Coffee Chats

Human Trafficking Awareness Month

BY TINA KADOLPH

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, allowing us, in the United States, a platform to bring much-needed attention to this horrible crime. But as we move past January, it is essential that we keep our awareness of and resolve to eradicate human trafficking alive. We need to talk about it and know how to be safe and what to look for all year long. So, let’s use our Coffee and Chat time this month to teach some important information and statistics.

Human trafficking is personal for me. I am a survivor of human trafficking, having been trafficked by my mom at four years old. (You can read more about my story in Victories: Claiming Freedom in Christ, available at www. worldpublishingandproductions.com.) Coming from that life, I felt hopeless and that I would never have a chance to become an adult, much less have a beautiful future. But God changed all that.

Now, Jesus has equipped me to use what the enemy meant for my death to bring hope and life through Christ to others who have been through similar circumstances.

I’m blessed, through Love Missions Global, to give human trafficking awareness trainings in our public schools, churches, women’s clubs, and businesses; to medical staff, law enforcement, and more. I live my life to help others and keep them and our young people safe from traffickers and predators.

Love Missions has a safe house in South America that currently serves five children rescued from the horrors of sex trafficking. I love having a front-row seat to watch the miraculous healing of those who felt they had no hope when God, who is always with us, intervened in their trauma.

We also have a coffee shop in Sanford, Florida, whose profits help support the ministry. We use our ice cream shop, with its commercial kitchen, to teach culinary, baking, and cake decorating classes to human trafficking survivors as both therapy and to help them gain job skills. And our life center, “The Bridge,” was created to bridge people from pain to purpose. We work towards this goal by teaching life and job skills, offering art therapy, college scholarships, help with GED completion, tattoo removal, Bible studies, mentorship, and so much more.

Although recovery is a pillar of Love Missions, so is sharing information to help keep the non-victim safe. Being aware of what to look for can help anyone keep their children, grandchildren, neighbors, and those in their circle of influence safe. On the contrary, not knowing what to look for can lead to the occurrence of an atrocity right in front of you. My prayer is God will stir your heart to make this an important cause to you also.

Psalm 82:3 (NIV) Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.

HERE ARE JUST A FEW STATISTICS:

#1 Human trafficking is the second-largest crime in the world, behind drugs

#2 The United States is #3 globally for the most trafficking. That usually surprises people because, here in the US, we think human trafficking only happens in other countries.

#3 Since the pandemic started, child exploitation has gone up 106%.

#4 83% of sex trafficking begins with connections made on the internet, including social media and gaming.

THOSE MOST VULNERABLE HAVE:

• Experienced generational trauma

• Been in the foster care system

• Recently migrated

• Don’t know the primary language of the area

• Have started a new school or moved to a new town

• Are victims of family dysfunction

OTHER VULNERABILITIES INCLUDE:

• Living in an unstable situation

• Experiencing previous violence, such as sexual abuse or domestic violence

• Having run away or involvement in the juvenile justice or child welfare system

• Being an undocumented immigrant

• Facing poverty or economic need

• Being cared for by someone or having a family member with substance abuse issues

• Personal addiction to drugs or alcohol

It is important to note that anyone in our community can be vulnerable to human trafficking, just like anyone can become a victim of any crime. There are so many reasons for vulnerabilities. Traffickers recognize this and take advantage. Be alert.

WHO ARE THE TRAFFICKERS?

There is no evidence that traffickers are more likely to be of a particular race, nationality, gender, or sexual orientation. They may be family members, romantic partners, acquaintances, strangers, or neighbors.

HOW TRAFFICKERS RECRUIT:

Human traffickers love to create unrealistic opportunities to lure vulnerable people. Examples include instantaneous romantic relationships or amazing jobs opportunities with high wages. If you know the signs and are aware, these unrealistic stories will raise red flags.

Here are a few situations and signs to watch out for:

• A would-be employer refuses to give workers a signed contract or asks them to sign a contract in a language they can’t read.

• A would-be employer collects fees from a potential worker for the “opportunity” to work in a particular job.

• A friend, family member, co-worker, or student is showered with gifts or money, or otherwise becomes involved in an overwhelming, fast-moving romantic relationship with a significant difference in age or financial status

• A friend, family member, or student is a frequent runaway staying with someone who is not their parent or guardian.

• A family member, friend, co-worker, or student is developing a relationship that seems too close with someone they know solely on social media.

• A family member, friend, or student lives with a parent or guardian and shows signs of abuse.

• A family member, friend, or co-worker is offered a job opportunity that seems too good to be true.

RECOGNIZING LABOR TRAFFICKING:

Labor trafficking includes situations where men, women, and children are forced to work because of debt, immigration status, threats, and violence. Keeping victims isolated — physically or emotionally — is a key method of control in most labor trafficking situations. But that does not mean you never cross paths with someone who is experiencing trafficking.

Someone may be experiencing labor trafficking or exploitation if they:

• Feel pressured by their employer to stay in a job or situation they want to leave

• Owe money to an employer or recruiter or are not being paid what they were promised or are owed

• Do not have control of their passport or other identity documents

• 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 being threatened by their boss with deportation or other harm

• Are working in dangerous conditions without proper safety gear, training, adequate breaks, or other protections

• Are living in dangerous, overcrowded, or inhumane conditions provided by an employer

RECOGNIZING SEX TRAFFICKING:

Sex trafficking occurs when individuals are made to perform commercial sex through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. Any child under 18 involved in commercial sex is legally a victim of trafficking, regardless of whether a third party is involved.

Someone may be experiencing sex trafficking if they:

• Want to stop participating in commercial sex but feel scared or unable to leave the situation.

• Disclose that they were reluctant to engage in commercial sex but that someone pressured them into it

• Live where they work or are transported by guards between home and workplace

• Are children who live with or are dependent on a family member with a substance use problem or who is abusive

• Have a “pimp” or “manager” in the commercial sex industry

• Work in an industry where it may be common to be pressured into performing sex acts for money, such as a strip club, illicit cantina, go-go bar, or illicit massage business

• Have a controlling parent, guardian, romantic partner, or “sponsor” who will not allow them to meet or speak with anyone alone, or monitors their movements, spending, or communications

If you believe you are a victim of human trafficking or may have information about a potential trafficking situation, please contact the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or text Help at BeFree at 233733 If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911. If you want more information, please contact us at Lovemissions.net

I hope your eyes have been opened and you have learned something new this month. Now that you know, I pray God will use this information for you to help others now. It will take us all to combat this crime.

Proverbs 31:8 (NIV) Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.

*Statistics courtesy of Polarisproject.org.

`Tina Kadolph is the Co-founder and President of Love Missions Global, a 501c3 non profit organization dedicated to the global abolishment of modern-day slavery, which has a safe house in South America and a life center, called The Bridge, in Florida. Tina is the co-owner of Palate Coffee Brewery, Palate Roastery, and Palate Bubs and Ice Cream in Sanford, Florida. She has been nominated as Hero of the Year by Spectrum TV and interviewed by CNN as an influencer, encourager, and inspiration.