The Real Deal with Human Trafficking
Keeping ourselves and our children safe.
We have all heard the horror stories of women and children being followed - maybe nearly drugged - and almost abducted while at the grocery store, shopping at the mall or making their way to the car in a parking lot, and we are told it's human trafficking. It's not that abductions like that never happen, but it's not very common. And if and when it does - it's rarely for the purpose of human trafficking.
We definitely still need to be aware of our surroundings and on guard for suspicious behavior and people, but if you want to be prepared and armed specifically against the threat of human trafficking - which is a very real concern for some - we need a more accurate perspective of what that is and actually looks like.
Trafficking most often involves a grooming process and creating willing victims.
That means the focus of our concern and attention for keeping our children safe is better put on...
social media use,
our children's choice of friends and romantic relationships,
their self esteem,
ability to set and uphold boundaries,
open, honest communication in your home.
You're looking for signs of developing a drug habit and/or having expensive gifts, like watches, purses and phones. If your child is acting uncharacteristic, maybe becoming distant and more reserved. These very well could be symptoms of other concerns, but this can also be what it looks like when a person is working on encouraging your child to see family and loved ones as the problem they eventually seek to escape.
Beating Disaster
Provides training and coaching for individuals and groups on adopting a Safety Plan to greatly decrease the risk of becoming victimized by human trafficking. Another helpful offering is Dating Safely for adults or teens.
You can be a part of the solution and minimize the risk to your own children by paying attention to your surroundings. If something doesn't look or feel right, it's because it probably isn't. By simply looking around you may come to notice a whole lot that doesn’t look right.
Your simple observation and phone call could provide the missing link in saving one or more lives as well as increasing the safety in your neighborhood and community.
Learn more about trafficking from reliable resources so you can better identify signs and victims. You can follow any of these on social media to learn more as well as easily share information with others:
Polaris Project
https://polarisproject.org/human-trafficking/recognize-signs
Hope for Justice
http://hopeforjustice.org/spot-the-signs/
Stop the Traffik
https://www.stopthetraffik.org/
DHS
https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/indicators-human-trafficking
By being informed of the signs of trafficking you can make a difference by speaking up to the right authorities when you see something does not look right. Report concerns and suspicious behavior...
Local PD
Human Trafficking (888) 373-7888 or Text 233733
Another way to help is when traveling take pictures of your hotel room and upload them to TraffickCam. Versions are available for both: Apple and Android
Non-profits and charities dedicated to helping victims of trafficking include:
All Worthy of Love
National Trafficking Hotline