Slavery had existed for many years prior to 1200, and was a common form of everyday life worldwide. However, in the 1400’s, it started the beginning of European slave trading in Africa with the Portuguese transporting people from Africa to Portugal and using them as slaves.

Mass displacement, conflict, extreme poverty, lack of access to education and job opportunities, violence, and harmful social norms like child marriage are all factors that push individuals into situations of trafficking.

FAQs. Human Trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit. Men, women and children of all ages and from all backgrounds can become victims of this crime, which occurs in every region of the world.

Sex and human traffickers get their victims through the use of physical force, threats, psychological manipulation, and other tactics. Sex and human traffickers get their victims through the use of physical force, threats, psychological manipulation, and other tactics.

Human Trafficking Indicators

1. Living with employer.
2. Poor living conditions.
3. Multiple people in cramped space.
4. Inability to speak to individual alone.
5. Answers appear to be scripted and rehearsed.
6. Employer is holding identity documents.
7. Signs of physical abuse.
8. Submissive or fearful.

Recognizing Labor Trafficking

• Feel pressured by their employer to stay in a job or situation they want to leave.
• Owe money to an employer or recruiter or are not being paid what they were promised or are owed.
• Do not have control of their passport or other identity documents.

Warning signs that an individual may be being trafficked:

1. Physical abuse such as burn marks, bruises or cuts.
2. Unexplained absences from class.
3. Sexualized behavior.
4. Overly tired in class.
5. Withdrawn, depressed, distracted or checked out.
6. Brags about making or having lots of money.