Closer to Home Than You Think

Human Trafficking: A Global Pandemic

COVID-19 has been widely described as a global pandemic. But there is another widespread global problem you could be encountering right in your backyard – no matter where you live or what your financial situation is. Within the United States, human trafficking is widely unreported for a variety of reasons, including fear or immigration status, but it is estimated that approximately 403,000 persons are trafficked in the United States at any one time.

Defined by the United States Department of Homeland Security: “Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States. It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. Traffickers might use violence, manipulation, or false promises of well-paying jobs or romantic relationships to lure victims into trafficking situations.”

January is Human Trafficking Awareness month, and the Rotary Club of Avalon Park took it upon themselves to support this initiative by first educating members on this important issue. And they decided to take action. Along with learning more and helping to raise awareness on this matter, the club is collecting hygiene and household items to help Samaritan Village provide essential items to these survivors. We are also donating gently used womens clothing for their Transitions Resale Boutique.

“I feel we are all responsible for those who can’t fight back, and this is a way to help some of them,” stated president, Greg Meunier. “Human Trafficking is form of modern-day slavery and is a serious public health emergency affecting millions of people.”

The local Rotary Club has invited Dee Coleman, Director for Samaritan Village (home for victims and survivors of human trafficking) as a scheduled guest speaker on February 17th to further educated the members on this topic.

“If you see something, say something,” stated Meunier. “The trauma caused by the traffickers can be so great that many may not identify themselves as victims or ask for help, even in highly public settings.”

How to Identify a Human Trafficking Victim:

• Does the person appear disconnected from family, friends, community organizations, or houses of worship?

• Has a child stopped attending school?

• Has the person had a sudden or dramatic change in behavior?

• Is a juvenile engaged in commercial sex acts?

• Is the person disoriented or confused, or showing signs of mental or physical abuse?

• Does the person have bruises in various stages of healing?

• Is the person fearful, timid, or submissive?

• Does the person show signs of having been denied food, water, sleep, or medical care?

• Is the person often in the company of someone to whom he or she defers? Or someone who seems to be in control of the situation, e.g., where they go or who they talk to?

• Does the person appear to be coached on what to say?

• Is the person living in unsuitable conditions?

• Does the person lack personal possessions and appear not to have a stable living situation?

• Does the person have freedom of movement? Can the person freely leave where they live? Are there unreasonable security measures?

Not all indicators listed above are present in every human trafficking situation, and the presence or absence of any of the indicators is not necessarily proof of human trafficking.

For more information: https:// www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/ what-human-trafficking