Human Trafficking is compelling someone to engage in a commercial sex act, labor or services through the use of force, fraud or coercion.
But when you talk to people who have experienced this type of victimization, they don’t see it that way. They see it as their fault. They see it as something they grew up with – it is not human trafficking, it just is. They see it as a way to get drugs. They see it as something within their family and the shame and stigma keep them from labeling it. Or they even see it as something they chose to do so they are not at someone else’s mercy. But that does not change the fact that they are a victim of human trafficking.
Human Trafficking 101
Human Trafficking is compelling someone to engage in a commercial sex act, labor or services through the use of force, fraud or coercion. You can find an overview of both Federal and State laws here. But it is easier to understand using the A-M-P model in the diagram. At least one element from each column must be present to be human trafficking.
Myths about Human Trafficking
Many people believe that human trafficking is something that only happens overseas, that the white van driving around the mall is looking to kidnap the next human trafficking victim, that all those victims are female and that human trafficking only involves sex trafficking.
New Services Directories Available!
Relink.org and Eyes Up Appalachia teamed to create directories of services in the Appalachian Ohio Counties. You can see the directories here but you can always search https://needs.relink.org/ for the most recent update of service providers by need or county.
