What is Human Trafficking?
Sex trafficking is forcing someone to commit commercial sex acts by means of force, fraud, or coercion.
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Commercial sex acts include any sexual activity done in exchange for something of value such as cash, food, housing, or other material goods. People under 18 can never consent to commercial sex acts.
Victims come from all walks of life; anyone can be a victim regardless of sex, race, religion, disability, citizenship, or socioeconomic status.
Other forms of human trafficking include forced labor and debt bondage. These are similar to sex trafficking, but the victims are not required to commit sexual acts OR the forced sexual acts are not done in exchange for money or items of value.
Human trafficking is a type of slavery.
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HUMAN SMUGGLING: The movement of someone across a border
HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Criminal exploitation of a person for compelled labor or commercial sex acts.
While these crimes may be seen together, smuggling is not necessary in a trafficking case. Trafficking can occur in someone’s home state, city, or even from their own bedroom. Trafficking is a crime of exploitation by the means of fraud, force, or coercion, or due to the victim being a minor.
In 2021, there were 39 cases of human trafficking, with a total of 46 victims, identified in WV by the National Human Trafficking Hotline. The majority (29) of these cases involved sex trafficking, and most (20) victims were children.
HUMAN SMUGGLING: The movement of someone across a border
HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Criminal exploitation of a person for compelled labor or commercial sex acts.
While these crimes may be seen together, smuggling is not necessary in a trafficking case. Trafficking can occur in someone’s home state, city, or even from their own bedroom. Trafficking is a crime of exploitation by the means of fraud, force, or coercion, or due to the victim being a minor.
Click here to visit the Blue Campaign website to learn more about identifying human trafficking.
Sex Trafficking Red Flags
Human traffickers are smart – they prey on vulnerable people. They may seem kind and helpful to outsiders, but their kindness has ulterior motives.
Some Human Trafficking Red Flags Include:
Work in industries where it is easier to pressure someone into sex, like strip clubs and massage parlors, or industries that hire undocumented workers.
Controlling partners or guardians who manage a person’s ability to speak, spend money, or come and go.
The person is “in debt” to their employer, partner, or pimp.
The person cannot access to important documents, like passports or birth certificates.
Is it Human Trafficking?
- Did anyone they worked for or lived with force them (or trick them) into doing something they didn’t want to do?
- Do they want to stop selling sex, but they are afraid or being pressured?
- Did they ever have sex for things of value, like housing, money, food, drugs, or favors?
- Does the location have a lot of people coming in and out, especially at night?
- Do they live where they work or are transported from where they live to where they work by “minders,” “guards,” or a pimp?
- Is the person not allowed or afraid to leave? Can they speak alone or are they being watched?
- Have they ever been physically injured or threatened with injury or weapons?
Who Do Traffickers Target?
Anyone can be a victim of traffickers, but some people are more at-risk than others if they:
- Have an unstable living situation
- Have previously experienced other forms of violence such as sexual abuse or domestic violence
- Have run away or are involved in the juvenile justice or foster care system
- Are undocumented immigrants
- Are facing poverty or economic need
- Have a caregiver or family member who has a substance use issue or is abusive
- Are addicted to drugs or alcohol
- Are an LGBTQ+ youth who has been disowned or kicked out by their family
How do I Report Suspected Trafficking?
For Help…
In September 2023, Governor Jim Justice, with the West Virginia Fusion Center, enacted the YOU CAN initiative to educate and empower the public to recognize and report all kinds of human trafficking.
If you see signs of trafficking, please submit a report through any of these resources.