Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery. Victims are subjected to force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of commercial sex or forced labor. Victims are children, teenagers, women, and men.

Human trafficking has many faces: forced or bonded labor; domestic servitude and forced marriage; organ removal; and the exploitation of children in begging, the sex trade, and warfare. However, probably due to statistical bias and national legislation, sexual exploitation (79%) is by far the most commonly identified form of trafficking in persons, followed by forced labor (18%), according to the United Nations.

Catholic and other health care organizations and their health care professionals can help victims of human trafficking by being alert to the problem and realizing patients they are treating may be victims. You can help by:

• Raising awareness throughout your organization using educational programs, posters, and fliers
• Asking all clinicians, especially those delivering primary and emergency services, to be alert to signs that their patients may be victims of human trafficking.
• Adding the issue of human trafficking to all protocols and policies already in place to help victims of domestic abuse.
• Becoming part of community-wide coalitions made up of health care and other service providers, including your local Catholic Charities agency, law enforcement agencies, and other interested groups.

» Resources from CHA and other organizations

Identifying Victims

Information for Clinicians
(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

Victims of human trafficking may look like many of the patients coming to health clinics or emergency rooms. Victims are young children, teenagers, men and women. By looking beneath the surface and asking yourself these questions, you can help identify potential victims:

• Is the patient accompanied by another person who seems controlling (possibly the trafficker)?
• Is the patient rarely allowed in public (except for work)?
• Can you detect any physical or psychological abuse?
• Does the patient seem submissive or fearful?
• Does the patient have difficulty communicating because of language or cultural barriers?
• Does the patient lack identity documentation?
• Is someone else collecting the patient’s pay or holding their money for "safekeeping?"

If you are concerned about a patient, here are some questions you could ask:

• Can you leave your job or situation if you want?
• Can you come and go as you please?
• Have you been threatened if you try to leave?
• Has anyone threatened your family?
• What are your working or living conditions like?
• Where do you sleep and eat?
• Do you have to ask permission to eat, sleep, or go to the bathroom?
• Is there a lock on your door so you cannot get out?
• Does someone prohibit you from socializing or attending religious services?

If you think someone is a victim of human trafficking, call the Trafficking Information and Referral Hotline: (888) 373-7888.

Raising Awareness

Health care organizations can raise awareness of the problem of human trafficking by:

• Including information about human trafficking concerns in all employee and physician education.
• Holding in-service educational programs on the problem of human trafficking.
• Adding a component on human trafficking in all information presented on domestic violence.
• Displaying posters with the hotline numbers in patient services areas and in places where patients may be alone, such as bathrooms and treatment rooms.
• Being aware that employees from other countries, especially in entry-level positions within dietary, environmental services, and housekeeping departments could be victims themselves or know of victims. They are victims if someone else is imprisioning them when they are not at work and taking their paychecks.

If you think someone is a victim of human trafficking, call the Trafficking Information and Referral Hotline: (888) 373‑7888.