Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation

What is human trafficking?

Human trafficking is a crime involving the recruitment, transportation, purchase, and/or hiding of anyone. These individuals are held by the use of force, fraud, or manipulation for the purpose of commercial sexual acts (sex trafficking) or forced employment (labor trafficking). “Commercial” means that there is an exchange of something of value – often this is money but it can also be food, a place to sleep, drugs, clothing, jewelry, or other items. Sexual acts might include physical acts (oral, anal, or vaginal sex) or the exchange of sexual photos/videos, dancing or stripping, sexual massage, or any other situation where someone is profiting off the use of someone else’s body in a sexual manner. In the United States and most other countries, it is illegal to exploit a person in this way.

What is commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC)?

Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), refers specifically to victims under 18 years old, whose bodies are bought and sold for sexual purposes. CSEC is a form of human trafficking. In the past, CSEC was referred to as “teen prostitution,” but this term is no longer used because calling it “prostitution” sends a message that the victim is involved willingly in the sexual act, is old enough and mature enough to consent, and has control over their experience. We know this is NOT the case for victims of exploitation.

How does someone become a victim of CSEC or trafficking?

There is no one way that someone becomes a victim of this crime but there are a few common ways that traffickers or exploiters, sometimes called “pimps”, get their victims involved in exploitation.

Many people assume that CSEC victims are kidnapped or taken by force, and the media has reinforced this by showing similar stories on TV and in movies. This does happen sometimes, but more often young people are recruited into the commercial sex industry by someone they meet who acts like a friend or romantic partner.

The exploiter might start out treating them well but over time this person acts in more and more harmful ways, such as asking the victim to do things that make them uncomfortable or putting them in danger, and eventually asking them to participate in a commercial sex act. This is a process called “grooming”, where the exploiter gains the victim’s trust and then exploits them, often using threats to keep them from seeking help. These can include physical threats, threats to harm or to exploit a family member, or threats to expose what the young person is now involved with.

However, not all exploitation involves these coercive measures. Exploiters may manipulate the young person emotionally to have them believe that they deserve what’s happening, that this is the only thing they’re good at, or that they have no other options. Some victims are involved in exploitative relationships with someone who is offering to meet their basic needs such as food and shelter in exchange for sexual acts.

It is also important to note that some victims are exploited online without ever meeting the exploiter, or are initially exploited online before later meeting their exploiter in person.

What are the signs that someone is a victim of CSEC or trafficking?

It can be challenging to know whether or not someone is a victim of CSEC or trafficking. However, there are several things you can look out for if you’re worried that someone is being trafficked or exploited.

1. Changes in behavior-The person starts acting differently than they usually do.
2. Missing/absent- The person goes missing or leaves home for long periods of time without an explanation.
3. Someone has their attention-The person is in a new relationship with someone much older than them.
4. New found money or items- The person has things that they typically can’t afford.
5. Bad habits- The person starts to use drugs or increase their alcohol intake.
6. They simply change- The person stops doing things they used to enjoy such as spending time with friends or going to school.

Physical Signs:

• Injuries they can’t explain
• Sexual health issues
• Clothes that are very different than what they usually wear
• New tattoos they don’t want to talk about

Emotional Signs:

• They might be scared all the time,
• More closed off now than before,
• Increased fatigue, wanting to sleep all the time
• Just not the same, the person you once knew isn’t that person anymore.

Not everyone will have obvious signs that they are involved in exploitation or trafficking, but there will often be some changes that could mean something dangerous is going on.

Where does human trafficking exist?

Human trafficking takes place all over the world, not just in disadvantaged countries as popular media would have you believe. Unfortunately, the reality is that human trafficking happens everywhere that there are people willing to buy sex. This means it happens in big cities, small towns, fancy hotels, run-down motels and apartments, office buildings, people’s homes, and more and more it is happening online as well. Access to the internet brings a lot of wonderful opportunities but it also brings the possibility to take advantage of vulnerable or helpless people. Exploiters may find victims online and exploit them via photos, videos, livestream, or by introducing them to people who want to meet them in person to purchase sex.

Who is impacted by human trafficking? Sex trafficking?

People who recruit others for the purpose of trafficking do not discriminate, targeting children, teens, and adults worldwide. However, exploiters do often target groups of people who are already vulnerable.

A significant risk factor for exploitation is the experience of having already been mistreated as a child. Some young people may have been taught from a young age that they are not worthy of love, or may not know what a healthy relationship looks like. Young people who have been sexually abused are especially vulnerable as exploiters may learn about their trauma and use it to manipulate them in to believing that they deserve what is happening. Young people who are involved in the child welfare or juvenile justice systems are at very high risk to become a victim of this crime, especially those who may go missing from group care settings or otherwise become homeless.

Marginalized (i.e. people who do not receive the same opportunities as others) are especially vulnerable to exploitation. In the U.S. more than half of identified victims under 18 are youth of color. Young people who identify as LGBTQ+ are at increased risk for exploitation and exploiters may use their status against them by threatening to expose them if they don’t obey. This is also true for those who are undocumented immigrants or who do not speak a country’s primary language. Exploiters may also target young people who are living in poverty, knowing that the promise of access to money that they or their family may need can keep victims from getting help.

Action Steps:

How can I protect myself against human trafficking?

While becoming involved in human trafficking is never the victim’s fault, here are some tips on ways teens can stay safe.

1. Educate yourself by simply reading this guide, you are learning about exploitation and the behavior of traffickers. This helps you spot important signs if and when someone tries to manipulate you. You can read more about human trafficking using the resources at the bottom of this guide.
2. Learn from your experiences, by reflecting on experiences you have had that may cause you to feel badly about yourself. It can be helpful to get support in rebuilding your self-esteem and learn new ways to trust yourself again. For example, if you are a survivor of sexual abuse it can be very helpful to see a counselor who can help you understand what happened to you and how it might impact the choices you make about other types of relationships. In general, it can be helpful to learn more about healthy and unhealthy behaviors in relationships so that if you are with someone who is showing signs that they might be dangerous or unsafe you can access help as soon as possible.
3. Stay safe online, by practicing safe behavior online; such as not sharing personal information or photos of yourself, can help protect you against online exploitation.

How can I help someone I think may be a victim of human trafficking? What if I am a survivor/victim?

If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking it is very important to tell a responsible and trusted adult as soon as possible. This could be a doctor/nurse, counselor, teacher, police officer, faith leader, coach, or anyone else whom you feel comfortable going to about your concerns or your situation. Resources and supports vary a lot by state/country so look online for agencies in your area that support trafficking survivors. The resources below are a great place to start.

Remember that not everyone is going to feel safe talking about or leaving a situation where they are being harmed. If you’re worried about a friend, let them know you’re concerned and be there to listen if they’re ready to open up. Make a safety plan and never try to confront the exploiter yourself. See our guide on dating violence for more advice on exiting a dangerous relationship.

Whether it’s yourself or someone else, if a situation makes you feel unsafe, it’s most likely is, trust your gut and ask for help!

Resources:

• Human Trafficking Hotline: https://humantraffickinghotline.org/
• Polaris Project: https://polarisproject.org/
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign: https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign
• U.S. Department of State: https://www.state.gov/what-is-trafficking-in-persons/

 

 

 

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Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.