Anti-trafficking Efforts Research Articles

The Digitalization of Outreach Social Work: Hybrid Practices in Italian Anti-Trafficking Efforts

ABSTRACT This study contributes to understanding digital social work efforts by outreach professionals engaging in anti-trafficking interventions in Northern Italy. It aims to answer the following research questions: How are digital resources being mobilized by outreach social workers in preventing, countering, and redressing forms of exploitation and trafficking in persons? What contribution does this offer to the understanding of the new opportunities and risks created by digital social work, applied to outreach activities toward highly marginalized groups at risk of being trafficked for labor and sexual exploitation? In this paper, we first contextualize the issue through essential literature in the areas of trafficking in persons, outreach social work, and digital social work. We then briefly outline the methodology, which is followed by a presentation and discussion of some of the strategies outreach social workers have enacted to mobilize digital resources to prevent, identify, and redress exploitation. A brief conclusion highlights the main takeaways. Some methodologies aim to enhance the digital agency of persons at risk, while others generate user-led digital contact pathways or promote digital safety practices, thus contributing to achieving UN sustainable goals 5, empowering women and girls, and 16, promoting just, peaceful, and inclusive societies

Targeted Funding for Anti-Trafficking Initiatives: An evidence-based anti-oppressive approach

Community-driven research is key to creating evidence-based collaborative systems that meet the multifaceted needs of human trafficking survivors and address oppressions that create vulnerabilities to human trafficking. Programmes and solutions require money and evidenced-informed processes, or they risk investing in systems that will not meet the needs of the intended target populations. This paper reflects on how a community-initiated research project influenced funding to enhance anti-trafficking work in a Midwestern US state. We urge other regions to adopt this model of research and resource allocation in their own anti-trafficking efforts.

Pay Survivors for Our Lived Experiences

This short paper argues that to address the exploitation of survivors’ labour in anti-trafficking work, it is essential to allocate funds towards compensating survivors for their contributions. This funding should prioritise paying survivors for sharing their expertise and lived experiences, which are invaluable for effective anti-trafficking efforts. Establishing a standard pay rate, commensurate with other expert consultants, would validate survivors’ roles and contributions, promoting sustainable engagement and preventing further exploitation within the anti-trafficking movement.

Criminalized for Surviving: A Call for Social Justice Advocacy in Anti-Trafficking Efforts

ABSTRACT With continued unjust criminalization of trafficking survivors, it is critical that individuals involved in the anti-trafficking movement move beyond awareness to intentional advocacy efforts. As a follow-up to Criminalized for Surviving: A Call for Legal Relief for Survivors of Human Trafficking, this article, centers around a primary victim/survivor case study (pseudonym Adira), who is also a coauthor, and provides detailed reflections on the processes, experiences, and lessons learned while advocating for survivors who have been unjustly criminalized. Written from the perspective of survivor/overcomer-leaders who have extensive personal and professional expertise in the anti-trafficking movement, and who are educated as social workers, this article is an invitation to join in critical reflection, consider the systemic causes or rather, adaptive challenges (e.g. sexism, classism, racism, etc.) that fuel human rights violations extending beyond trafficking, and contemplate the potential consequences of even the most well-intended efforts. This is a call for a remembrance of our professional roots, a recommitment to those we are gifted to serve and walk alongside in their life journeys, and a re-awakening of social justice advocacy in anti-trafficking efforts.

Criminalized for Surviving: A Call for Legal Relief for Survivors of Human Trafficking

ABSTRACT The passing of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 triggered an uprising of individuals interested in joining the anti-trafficking movement. Since then, public policy, awareness, fundraising, and short-term rescue and restore efforts have increased across the United States. However, it is questionable whether such efforts improved the well-being of those victimized by and/or who have survived trafficking. Despite rallies, chants, and social media posts of #TimesUp and #BelieveSurvivors amidst our nation’s #MeToo movement, minors who have been traded, sold, and bought by adults for commercial sexual exploitation continue to be prosecuted for the crimes of which they are victims—prostitution or even worse, human trafficking. Utilizing the authors’ personal as well as professional direct practice, advocacy, and research expertise in the anti-trafficking movement, and through the sharing of a case of trafficking in which a survivor, despite her victimization, faced criminalization, this article illuminates the [said unintentional] harm that is far too frequently facilitated by the very systems set-up to assist vulnerable and marginalized individuals. A second follow-up article, Criminalized for Surviving: A Call for Social Justice Advocacy in Anti-Trafficking Efforts, will detail the experiences and lessons learned while advocating for survivors harmed by our criminal legal systems.

Collaborative innovations in Artificial Intelligence (AI): Partnering with leading U.S. tech firms to combat human trafficking

This article reviews, integrates, and expands upon research initiatives that explore the development and implementation of advanced artificial intelligence (AI)–driven tools and methodologies. In exploring collaborations with leading U.S. AI technology firms, including Nvidia, Dataiku, DataRobot, and C3.ai, this study is specifically aimed at identifying, preventing, and combating human trafficking. This collaborative effort seeks to create a synergistic framework that capitalizes on the unique capabilities and resources of each firm. The overarching goal is to enhance the effectiveness of AI technologies in detecting trafficking activities, analyzing diverse data sources, and providing vital support to law enforcement and NGOs in rescue and prevention efforts. The comprehensive review delves into the multifaceted applications of AI, emphasizing its role in prevention through machine learning, data analytics, and natural language processing. It navigates through collaborative initiatives, presenting partnerships with prominent U.S. tech firms, accompanied by case studies that showcase successful collaborative projects. Challenges inherent in collaborative AI efforts are addressed, and the paper proposes strategic solutions to overcome these obstacles. The ethical and legal considerations section scrutinizes the implications of deploying AI in human trafficking prevention, exploring the delicate balance between innovation and safeguarding privacy and civil liberties. Furthermore, the final section anticipates future directions and recommendations, providing insights into emerging technologies that could enhance anti-trafficking efforts. Specific recommendations are offered for fortifying collaborations between AI developers and tech firms, and the paper discusses broader implications for policy, suggesting avenues for future research in the dynamic field of AI-driven human trafficking prevention. In essence, this comprehensive review not only synthesizes existing knowledge but also integrates a forward-looking research initiative, contributing significantly to the ongoing discourse on leveraging technology to combat human trafficking on a global scale.

Practitioner Reflection: Reliance on Informal and Gig Economies Leaves LGBTQ+ Populations with Fewer Economic Choices and Greater Vulnerability to Trafficking

ABSTRACT Vulnerability to human trafficking is exacerbated by poverty, familial violence and abuse, homelessness, un- and under-employment, and migration. Many of these established vulnerabilities to human trafficking are also common vulnerabilities experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other (LGBTQ+) populations worldwide. Further, LGBTQ+ individuals face additional risks due to community and workplace stigma. These circumstances result in disproportionate barriers to formal employment, particularly in stable jobs that pay a living wage and are insulated from economic shocks. Yet anti-trafficking efforts frequently overlook LGBTQ+ people’s particular needs. LGBTQ+ people frequently rely on insecure, informal, and gig economies for their livelihoods, making them susceptible to trafficking. Yet informal work opportunities also have positives. Individuals may maintain control of their work circumstances in ways they cannot if they work in formal settings. LGBTQ+ people report being able to choose contracts and clients or move on quickly when encountering unsafe situations. It should be noted that controlling our circumstances is a key tenet of trauma-informed support. Anti-trafficking interventions frequently seek transformational change with “rescue and rebuilding” underpinning programming. The authors propose an alternative model built around i) diversifying livelihood choices, ii) fostering psychological safety and iii) addressing the individual-level impacts of systemic stigma and discrimination.

Exploratory spatial analysis: Understanding the geography of risks for trafficking and preventive efforts through the implementation of kNOw MORE!—: an educational program in middle and high schools in San Diego, California

Human trafficking (HT) violates human rights and brings long-lasting consequences for victims. This study aimed to geographically and statistically analyze (1) the implementation of a youth educational prevention program, kNOw MORE! (kM!) located in San Diego County (SD); (2) clusters of student participants who desired to talk further about trafficking after participating in kM!; (3) clusters of SD regions that included protective factors based on mental and social services for survivors of HT and similar populations; and (4) the low and high risk clusters for trafficking within SD. kM! is a preventive program that seeks to increase knowledge and self-efficacy to prevent trafficking. kM! is designed to increase knowledge and self-efficacy among middle and high school students to prevent HT. Databases used included the U.S. Census, the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System, kM!’s (2016–2020), among others. Results indicate that kM! was implemented throughout the six regions of SD. These presentations reached a total of N = 11,586 participants. Analysis of ZIP codes highlighted the South and East regions as representing the highest cluster for kM!’s presentations. Central, North Inland, and South Regions of SD are among the ones with highest percentiles of HT vulnerability scores. Regarding protective factors, the Central Region of San Diego contains the highest clustering of mental health and social services. These findings can assist diverse stakeholders and leaders to geographically strategize their anti-trafficking efforts. However, complete and uniform open databases at multiple levels are required to best inform the associations between geographical spaces and HT vulnerability.

Effectiveness of Police Intra-Departmental Collaboration in Combating Human Trafficking in Nairobi City County, Kenya

The primary aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of police intra-departmental collaboration in combating human trafficking in Nairobi County, Kenya. Human trafficking remains a critical issue requiring effective intra-departmental collaboration among police units. This study investigates how various strategies and practices impact the efficiency of police efforts in combating human trafficking; with a focus on Nairobi County. The study employs Network Theory which emphasizes the importance of communication networks in coordinating and enhancing collaborative efforts across different units within an organization. Data was collected through structured interviews and focus groups discussions with key stakeholders, including police officers, community leaders, and National Government Officers. The study utilized a purposive sampling method to ensure diverse perspectives on the effectiveness of intra-departmental collaboration. The research engaged 20 respondents, including local community leaders, senior police officers, and national-level officials. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis for qualitative responses and descriptive statistics for quantitative data. This approach facilitated a comprehensive understanding of the communication practices, command structure, resource allocation, and community involvement in combating human trafficking. The study found that centralized communication systems and routine interdepartmental meetings significantly enhance cooperation and efficiency in responding to human trafficking. Decentralization of command authority improves local responsiveness, while fair resource distribution fosters collaboration. Community leaders and organizations provide crucial intelligence and support, emphasizing the need for strengthened partnerships between police and community stakeholders. Effective anti-trafficking efforts depend on integrated communication systems, improved command structures, equitable resource allocation, and strong community partnerships. While centralized systems and strategic planning enhance inter-departmental collaboration, issues such as inadequate command guidance and resource imbalances hinder cooperation. To improve intra-departmental collaboration, it is recommended to decentralize decision-making authority, implement a unified communication platform, conduct regular interdisciplinary meetings, and ensure equitable distribution of resources. Additionally, fostering stronger relationships with local community leaders and organizations will enhance information sharing and overall effectiveness in combating human trafficking.

Empowerment or Exploitation? Ethical Engagement of Survivor Leaders in Anti-Trafficking Organizations

In recent years, anti-trafficking organizations have increased the use of survivor voices in fundraising, direct service, and leadership. While empowerment is the goal, tokenism can be the outcome when organizations do not engage survivors ethically. This integrative literature review article provides an overview of the research on engagement of sex trafficking survivors in organizations leading anti-trafficking efforts in the United States and summarizes findings to emphasize ethical engagement practices from an organizational culture perspective. Overall, it is recommended that organizations ethically engage survivors in a variety of roles within the organization. To do this well, organizations should create opportunities for professional capacity building, enhancement of survivor leadership roles and responsibilities, and adoption of a trauma-informed and survivor-informed organizational culture to empower survivors.

A Comparative Study on Human Trafficking as a Crime in South Africa

With millions of people trapped in modern-day slavery, human trafficking is largely misunderstood, owing to limited data and research. Present-day human trafficking trends are linked to issues such as corruption, funding, public awareness, and poor anti-trafficking coordination. Over centuries, human trafficking has taken on a variety of forms ranging from enslavement in all its forms to organ removal. South Africa’s most significant achievement in combatting human trafficking is its own anti-trafficking legislation, namely the Prevention and Combatting of Trafficking in Persons Act of 2013. However, some provisions of this Act remain ineffective, thus impeding the fight against trafficking in the country. This article focuses on South Africa’s trafficking trends and anti-trafficking responses. It also highlights the hindrances obstructing the effective enforcement of its legislation by comparison to the first-world country Canada, to gain an understanding of effective anti-trafficking administration and execution to ultimately provide recommendations for South Africa to follow. For example, years before South Africa, Canada had already responded to international pressures regarding its anti-trafficking efforts. The country focused ample resources and funding on its anti-trafficking task team while South Africa followed a piecemeal approach in addressing human trafficking. This stems from a misunderstanding of the crime and policy frameworks, and mismanagement of funds. This article proposes that the South African government should strengthen its anti-trafficking measures by making funds easily accessible to victims and educating front-line responders to communicate effectively with victims.

Patriarchal State Projects and the Exploitation of Women: A Case Study of Japan’s Sex Industry (1870s-1950s)

ABSTRACT This case study employs intersectional gender theory and adopts the critical perspective in human trafficking literature to explore how Japanese officials have exploited prostitution and sex industry-related legislation to further their political, economic, and military interests, both in peace and war time, over the 1870s-to-1950s time span. In particular, this paper investigates how sex work and sex trafficking have been understood, how and why these exploitative systems morphed over time, and who benefitted. It finds that sex-trade related legislation has largely been coopted by the state’s leading actors to bolster their power and influence, control women, and improve their international standing. Historical and cultural attitudes toward race, women, and sex continue to exercise a significant influence on Japanese officials, impeding efforts at effective prosecution of sex crimes and severely hindering the protection of individuals involved in the sex trade. Notably, the criminalization of prostitution undermines women’s human and labor rights, complicates anti-trafficking efforts, and renders victims more vulnerable by making them largely invisible and labeling them “criminals.” To craft effective solutions to sexual exploitation, it is crucial that policymakers explicitly address gendered and racial biases and acknowledge how masculinized control of femininities and women have affected and continue to influence exploitative systems.

Are we seeing the unseen of human trafficking? A retrospective analysis of the CTDC k-anonymized global victim of trafficking data pool in the period 2010-2020.

Human trafficking is considered a hidden global crime with unsubstantiated numbers. Despite the challenges in counting or measuring this crime, reports revealed the presence of around 40.3 million victims worldwide. Human trafficking results in severe detrimental impacts on both mental and physical health. Given the sensitivity and negative consequences of human trafficking on the global system and victims, and considering the scarce research in this area, our current study aimed at describing the (i) Sociodemographic profiles of anonymized victims, (ii) Means of control, and (iii) Purpose of trafficking, utilizing the largest anonymized and publicly available dataset on victims of human trafficking. This is a retrospective secondary analysis of the Counter-Trafficking Data Collaborative (CTDC) data pool in the period from 2010 to 2020. The utilized dataset is called the k-anonymized global victim of trafficking dataset, and it is considered the largest global dataset on victims of human trafficking. Data from the k-anonymized data pool were extracted and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences, SPSS® version 27.0 for Windows (IBM Corp. Version 27.0. Armonk, NY) for quality check and analysis using descriptive statistics. A total of 87003 victims of human trafficking were identified in the period from 2010 to 2020. The most age category encountered among victims was 9-17 years with 10326 victims (11.9%), followed by 30-38 years with 8562 victims (9.8%). Females comprised 70% of the sample with 60938 victims. The United States (n = 51611), Russia (n = 4570), and the Philippines (n = 1988) comprised the most countries of exploitation/trafficking. Additionally, the year 2019 witnessed the greatest number of victims registered for assistance by anti-trafficking agencies with around 21312 victims (24.5%). Concerning means of control, threats, psychological abuse, restriction of the victim's movement, taking the victim's earnings, and physical abuse were the most reported means. 42685 victims (49.1%) reported sexual exploitation as the purpose of their trafficking, followed by forced labor with 18176 victims (20.9%). Various means and methods can be used by traffickers to control the victims to be trafficked for many purposes, with sexual exploitation and forced labor being the most common ones. Global anti-trafficking efforts should be brought together in solidarity through utilizing the paradigm of protection of victims, prosecution of traffickers, prevention of trafficking, and inter-sectoral partnerships. Despite being a global concern with various reports that tried to capture the number of trafficked victims worldwide, human trafficking still has many unseen aspects that impose a significant challenge and adds to the global burden in combatting this threat.

Representations of traffickers in official UK discourse: Examining the least known component of the human trafficking equation

Through a framework that combines literature's observations on traffickers' policy-based representations with International Relations (IR) theories, this paper explores the representations of traffickers and anti-trafficking government goals in policies of the United Kingdom's (UK), Scottish and Northern Irish governments. Policies were found to mostly subscribe to a Realist's viewing of human trafficking, emphasising criminal choices. Still, and despite their growing tendency to focus on a wider range of traffickers, their dominant narrative tends to revolve around trafficking stereotypes, often ignoring the full spectrum of traffickers' identities to promote total human trafficking elimination. This discourse may overstate Britain's trafficking problem, sustaining state legitimacy and intervention and narrowing down the scope of anti-trafficking efforts. Conclusively, to ensure a more effective anti-trafficking response, the UK needs to set more feasible goals and based on an in-depth knowledge of traffickers strive to further enrich the policy-promoted human trafficking narrative.

Navigating Information-Seeking in Conspiratorial Waters: Anti-Trafficking Advocacy and Education Post QAnon

Individuals seeking out information about human-trafficking and anti-trafficking efforts are increasingly turning to social media as an informational source. However, a lack of traditional informational gatekeeping online has allowed for the rapid proliferation of misinformation via social media. This has been clearly evidenced within the realm of human trafficking by the spread of conspiracy theories instigated by the QAnon-led campaign #SaveTheChildren. Through in-depth interviews with members of the public and professionals involved in anti-trafficking activism we explore how individuals find trustworthy information about human trafficking in light of the public spread of misinformation. Our findings highlight the centrality of distrust as a driving force behind information-seeking on social media. Further, we highlight the tensions that arise from using social media as a primary resource within anti-trafficking education and the limitations of interventions to slow the spread of trafficking-related misinformation. This work provides contextual knowledge for researchers looking to better understand the real-world impacts of misinformation and looking to design better interventions into digital information disorder.

From Responding to Uncertainties and Ambiguities to More Constructive and Inclusive Debates on Commercial Sex and Sex Trafficking

ABSTRACT Commercial sex policies are often at the core of many anti-trafficking efforts, yet rigorous empirical evidence about the effectiveness of these policies in preventing sex trafficking is lacking. In response to ongoing debates about which commercial sex laws and policies would help prevent sex trafficking, we seek to contribute to more nuanced discussions on commercial sex policies in relation to sex trafficking victimizations. The purpose of this essay is to identify the pitfalls in the debate on how to govern commercial sex markets, emphasizing 1) the lack of recognition of the variation in laws and policies on commercial sex; 2) the moral instead of empirical underpinnings of the debate; 3) ambiguous and stigmatizing notions of vulnerability to sex trafficking victimizations; and 4) a continued reliance on a traditional criminal justice system response that may cause harm to victims. We conclude with five premises to promote more nuanced, inclusive, and collaborative debates and governance of commercial sex markets that allow countries and local jurisdictions to move away from response models for which harm-reducing effects are either unknown or refuted.

Comparative Analysis of Human Trafficking in Caribbean and African Islands from the Annual Trafficking in Persons Report

This chapter will examine trends in human trafficking in Caribbean and African islands over the past five years as documented in the US Department of State's annual Trafficking in Persons Report (2016–2021). The countries that will be examined include Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines in the Caribbean region and Cabo Verde, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zanzibar, Tunisia, and Bijagos, Guinea-Bissau, in Africa. This article will examine what countries in these two regions have accomplished in the areas of prosecution of traffickers, victim protection, and prevention activities, as well as discuss the challenges and shortcomings in the anti-trafficking efforts of these island countries. The chapter will discuss the common elements across these regions facilitating success and failures in combating human trafficking. The chapter will end by discussing what policy recommendations, capacity-building initiatives, and cross-regional collaborations could be launched to address these collective trafficking problems.

Preventing and redressing exploitation. Methods of anti-trafficking social work outreach in Northern Italy

ABSTRACT This contribution presents the strategies enacted by anti-trafficking outreach workers as jointly codified with the authors in the context of project FARm (www.project-farm.eu). The project aimed at identifying and addressing root causes of labour exploitation in agriculture in Northern Italy, by activating networks of local stakeholders in the generation of knowledge and preventive interventions. It addressed four topics: a. emersion of exploitation, b. inclusion of persons exploited or at risk, c. labour intermediation and d. self-regulation of enterprises. As part of the first topic, practitioners in social professions working in anti-trafficking organisations, identified four stages of outreach work for the emersion of persons exploited or at risk: a. contact and engagement of persons potentially exploited; b. needs/resources analysis and service pact; c. bridging between beneficiaries and services; d. formal identification of severe exploitation and referral pathways. With particular attention to multi-agency work and bridging services amidst a fragmented welfare system, this contribution frames the documented strategies among current reflections on outreach social work and underline its transformative potential in anti-trafficking efforts. Documenting intervention methodologies against trafficking in human beings, is a first step to enable an evaluation of their effectiveness, and to promote concerted efforts in this area.

Addressing human trafficking as a public health issue.

Human trafficking is increasingly recognized as a significant global public health issue. Human trafficking (HT) exists in all nations, including Canada, and is estimated to impact 25 million people globally. HT is a crime that is not always visible. It is associated with a myriad of deleterious health outcomes arising from adverse living and working conditions, and the physical, sexual, and/or psychological violence often accompanying it. Human trafficking also disproportionately affects people living under vulnerable circumstances, particularly those with intersecting vulnerabilities. Public health can advance health equity for trafficked persons and add value to existing anti-trafficking (AT) efforts. Among its many contributions, public health can bring its expertise in health promotion and surveillance. While efforts to incorporate a public health perspective are already underway in at least the United States and the United Kingdom, the nexus of public health and AT is still nascent and requires further development. A public health approach to trafficking focused on intervening on the upstream drivers of well-being can add value to the extant counter-trafficking paradigm. This commentary is intended to catalyze discussion in Canada and elsewhere as to what public health can contribute to this emergent field.

Traffickers and Victims: Opposite sides of the same coin?

Hong Kong Dignity Institute (HKDI) provides direct assistance to victims of trafficking and seeks to break cycles of exploitation through institutional change. Drawing from first-hand testimonials of over 30 individuals we have assisted since 2019 and insight from our civil society partners, in this article, we outline our observations of traffickers and their modus operandi in three prevalent trafficking scenarios in Hong Kong. Our experience suggests that trafficking networks are composed of a complex and fluid interplay of actors with blurred emotional lines between the traffickers and victims. We conclude that anti-trafficking efforts in Hong Kong are hampered by difficulties in identifying traffickers given the elusive nature of their activities.