What Parents Need to Know About Human Trafficking and How to Protect Your Child
According to Exodus Road
43% of human trafficking victims are in forced labor. 13% of human trafficking victims are being exploited in the commercial sex trade. 44% of human trafficking victims are in forced marriage. Trees of Hope is committed to establishing effective initiatives to prevent human trafficking.
Human trafficking is a serious and pervasive issue that can affect individuals of all ages, including children. As a parent, it's crucial to be aware of the risks and take steps to protect your child. Many people believe that human trafficking is an issue confined to international settings, far from our homes and communities, due to its hidden nature. However, the reality is that human trafficking is occurring in our cities and communities, affecting our children.
Human trafficking involves coercion, manipulation, and the exploitation of men, women, and children. It is a lucrative industry, valued at 3 billion dollars, and is thriving even within the United States. The chilling truth is that this crime, particularly the sexual trafficking of young girls, happens subtly and can involve individuals from any background, including friends, family members, or partners. The lack of a specific profile for traffickers makes it difficult to discern and underscores the need for increased awareness and education on identifying the signs of human trafficking.
Human traffickers use various tactics to lure children into their control. Parents and guardians must know these tactics to help protect their children.
The four stages of the trafficking process:
Luring Stage: Traffickers employ deceptive tactics by appearing genuinely interested in children, creating a special and intimate atmosphere. They are skilled at extracting information and will patiently gather details about the child and family, reserving it for future manipulation. With the increasing internet use, traffickers may exploit online platforms to target and communicate with potential victims. They may pose as friends, romantic interests, or mentors. Traffickers identify basic unmet needs in a child's life and aim to fulfill them, initiating the grooming stage.
Grooming Stage: Traffickers may establish a seemingly caring and supportive relationship with the child, gaining their trust over time. This can involve offering gifts, attention, or affection. Traffickers often make false promises of a better life, education, employment opportunities, or glamorous lifestyles to entice vulnerable children. There may not be any red flags or warnings that anything is going on because your child may genuinely feel cared for, admired, and protected in the grooming phase.
Manipulation Stage: The objective is to instill self-doubt in your child. The victim starts questioning and blaming their own actions due to numerous conflicting messages. In cases where the trafficker is a family member or close acquaintance, they might exploit existing familial relationships to control and manipulate the child. Traffickers may also initiate substance abuse, creating dependency as a means of control. Consequently, your child may exert significant effort to regain the trafficker's affection and approval.
Conditioning Phase: The trafficker’s primary goal is to desensitize their victim to sexual acts. The goal of the conditioning phase is to dismantle the child’s boundaries, morals, and values. Traffickers will offer rewards for your child's compliance with their requests. They also use threats, violence, and intimidation to instill fear and compliance in their victims, making it difficult for children to break free. The conditioning process involves desensitizing the victim through tasks, whether sexual or nonsexual, as preparation for subsequent exploitative actions. Traffickers may force children into situations where they accumulate debts, making them feel obligated to stay in exploitative situations until the debt is repaid.
What Can Parents Do to Prevent Human Trafficking:
Educate Yourself and Your Child: Stay informed about common tactics traffickers use to lure and manipulate their victims. Instruct your child about personal safety measures, such as not getting into cars with strangers, being cautious about accepting gifts, and recognizing when a situation feels unsafe. Familiarize yourself with local support services and organizations that can help in emergencies or if your child needs assistance.
Online Safety: Monitor your child's online activities, including social media, chat rooms, and gaming platforms. Educate them about the potential risks of sharing personal information online and interacting with strangers. Install internet monitoring software to stay aware of your child’s online activity.
Set Boundaries: Establish clear guidelines for your child regarding where they can go, who they can be with, and what activities they can participate in. Encourage them to inform you about their plans and whereabouts, especially if they deviate from the usual routine. Be familiar with your child's friends and their families. Establish connections with other parents to share information and keep an eye on each other's children.
Be Aware of the Warning Signs: Watch for signs of potential trafficking, such as sudden changes in behavior, unexplained gifts or money, withdrawal from family and friends, or involvement in risky behaviors. Victims of human trafficking avoid eye contact and will exhibit unusually fearful or anxious behavior as well as tense, nervous behavior. They may be overly submissive around the trafficker.
Report Suspicious Activity: Encourage your child to report any suspicious behavior or contact you or a trusted adult. If you suspect trafficking, report it to local law enforcement or contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.
Build Trust: The most important thing you can do as a parent is foster a trusting relationship with your child so that they feel comfortable coming to you if they encounter something suspicious or unsettling. It’s important to note that conversations about boundaries, safety, and dangerous situations must be ongoing. You must keep the conversation open and ongoing as your child ages and develops.
By staying informed, maintaining open communication, and being actively involved in your child's life, you can help protect them from the risks of human trafficking. Promoting awareness within your community can also contribute to a safer environment for all children. The Guide: A Parent's Guide on Human Trafficking is a helpful resource for parents.
Trees of Hope also runs prevention workshops anywhere we are requested to go. If you are interested in scheduling a prevention workshop, please don’t hesitate to reach out by using this Prevention Workshop Request form. They also offer Online Prevention Workshops to help parents stay informed.
