Identification of people who are suspected of being trafficked for the purposes of SE

[GOSHH]

Hi Everyone,

It seems there are lots of comments being made in various threads about the potential of meeting a person who has been trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation.
I understand that as members of this site, you would honestly chose to believe that people are independent and self employed professionals, and in many cases, this is true.

I have been reading a lot of what i would call "myths" about how to identify a person who has been trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation.
As a result i have decided to try and post something that might guide our thinking in a more accurate direction.

The main issues are around how the person was recruited. There are three recognised types of recruitment in a trafficking situation, and i am posting these because i think it is more likely you might have these conversations with people.
They are recruitment through deception, force or abuse of a vulnerable situation.

Here is the actual list, taken from here of what indicators are taken into consideration when identifying a victim of trafficking:

9.2.1 Indicators of recruitment by way of deception:

Strong indicator:

• Deception regarding the type of employment, employer or the country/location,

Medium indicators:

• Deception regarding the content or the legality of the employment contract,
• Deception regarding family reunification,
• Deception regarding housing and living conditions,
• Deception about the legal documentation or obtaining legal migration status,
• Deception about the journey and working conditions,
• Deception regarding wage/income,
• Deception through promises of marriage or adoption.

Weak indicator:

• Deception regarding the access to educational opportunities.

9.2.2 Indicators of forced recruitment:
Strong indicators:

• Kidnapping, forced marriages, illegal adoption or selling of the victim,
• Slavery/servitude due to debt,
• Threats of violence against the victim,
• Violence against the victims.

Medium indicators:

• Confiscation of documents,
• Isolation, lock-up and control over their movement,
• Threatening to report them to the authorities about their illegal status,
• Threatening to inform the family, community or the public,
• Violence against the family (threats or actual violence),
• Isolation/Confiscation of money.

9.2.2 Indicators of recruitment by abuse of vulnerable situation:
Medium indicators:

• Abuse of difficult financial situation of the family,
• Abuse of illegal status,
• Abuse of lack of education (language),
• Abuse of lack of information,
• Control by the traffickers/exploiters,
• Difficulties in the past,
• Difficulties in terms of independently organizing the journey,
• Economic reasons,
• False information about the legal regulations in the country of destination and the treatment by the authorities in the country of destination,
• False information about successful migration in the country of destination,
• Family circumstances.

General context:

• Personal situation,
• Psychological and emotional dependency,
• Relation with the authorities/legal status.

Weak indicator:

• Abuse of cultural/religious beliefs

[philipkntz]

Many of my friends have been forced to emigrate for work, and half of that list could be applied to them, even though none are in sexwork as far as I know.
Using their experiences as a guide it is quite conceivable that many foreign sexworkers might come here, lured by high earnings. But the agency that helps them get settled might hold their passports as security deposit for a loan. The end result might be that a willing sexworker might have to stay and work much longer than intended.

[johnwin530]

Red mist obscures red light statistics
Belinda Brooks-Gordon
From 2009 but worth reading

https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...mantrafficking

Sex wokers campaigned and argued in the Declaration for Rights of Sex Workers (pdf) to be treated as ordinary workers deserving of rights rather than helpless victims or evil wrong-doers. Sex workers have campaigned for trafficking laws here to resemble the Palermo protocol rather than the broad definitions in the Sex Offences Act 2003 which allows friends giving lifts to be prosecuted for "trafficking". Trafficking definitions need to align with the Palermo protocol so that the "three Fs" of fear, force or fraud are incorporated into legislation. Sex workers have also campaigned for "control" to be tightened up so the innocent maids and receptionists are not falsely imprisoned.

[GOSHH]

Red mist obscures red light statistics
Belinda Brooks-Gordon
From 2009 but worth reading

https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...mantrafficking

Sex wokers campaigned and argued in the Declaration for Rights of Sex Workers (pdf) to be treated as ordinary workers deserving of rights rather than helpless victims or evil wrong-doers. Sex workers have campaigned for trafficking laws here to resemble the Palermo protocol rather than the broad definitions in the Sex Offences Act 2003 which allows friends giving lifts to be prosecuted for "trafficking". Trafficking definitions need to align with the Palermo protocol so that the "three Fs" of fear, force or fraud are incorporated into legislation. Sex workers have also campaigned for "control" to be tightened up so the innocent maids and receptionists are not falsely imprisoned.

I agree. I think the current anti trafficking legislation is not fit for purpose.

[philipkntz]

There's a fly in my house. Instead of swatting it, I think I'll burn the house down.

[GOSHH]

Many of my friends have been forced to emigrate for work, and half of that list could be applied to them, even though none are in sexwork as far as I know.
Using their experiences as a guide it is quite conceivable that many foreign sexworkers might come here, lured by high earnings. But the agency that helps them get settled might hold their passports as security deposit for a loan. The end result might be that a willing sexworker might have to stay and work much longer than intended.

I think the key thing here is that someone may start off willing and independent and then become coerced. At that point they are no longer willing and independent.