WHAT IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING?
Human Trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery. It a Federal crime defined as the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts or forced labor against their will. The Action-Means-Purpose Model (AMP) outlines the core elements of trafficking as occurring when a perpetrator, often referred to as a trafficker, takes an Action (induces, recruits, harbors, transports, provides), and then employs the Means of force, fraud, or coercion for the Purpose of compelling the victim to provide commercial sex acts or labor or services. At a minimum, one element from each column must be present. Where a person younger than 18 is induced to perform a commercial sex act, it is a crime regardless of whether there is any force, fraud, or coercion.
THE AMP MODEL
ACTION
Reduces
Recruits
Harbors
Transports
Provides
Obtains
MEANS
Force
Fraud
Coersion
PURPOSE
Commercial Sex Acts
Labor or Service
"Never stay silent. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." By Wiesle Elie, Nobel Peace Prize 1986
VICTIMS
Victims of Human Trafficking can be anyone: women and men, adults and children, citizens, and noncitizens alike. Victims can be found in legal and illegal industries including child and elder care, massage parlors, hair salons, restaurants, dance clubs, hotels, and factories. Other victims are hidden in domestic servitude in private homes.
TRAFFICKERS
Traffickers come from all genders, races, ethnicities, and income levels. In the great majority of situations, victims know and even trust or love their traffickers. The trafficker may be an intimate partner or spouse of the victim, a family member, friend, or co-worker. Traffickers target vulnerable people, offering emotional or financial support. Victims are deceived by false promises of love, a good job, or a stable life and are lured or forced into deplorable living or work situations.
RECRUITERS
A growing source of recruiting for Human Traffickers is the Internet. Traffickers use social media accounts such as Facebook and Instagram, dating websites, and gaming apps to connect with and recruit young and vulnerable victims. Victims are frequently lured to secondary chatrooms or private forums. Traffickers often use sophisticated anonymity software and create fake social media, marketing themselves as employment agencies.