Organization estimates annual profit rates of around $80,000 per victim in developed countries and $55,000 in the Middle East.
In 2019, there were 118,932 trafficking victims reported worldwide, according to the 2020 Trafficking in Persons Report compiled by the U.S. Department of State.
Due to the clandestine nature of sex trafficking, gathering statistics can be difficult: “Aggregate data fluctuates from one year to the next due to the hidden nature of trafficking crimes, dynamic global events, shifts in government efforts, and a lack of uniformity in national reporting structures,” according to the 2020 Trafficking in Persons Report.
How to Get Involved
Support organizations doing great work in combating sex trafficking and supporting survivors (all with positive ratings on CharityNavigator.org, which vets financial and accountability info)
o Agape International Missions
o UNICEF USA
o Polaris Project
o International Justice Mission
Learn the Signs of a Victim of Trafficking
Living with employer
Poor living conditions
Multiple people in cramped space
Inability to speak to individual alone
Answers appear to be scripted and rehearsed
Employer is holding identity documents
Signs of physical abuse
Submissive or fearful
Unpaid or paid very little
Under 18 and in prostitution
Use the Human Trafficking Referral Directory to report suspected trafficking behavior, get anti-trafficking resources, and learn how you can be involved in your community.
Call 1-888-373-7888
Text “BEFREE” or “HELP” to 233733
Email help@humantraffickinghotline.org
Chat at https://humantraffickinghotline.org/chat
Ask your local, state, and federal elected officials what they are doing to combat human trafficking.
Become a mentor to a young person or someone in need, since traffickers often target people who lack support systems. The Teammates Mentoring Program or Big Brothers Big Sisters are good organizations to connect with that have local chapters.
Support companies that use ethical labor practices by referencing ResponsibleSourcingTool.org and the Department of Labor’s List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor.
What To Do if You’re Traveling
Strategies
Know the address and telephone number of the embassy closest to where you are staying. You can find a full listing of US embassies around the world at usembassy.gov.
Register with the local US embassy and alert them of your travel plans, and/or share travel details with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): https://travelregistration.state.gov.
Know how to access emergency services in that country. If there is an emergency number (equivalent to 9-1-1 in the US), memorize this number or keep it in a safe place.
Take a map of the city you are traveling to and make sure you know how to get from your residence to the bank, embassy or consulate, police department, or hospital in case of emergency.
Be wary of strangers and your environment.
Do not give your passport or ID to anyone (even if they require it to hold or rent equipment or vehicles), and keep a copy of your passport information in a safe place.
Don’t ever tell a stranger your full name, where you are going, or if you are staying alone. Sex traffickers often come across as harmless and charismatic.
Avoid traveling alone, at night, or on deserted side streets. Travel during the day if possible. Stay alert to your surroundings.
Find a crowded place if you believe you’re being followed. Don’t hesitate to alert police, friends, and family to your suspicions, and share a physical description of the suspect.
If you walk to your vehicle and there is a pamphlet on the windshield or a ribbon or tie on the side mirror, etc., get in and drive to a safe space before stopping to remove it. This is possibly a decoy to slow you down while in a parking lot.
Make sure that you have a means of communication (cell phone or phone card), access to your bank account, and any medication that you might need with you at all times.
Be safe with your online practices.
Be suspicious of strangers who approach you after you’ve posted something personal on your social media profile and they’re suddenly offering you help, advice, money, a place to stay, or a job opportunity.
If you’re getting random messages from people on social media, check your privacy settings, turn off your location settings on social media, and only make your posts visible to your friends.
Avoid checking in to places on social media (especially while traveling), although it is important to update friends and family of your whereabouts constantly.
Sex traffickers are often someone victims meet online, or someone they considered a friend. Go with your gut and don’t be afraid to say no if you meet someone like this and they want to meet up with you alone.
When traveling abroad for volunteer opportunities, do some research beforehand and pick reputable agencies that have strict protocols and thorough supervision.
If you’ve received a work-related travel opportunity that seems suspicious, take the following steps to ensure safety.
Request address information for employment and/or housing.
Request information about travel arrangements and who is expected to pay for travel and any visa or other entry fees.
Make copies of important documents for yourself and give some to a trusted friend or relative.
Have a ticket home in your name and keep it in a safe place.
Provide a trusted friend or relative with information about your travel arrangements.
Arrange a time to contact a trusted friend or relative to let them know you arrived safely.
Have access to a bank account and have a way to maintain control of your own funds.
If Things Go Wrong
Take a self-defense class or look up self-defense YouTube videos, and mentally prepare yourself to fight off potential abductors. If you are attacked, make a scene, yell for help, and fight back like your life depends on it.
Carry pepper spray with you on your keychain (although, if you’re traveling internationally, you’ll have to keep it in checked luggage) and use it if someone’s being aggressive.
If you think you are in immediate danger or an emergency, call 911 immediately. Another number to contact if you currently feel unsafe is Safe Horizon, 800-621-HOPE (4673).
Create and use the Safe Horizon safety plan.
Are there people in your life or in your community who can offer support?
Are there ways to avoid areas or locations that make you feel unsafe?
Where could you go during an emergency?
Are there phone numbers you need to memorize?
Do you have children who need to be a part of your safety plan?
Do you need a safety plan for work or school?
Is your safety plan stored on a computer or smartphone?
Learn and use basic phrases in the local language to communicate.
What To Do if you Have a Loved One Who’s Traveling Overseas
Strategies
Set up safety words with them. Designate words to indicate whether it’s safe to talk and they are alone, and when they are not safe.
Ask their permission to track their phone via GPS so you know their whereabouts at all times. Most cell phones allow a select few to have access to the owner’s location.
Learn how to access emergency services in that country. Look up the country’s emergency number (if it has one), as well as the address and contact information for the country’s embassy or consulate.
Designate a regular check-in time with them during their trip.
Get a copy of their travel itinerary, with the locations they’re planning to travel to and schedule.
Compile a list of contact information for anyone they’re traveling with. If they’re with an organization, make sure you have a list of key contacts for them as well.
If possible, make sure they have an international phone plan for their cell carrier.
Make sure you both download a reliable messaging app (such as WhatsApp) to keep in contact while they are traveling abroad.
If You’re Concerned
1. Call the organizations or contacts they’re traveling alongside, or check in with close friends they might be in touch with.
2. Contact the local Embassy or Consulate, or the US State Department Office of Overseas Citizen Services at 888-407-4747 (from the US or Canada).
3. Consider reaching out to international aid organizations.
4. Call the local police in the country where your loved one is staying and find out what they can do to help.
What to Do if you Suspect Someone is Being Trafficked
Strategies
1. Know the signs:
An inability to speak to anyone else alone or isn’t allowed to speak on their own behalf
Scripted or rehearsed answers to questions
Being submissive or fearful in public
Has tattoos or other markings that could indicate “ownership” by someone else
Has a much older sexual or “romantic” partner
2. Make sure you are informed about the prevalence of human trafficking in the country and region you’re traveling to with resources such as the Global Slavery Index reports.
3. Don’t give money to child beggars who may be the victims of trafficking. This helps the trafficking industry remain profitable. Donate to a reputable charity or local organization instead.
4. Don’t support clubs or bars that employ extremely young-looking workers or seem to be engaged in questionable practices.
If you’re concerned
What to do if you think someone is being trafficked:
Do NOT approach the victim—this would put them in direct danger.
If you are in a grounded plane, report to a TSA agent, a customer service agent, or call the Homeland Security Tip Line.
If in the air, report to a flight attendant or any flight crew on board.
Call the National Human Trafficking toll-free hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Anti-Trafficking Hotline Advocates are available 24/7 to take reports of potential human trafficking. You could also text the organization at 233733 or chat via www.humantraffickinghotline.org/chat.
Report missing children or child pornography to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678) or through their cyber tip line.
Resources
Bustamante, Clarissa. “Avoiding Sex Trafficking While Traveling.” KNWA online, November 19, 2018, https://www.nwahomepage.com/news/avoiding-sex-trafficking-while-traveling/.
“How to Spot Trafficking while Traveling,” TVF, accessed December 15, 2020, https://treasuredvesselsfoundation.org/2019/11/12/how-to-spot-trafficking-while-traveling/.
“Identify Safety Options” Safe Horizon, accessed December 15, 2020, https://www.safehorizon.org/our-services/safety-plan/.
“Report Trafficking,” National Human Trafficking Hotline, accessed December 15, 2020, https://humantraffickinghotline.org/report-trafficking/.
“Safe Foreign Travels: Learn about Human Trafficking,” NCL online, August 13, 2013, https://nclnet.org/safe_foreign_travels_learn_about_human_trafficking/.
“Safety Planning Information,” National Human Trafficking Hotline, accessed December 15, 2020, https://humantraffickinghotline.org/faqs/safety-planning-information/.
“Safety Tips to Avoid Sex Traffickers,” Smart Gen Society, June 13 2018, https://www.smartgensociety.org/blog/article/safety-tips-to-avoid-sex-traffickers/.
U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs. Travel.State.Gov. Accessed January 14, 2021, https://travel.state.gov/.
“10 Ways to Protect Yourself from Human Trafficking,” Youth Village, accessed December 15, 2020, https://www.youthvillage.co.za/2018/05/10-ways-to-protect-yourself-from-human-trafficking/.