Human trafficking is a violation of human rights and a global public health crisis with many victims sustaining acute and long-term injuries as well as mental health disorders. Victims face multifaceted barriers to recovery, including restricted health care access, intense fear of retribution, and the profound psychological manipulation exerted by traffickers. However, most victims will seek health care services at some point during their captivity making health care professionals pivotal as "frontline" responders. Despite this critical role, a significant gap exists in professional preparedness. Many health care professionals have not received adequate education or specialized training to detect the indicators or to navigate the complexities of intervention. To bridge this gap, developing robust, evidence-based education programs is essential for all health care professionals.This article explores the necessity of targeted human trafficking training, with a specific focus on simulation-based education. Simulation offers a high-fidelity, low-risk environment where health care professionals can practice clinical identification, communication strategies, and interdisciplinary coordination. By mimicking real-world clinical encounters, simulation-based training empowers professionals to address the vast and complex needs survivors effectively. Also discussed are various simulation-based training programs, highlighting their efficacy in improving clinician confidence and patient outcomes in regards to victims of human trafficking.

Addressing human trafficking in health care settings: Simulation and interprofessional education strategies.

Little is known about best practices for forensic interviewing of adolescent victims of exploitation. The current study examined the types of questions asked in interviews with adolescent victims conducted by police interviewers or federal forensic interview specialists, as well as how adolescents responded. Forensic interviews were transcribed (N = 47, M age = 15.93, SD = 3.26, range = 12–19 at time of victimisation) and coded. Interviewer prompts were coded for question type. Adolescent responses were coded for response format (open, closed, elaborated, don’t know), length (word count), uncertainty, and reluctance. Results indicated that federal forensic interviewers tended to use more appropriate methods of questioning, including greater use of open-ended prompts, compared to police interviewers. Adolescents were more likely to elaborate and provide longer responses to federal forensic interviewers compared to police interviewers and were more likely to respond reluctantly to open-ended questions. Implications for forensic interviews with adolescents are discussed.

Human trafficking poses a major public health challenge to the international community, with significant health and social consequences for those affected. Forced migrants are particularly vulnerable to becoming victims of human trafficking due to language barriers and migration-related hardships. These include social and economic deprivation. To better understand the lived experiences within this already vulnerable group, it is essential to examine individual cases in relation to risk factors, experiences of exploitation and exit, and resilience. Using a qualitative approach, this study examines social determinants and risk factors of forced migrants who survived human trafficking. It explores their experiences, eventual escape, and sheds light on their resilience. For this purpose, semi-structured interviews regarding the trafficking experiences were conducted with newly arrived forced migrants at a reception and registration centre in Germany. The presence of human trafficking was determined through an initial screening procedure and then confirmed in a personal interview. Additionally, we assessed the refugees' mental health burden with brief screening questionnaires for post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and the overall stress level (PC-PTSD-5, GAD-2, PHQ-2, RHS-15 distress thermometer). A total of 20 interviews were conducted with 14 female and 6 male participants. The participants came from 9 different countries. Most of them experienced sexual exploitation (N = 11), labour exploitation (N = 7). Few were trafficked but not exploited (N = 3). Participants reported that financial hardship was the main benefitting exploitation risk, and in many cases, they had been recruited by individuals they already knew. Spiritual rituals were sometimes used to increase pressure and control. Various forms of violence were inherent to the trafficking situations. In most cases, those affected managed to free themselves. Interpersonal connections and religious beliefs played a crucial role in coping with these experiences, however the screening for common mental disorders among refugees still indicated high levels of psychological distress. The results are discussed in relation to existing literature and implications for support and intervention are presented.

ABSTRACT Survivor leadership is essential to transformative anti-trafficking policy and practice, yet little research has examined how survivors themselves define it. This study explores the meaning of survivor leadership among survivors of human trafficking in the Philippines using photovoice. Survivor co-researchers identified seven key themes: valuing lived experience, public recognition, survivor-driven program design, access to professional roles, capacity building, increased funding, and collaboration with allies. Each is discussed in the context of anti-human trafficking work. This research aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly goals five (gender equality) and eight (decent work).

ABSTRACT Human trafficking rates in Europe continue to rise despite the presence of comprehensive legal frameworks and policy initiatives. Using 2012–2022 Eurostat data, this study examines key trends and patterns in trafficking victimization across Europe. The analyses reveal notable shifts in the nature and scope of trafficking: the number of victims per 100,000 inhabitants increased by 12.44%, while the ratio of convicted-to-suspected offenders in human trafficking rose by only 2.64%. There are also significant changes in the purposes of trafficking, with the rate of sex trafficking victims per 100,000 inhabitants decreasing by 8.74%, compared to a 128.57% increase in victims of trafficking for forced labor or services. Moreover, the rate of change in female victims rose by 14.33%, whereas the rate for male victims increased by 102.26%, likely associated with the increase in forced labor. Results, based on a linear regression analysis, also suggest that a 1% increase in the convicted-to-suspected offender ratio generates a 0.402% decrease in the number of victims, providing implications for designing effective justice system policies. These findings highlight evolving dynamics in human trafficking across Europe and underscore the need for more robust, evidence-based, and coordinated policy responses to address this complex and organized form of crime in society.

Human trafficking involving minors constitutes one of the most serious forms of criminal exploitation, given children’s heightened psychological vulnerability and their limited capacity for autonomous and informed decision-making. This article explores the interplay between psychological control and victim vulnerability in the offence of human trafficking, focusing on how these dimensions shape the legal qualification of acts of transportation, transfer and harbouring. From a legal psychology standpoint, such acts should not be viewed solely as physical or logistical conduct, but as processes that actively contribute to psychological domination, social isolation, and the maintenance of exploitative control. Against this background, the article examines how psychological control exercised over minors influences the interpretation of the objective element of the offence and, consequently, the legal classification of trafficking-related acts. Drawing on concepts from developmental psychology, theories of coercive control, and trauma research, vulnerability is conceptualized as a dynamic and situational condition, rooted in age-related cognitive and emotional immaturity, dependency on adults, and increased susceptibility to manipulation. Acts of transportation and transfer are analysed as mechanisms that sever protective social ties and intensify disorientation, thereby reinforcing the minor’s reliance on the trafficker. Harbouring is examined as a strategy of sustained control, characterized by isolation, surveillance, and the normalization of exploitative conditions. By integrating psychological analysis with criminal law reasoning, the article underscores the risk of misinterpreting the objective element of human trafficking when psychological dimensions are overlooked. It is argued that recognizing psychological control as an integral component of trafficking conduct supports a functional interpretation of trafficking acts and justifies the application of aggravating circumstances in cases involving minors. The article concludes that incorporating legal psychology into the assessment of child trafficking enhances judicial understanding of victim behaviour, strengthens legal qualification, and promotes a more effective and victim-centred application of anti-trafficking legislation.

Abstract This study employs a content analysis of 607 court judgments to examine the roles, functions, and participation mechanisms of women in cross-border bride trafficking to China. The findings show that women are extensively involved across multiple stages of trafficking operations, underscoring their integral position within these illicit networks. In doing so, the study extends existing research on the indispensable role of women in certain illicit markets by demonstrating how gendered capacities and relational resources are actively mobilized within trafficking operations. Particular attention is devoted to the phenomenon of the “second wave of trafficking,” whereby former victims subsequently become perpetrators under conditions of structural constraint, economic vulnerability, and social marginalization. This dynamic not only challenges the entrenched “female victim–male culprit” paradigm but also illuminates the self-reproductive nature of bride trafficking networks, in which cycles of victimization and offending are intertwined. Finally, the study reveals that cross-border bride trafficking operations are deeply embedded within China’s matchmaking institution, which provides both cultural legitimacy and organizational camouflage for illicit activities. Within this institutional context, trafficking practices are normalized and obscured through socially sanctioned marital arrangements. Overall, this study advances a more nuanced understanding of bride trafficking by foregrounding the complex interplay between gendered roles, cultural practices, and illicit market organization, thereby contributing to broader theoretical debates on gendered participation in human trafficking.

Forensic Dermatology: An Integral Subspecialty of Dermatology. Introducing a New Section in Clinics in Dermatology.

Human trafficking is one of the most serious forms of organized crime, affecting millions of people worldwide and causing severe physical, psychological, and social harm. Bangladesh, due to its socio-economic conditions and geographical position, remains highly vulnerable as a source, transit, and destination country for trafficking. With the rapid advancement of digital technology, new forms of exploitation have emerged, particularly through online platforms such as online gaming. This study explores the emerging nexus between online gaming and human trafficking in Bangladesh. It examines how traffickers exploit the anonymity and interactive nature of gaming platforms to identify and manipulate potential victims, especially young people. The research adopts a qualitative and doctrinal methodology, relying on primary legal sources and secondary materials, including academic literature and institutional reports. The findings reveal that limited digital literacy, socio-economic disparities, and lack of awareness significantly increase vulnerability to trafficking through online gaming. Furthermore, the study identifies gaps in existing legal frameworks, which are primarily designed to address traditional forms of trafficking and do not adequately cover digital dimensions. The study concludes by emphasizing the need for stronger legal regulations, enhanced digital literacy, and coordinated institutional responses to address this emerging threat. It highlights the importance of developing a comprehensive approach to ensure safer digital environments and protect vulnerable populations from exploitation.

Human trafficking is a complex, multidimensional crime that not only violates human rights but also has far-reaching impacts on victims. This study aims to examine the legal aspects of human trafficking in Indonesia, identify the causal factors and impacts, and analyze mitigation efforts. The method used is normative legal research with a descriptive approach, through a literature review of various relevant primary, secondary, and tertiary legal sources. The results of the study indicate that normatively, Indonesia has a fairly strong legal basis through Law Number 21 of 2007 concerning the Eradication of the Crime of human trafficking, which comprehensively regulates the elements of human trafficking and protection for victims. However, in practice, various obstacles are still found, including weak law enforcement, limited capacity of law enforcement officers, and suboptimal coordination between relevant agencies. Factors that encourage human trafficking include poverty, low levels of education, the influence of patriarchal culture, and technological advances that facilitate perpetrators in carrying out criminal methods. The impacts are not only physical but also encompass psychological, economic, and social conditions, causing victims to experience prolonged trauma and difficulties in reintegrating into society. Efforts to combat human trafficking need to be comprehensive, using an integrated preventive, repressive, and rehabilitative approach. Therefore, strengthening responsive legal policies, increasing the effectiveness of law enforcement, optimizing victim protection, and cooperation at both the national and international levels are needed to bridge the gap between legal norms and their implementation, and realizing sustainable eradication of human trafficking.

The offence of human trafficking is structured around both objective and subjective elements, the latter playing a decisive role in the legal classification of conduct and in judicial reasoning. This article examines the subjective element of the crime of human trafficking, with a particular focus on the perpetrator’s intent (mens rea) and the legal significance of the victim’s apparent consent. While international and European legal instruments—most notably the Palermo Protocol and Directive 2011/36/EU—explicitly provide that the victim’s consent is legally irrelevant where coercive, deceptive, or abusive means are employed, national judicial practice continues to reveal interpretative tensions, especially in cases involving psychological coercion, abuse of vulnerability, or economic dependency. The central question guiding this analysis concerns the proper interpretation of intent and apparent consent within the framework of human trafficking offences, namely how these concepts should be construed in order to preserve the protective function of criminal law and ensure conformity with European human rights standards. The article argues that human trafficking is an offence of direct intent, encompassing both the acts of recruitment, transportation, or exploitation and the specific purpose of exploitation. Apparent consent, in this context, cannot negate criminal liability, as it frequently reflects a situation of constrained autonomy rather than a genuine expression of free will. Through a doctrinal analysis grounded in criminal law theory and supported by relevant European Court of Human Rights jurisprudence, the study demonstrates that a formalistic reliance on the notion of consent risks distorting the assessment of mens rea and undermining victim protection. The article concludes that a restrictive and context-sensitive interpretation of the subjective element—integrating intent, vulnerability, and power imbalance—is essential for legal certainty, consistent adjudication, and effective enforcement of anti-trafficking norms within national criminal law systems.

The criminalization of illicit/unregulated drug distribution as “drug trafficking” has grown increasingly entangled with rhetoric and allegations of “human trafficking,” producing a convergence of how trafficking across policy domains is understood and regulated by the state. This commentary traces three critical parallels across state drug and human trafficking frameworks: (1) racialized constructions of the “trafficker,” (2) erasure of structural determinants of participation in informal economies, and (3) reliance on binary victim–perpetrator representations. The commentary draws on empirical research based primarily in Ontario, Canada, that involved 41 interviews with people who use drugs charged with drug offences, frontline harm reduction workers, criminal defense lawyers, and drug policy experts as a point of departure to interrogate wider structural and discursive trends in the governance of criminalized economies. Our argument is twofold: first, that the premise of “the trafficker” and use of “trafficking” as an organizing framework produces various harms across different sites of policy and practice, and second, that policymakers and harm reduction practitioners must resist the growing discursive slippage that entangles drug and human trafficking in the name of protection. Resisting trafficking frameworks is thus a policy imperative, as they erode fragile rights safeguards, consolidate carceral and racialized governance regimes, and foreclose alternative approaches that address the structural conditions shaping involvement in drug economies.

Human trafficking constitutes one of the most serious and systematic forms of transnational crime in the era of globalization. Indonesia, as a country of origin, transit, and destination for human trafficking, faces complex challenges in enforcing international criminal law. This study aims to normatively analyze the legal position of human trafficking as a transnational crime from the perspective of international criminal law, while evaluating the effectiveness of the implementation of Law Number 21 of 2007 on the Eradication of the Crime of Trafficking in Persons in Indonesia. Employing a statute approach and a conceptual approach, this study finds a significant gap between international legal norms as stipulated in the Palermo Protocol 2000 and Indonesia's domestic regulations, particularly regarding the definition of victims, recovery mechanisms, and inter-agency coordination. The novelty of this research lies in the identification of three structural weaknesses in the implementation of the Anti-Trafficking Law: (1) normative ambiguity in defining exploitation; (2) weak restitution and compensation mechanisms for victims; and (3) institutional misalignment between central and regional Anti-Trafficking Task Forces. This study recommends a partial revision of the Anti-Trafficking Law and strengthening of vertical-horizontal coordination among law enforcement agencies.

Artisanal mining in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), particularly in the territories of Kabare and Kalehe in South Kivu, constitutes an ambivalent social space where economic opportunities, structural precarity and gender-based violence intersect. Drawing on an inductive, multi-sited qualitative approach, this study examines the life trajectories of rural women and girls who are directly or indirectly involved in artisanal mining economies, with the aim of analysing the social, economic and political mechanisms that produce and sustain their vulnerability to trafficking and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). This study adopts an inductive approach and draws on a range of data collection techniques, including semi-structured interviews, focus groups and an in-depth literature review. The study highlights a continuum between economic survival strategies and forms of exploitation, in which access to mining-related income is embedded within asymmetrical power relations, the invisibilisation of women's labour, and institutionalised practices of domination. The findings show that, far from being limited to spectacular forms of violence in contexts of armed conflict, the trafficking of women and girls is rooted in gradual, normalised, and often invisible processes linked to chronic poverty, constrained mobility, patriarchal norms, and the fragmented governance of mining sites. While mining sites offer limited spaces of economic empowerment for women, through access to independent income, increased mobility and solidarity networks these opportunities remain fragile and highly conditioned by gendered extractive structures that appropriate both women's labour and bodies. By uncovering the "silent cradles" of trafficking in rural mining areas, this article contributes to the literature on gender, extractivism and human security, advocating for a structural analysis of gendered violence that moves beyond humanitarian and securitised frameworks.

The use of police intelligence has become fundamental for crime prevention, especially in modern times, where the complexity of threats requires an increasingly sophisticated approach. The evolution of technologies, such as artificial intelligence, big data and digital surveillance, has allowed security forces to anticipate criminal actions, detecting patterns of suspicious behavior before crimes even happen. By integrating these technologies into traditional police operations, it is possible to obtain valuable information in real time, optimizing resource allocation and reducing response time to threats. In addition to technological tools, police intelligence also relies on cooperation between different institutions and countries, allowing information sharing and a more coordinated response to transnational crimes. This integration has been crucial to combat challenges such as terrorism, drug and human trafficking, as well as cybercrime. However, the implementation of police intelligence faces significant challenges, such as citizen privacy and the ethical use of these technologies. Furthermore, police intelligence, while promising advances in crime prevention, requires a careful balance between public safety and individual rights. With the increase in crime in digital environments and the globalization of organized crime, adapting security forces to this new reality is essential to guarantee the safety of the population and effectiveness in combating new forms of threat.

College students (n = 971) from 12 campuses in Southern California responded to fliers posted on their campuses by completing online self-administered surveys. Nearly one in five students (18%) surveyed reported experiencing human trafficking in college. In bivariate analyses, trafficked students were more likely to be BIPOC, LGBTQ, foster youth, fraternity/sorority members, use illicit substances, experience abuse (physical, emotional, sexual, or being told to recruit others), transport/sell drugs, perform labor, and exchange sex for grades/schoolwork. Multiple logistic regression analyses (adjusting for age, sexual orientation, race) revealed those trafficked were more likely as college students to exchange sex across the U.S.-Mexico border (OR=4.02; CI: 2.52-6.17), be inhibited to seek academic counseling (OR=2.58; CI=1.63-4.10), acquire a sexually transmitted infection (OR:1.63; CI: 1.04-2.57), wonder how they would afford their next meal (OR:1.20; CI: 1.03-1.40), and feel pressure from others (i.e., instructors, peers) to engage in sex (OR:2.69; CI:11.75-4.12). Strategies may need to: 1) expand Title IX implementation to encompass human trafficking/sexual exploitation information at all universities, and 2) amend or introduce state laws mandating human trafficking prevention awareness training at schools to include colleges/universities.

The volatility and continuous nature of cryptocurrency markets pose formidable challenges for human traders, who remain susceptible to emotional decision-making and cognitive fatigue over extended trading periods. This paper introduces a multi-layered artificial intelligence trading framework designed to address these constraints through systematic, data-driven decision processes. The proposed architecture integrates three complementary intelligent modules: a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network that processes historical price sequences to generate forward-looking price estimates; a Reinforcement Learning (RL) agent that functions as the central decision-making component, dynamically calibrating risk exposure in accordance with real-time market conditions; and a Natural Language Processing (NLP) module that derives quantified market sentiment from live financial news streams. Empirical evaluation conducted through simulated paper trading trials demonstrates that this integrated methodology yields measurably superior risk-adjusted performance relative to conventional rule-based trading systems. These findings affirm that coupling memory-augmented sequence modeling with adaptive strategy optimization represents a viable pathway toward more consistent and sustainable engagement with digital asset markets.

ABSTRACT Oath-taking ceremonies are common spiritual practices in some African regions. Oath-taking can be exploited as a means of psychological control within human trafficking. This study conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 West African women living in the UK who had experienced oath-taking when being trafficked to the UK. Thematic analysis generated four themes: Exploiting Fear of the Oath, Shifting of Power, Loss, and Living Alongside the Oath’s Impact. Survivors described factors influencing the oath’s ongoing impact on their lives. Findings highlight the need for greater recognition and targeted training regarding oath-taking within trafficking, plus recommendations for holistic, culturally sensitive clinical care.

ABSTRACT This study examines stakeholder responses to recommendations made by survivors of human trafficking in Cambodia through the Chab Dai Butterfly Longitudinal Research Project. Using mixed methods, including surveys of NGOs (N = 10) and focus groups with distinct stakeholder groups including local authorities (n = 12), women’s crisis center representatives (n = 10), and police (n = 8), we analyzed implementation patterns of survivor recommendations across key stakeholder groups. While stakeholders demonstrated support for survivor-centered approaches, significant gaps emerged between survivor recommendations and implementation practices. Resource constraints, institutional barriers, and cultural factors limited meaningful implementation, particularly regarding structural reforms and survivor inclusion in decision-making. Stakeholders favored community-based awareness programs over institutional changes, revealing tensions between immediate practical responses and long-term systemic reform. These findings highlight the need for enhanced survivor participation in anti-trafficking program development while acknowledging complex implementation challenges in the Cambodian context.