Vulnerable Populations
Although human trafficking can happen to anyone, anywhere, there is evidence that certain experiences, situations, and circumstances create vulnerabilities. The effect of these incidents increases an individual’s susceptibility to being targeted for, and falling victim to, human trafficking. This is especially true when there are overlapping vulnerabilities.
Who is vulnerable to labor trafficking?
Criminal History
Individuals with criminal histories can have limited employment opportunities, which impacts their ability to earn a sustainable income. Individuals who are desperate to improve their economic status are susceptible to becoming involved in situations and conditions they might otherwise avoid.
Culture
Culture can greatly influence societal norms. In some cultures, it is socially acceptable that a child works and contributes to the household. Cultural differences can make it difficult for the individual to identify when they are being exploited.
Children
Child labor trafficking is an often overlooked and misunderstood form of human trafficking. Child labor trafficking is a reality in the U.S. Child labor trafficking victims have diverse sociodemographic backgrounds and can be found in legal industries such as construction and illegal industries. In the post-covid 19 pandemic eras, as economics hardships have grown in our communities all around the U.S., more children have become vulnerable to be victims of labor trafficking in the U.S.
Migrants/Immigrants
Migrants are most vulnerable to exploitation in situations where the authority of the State and society are unable to protect them. The fact of being far from home, often in a country where they have never been and do not know anyone, is a substantial cause of vulnerability for immigrant populations. Many will not know the language, cultural habits and logistics in transit and destination countries.”
Lack of Social Support
Healthy social support systems can provide focus, emotional support, improve self-awareness, and help individuals cope during crisis. Isolated individuals lacking social support are left to face life’s difficulties alone and can experience negative impacts to their mental and physical health.
Disabilities (Physical/Learning)
Individuals with physical, emotional, and learning disabilities can experience the same, if not greater, hardships as their peers. They are more likely to be isolated and/or dependent. Additionally, individuals in this demographic may be eligible to receive federal benefits that include financial support. In addition to the exploitation of the individual, the financial benefits are an attractive incentive for traffickers seeking profits.
Low Income
Individuals with low income can experience limited resources and opportunities. Traffickers can exploit these vulnerabilities with offers of a better life for the individual and their families.
Unhoused
To meet their basic needs, such as shelter and food, individuals may be exposed to, and become involved in, situations and conditions they might otherwise avoid. Additionally, there are fewer barriers in place to limit access to the individual, creating more recruitment opportunities for traffickers.
Substance Abuse
In order to sustain their habit, individuals may be exposed to, and become involved in, situations and conditions they might otherwise avoid.
Mental Health Concerns
Individuals who lack the capacity to fully comprehend their situations may be unable to identify when they’re exploited.
Lack of Education
Individuals who lack education face limited opportunities. This can make it difficult for them to sustain financially, earn a living wage, and support dependents, causing them to explore other avenues of income.
Ignorance to Laws/Culture
If you have ever traveled outside of the U.S., it is likely that you were not aware of ALL of your rights and privileges in your destination country. The same lack of awareness can be true of visitors to the U.S. and U.S. citizens.
Who is vulnerable to sex trafficking?
Children/Youth
Human traffickers target vulnerable children and gain control over them using a variety of manipulative methods to sexually exploit them. Child sex trafficking victims frequently fall prey to traffickers who lure them in with an offer of food, clothes, attention, friendship, love, and a seemingly safe place to sleep. No child is immune to becoming a victim of child sex trafficking, regardless of the child’s race, age, socioeconomic status, or location.
Minority Populations
In the U.S., human trafficking victimization can be reflective of systemic racism and socioeconomic oppressions faced by marginalized communities. The result is our most vulnerable populations being disproportionately targeted for exploitation.
Poor Self-Esteem
Individuals who have poor self-esteem may often be in search of love and attention. Traffickers identify and fill these voids with false promises, to establish trust and dependance. Traffickers can then weaponize their affection to manipulate individuals into compliance.
History of Abuse and/or Neglect
For several reasons, including complex trauma and lack of healthy relationship examples, individuals who have experienced abuse and/or neglect may be unable to properly identify unhealthy relationships and dangerous situations. Traffickers are skilled at identifying and targeting individuals who have experienced maltreatment.
Isolation
Isolation has a direct impact on an individual’s ability to access and connect with healthy social support systems. Isolation can create opportunities for traffickers to successfully manipulate individuals and maintain control over them.
Lack of Social Support
Healthy social support systems can provide focus, emotional support, improve self-awareness, and help individuals cope during crisis. Isolated individuals lacking social support are left to face life’s difficulties alone and can experience negative impacts to their mental and physical health.
Disabilities (Physical/Learning)
Individuals with physical, emotional, and learning disabilities can experience the same, if not greater, hardships as their peers. They are more likely to be isolated and/or dependent. Additionally, individuals in this demographic may be eligible to receive federal benefits that include financial support. In addition to the exploitation of the individual, the financial benefits are an attractive incentive for traffickers seeking profits.
Low Income
Individuals with low income can experience limited resources and opportunities. Traffickers can exploit these vulnerabilities with offers of a better life for the individual and their families.
Unhoused
To meet their basic needs, such as shelter and food, individuals may be exposed to, and become involved in, situations and conditions they might otherwise avoid. Additionally, there are fewer barriers in place to limit access to the individual, creating more recruitment opportunities for traffickers.
Substance Abuse
In order to sustain their habit, individuals may be exposed to, and become involved in, situations and conditions they might otherwise avoid.
Mental Health Concerns
Individuals who lack the capacity to fully comprehend their situations may be unable to identify when they’re exploited.
Lack of Education
Individuals who lack education face limited opportunities. This can make it difficult for them to sustain financially, earn a living wage, and support dependents, causing them to explore other avenues of income.
LGBTQ+
Without adequate community support, youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (LGBTQ) may be at particular risk for sex trafficking. Too many LGBTQ youth still face significant challenges during adolescence and early adulthood, fighting discrimination, misconceptions, and abuse by peers, family members, and others in their communities.
Who is vulnerable to youth sex trafficking?
Runaway/Displaced Youth
Youth who leave home, are not welcome in their home, or are rejected by their caregivers can experience several risk factors. To address their basic needs, they may engage in survival sex and might not identify as victims.
LGBTQ+ Youth
LGBTQ+ youth can experience a of lack of critical support systems and services designed to address their needs. This can result in them being disproportionately impacted by traumatic experiences that significantly increase their vulnerabilities.
Participation in Child Welfare System
Youth involved in child welfare systems have often experienced some form of maltreatment. Unfortunately, after a child enters the welfare system, their maltreatment can continue, creating additional negative impacts to their mental health and self-esteem.
Youth Living with Individuals with Substance Abuse Issues
Youth who live in households where substance abuse exists risk being exploited by residents seeking to sustain their substance abuse.
How can you help?
Education is the best investment we can make in the future of our society. The better educated you are regarding human trafficking, the more inspired, productive and innovative you may be to advocate for systemic change to end human trafficking.
Our courses and training programs are geared toward individuals, community groups, educators and professional organizations. We help you identify and report human trafficking and work to minimize victimization through increased community awareness of social inequities and discriminations that leave people vulnerable to human trafficking.