Predators, including those from human trafficking networks, target vulnerable individuals. As many of the victims of man-made and natural disasters are women and children, usually separated from their husbands, they are particularly vulnerable to these threats. Those involved in assisting humanitarian assistance need to be very aware and alert to suspicious behaviors in order to protect them. It is also important to be able to provide them with correct information so that they can protect themselves.
What is human trafficking?
Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery and human rights violations that is unfortunately still relevant in the 21st century. It is defined as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receiving of persons, by means of threats, use of force or other forms of psychological pressure for the purpose of further exploitation.
Exploitation can take the following forms:
- Labour exploitation or forced services
- Sexual exploitation
- Involvement in criminal activities
- Forced begging
- Domestic servitude
- Illegal adoption
- Child / teen pornography
- Organ removal
- Slavery or practices similar to slavery
- Forced marriage
If you suspect any such situation always contact the police.
Signs which may indicate a displaced person is or could be exploited by a person claiming to help them:
They:
- are offering a job with an unrealistically high salary;
- are forcing the displaced person to perform work, services or sex without their consent and/or using psychological pressure and manipulations to gain their consent;
- have removed or are withholding the displaced person’s passport or other identification document(s);
- have removed or are withholding the displaced person’s personal means of communication (mobile phones, laptops, etc).
- are making the displaced person comply with strict rules or controlling them by limiting their sleep/rest/food or water intake/denying medical care or isolating them.
- are restricting their ability to move freely or forcing them to live or work in locked premises.
- are asking the displaced person to undertake labour, services, or sex acts to repay ‘debts’ (sometimes they may make the ‘debt’ harder to pay off or make the refugee think they cannot leave until it is paid).
- employing the displaced person but they are not respecting the basic working conditions of a labour contract, and/or if they are not paying the displaced person, and/or are only paying the displaced person some of what was promised or they keep control of the displaced person’s money.
What can you do to limit displaced person’s vulnerability to trafficking?
- Inform them of their rights and where they can access services, help, and support.
- Encourage displaced persons to maintain possession of their documents at all times.
- Encourage displaced persons to keep in touch with people who may support them (if possible those from their community, family, friends, other support structures).
- Encourage displaced persons to ensure that they have enough information about who they are traveling with, what route they will take, the address they will be staying and anyone else who may be there too, any workplace or employer they may be going to and share that information with other trusted persons.
- Encourage displaced persons to develop a secret ‘safeword’ or phrase that they have given to a trusted person(s) that they can use later so they know if they are in trouble.
Tips for Drivers
Drivers are playing a very important role in receiving displaced persons, representing the hospitality, generosity and trustworthiness of society. When you are offering transportation to the refugees, you become the most important and trusted person to keep them safe.
- Avoid any stops on the way, except for emergencies. If you do stop, make sure to count everyone before and after leaving bus to ensure that nobody is left behind.
- Don’t allow anyone else on the bus except those that were assigned to you on at the start of the journey.
- To have valid insurance and periodic technical inspection.