By Dora Fichter; Program Committee Member, Gateway Alliance against Human Trafficking
Human trafficking and domestic violence share many common characteristics. The perpetrators of both crimes use similar tactics to control their victims, but the abuse occurs in a different context. Domestic violence takes place in an intimate relationship, while human trafficking is not necessarily committed by a close acquaintance. Sometimes the two can overlap, and identifying someone as a victim of domestic violence or human trafficking may be impossible. A trafficker may pose as a boyfriend and begin grooming the victim. The exploitation then continues as a part of an intimate relationship during which the abuser may compel the victim to engage in commercial sex or forced labor. The abuser may convince the victim that it is for the benefit of their relationship or family. Within these relationships, victims sometimes develop feelings of loyalty or love for their abusers, which prevents them from leaving.
Like in intimate partner violence, traffickers frequently employ physical and psychological coercion, and they isolate the victims from their support networks. Victims are often monitored, their daily activities are restricted, and they may have little or no control over their finances. The perpetrators humiliate the victims in front of others, blame them for the abuse, and tell them that they would be all alone if the abusers did not love them. Sexual abuse becomes a means of power and control, and the victims may be forced to submit to sex with multiple partners. Traffickers often introduce the victims to drugs or threaten to withhold drugs from those who are already struggling with addiction. They do not allow the victims access to medical care, resulting in worsening medical problems and overall health decline. Forced abortions, threats to end a pregnancy, or violence during pregnancy are also common.
Sometimes the victims may be forced to engage in criminal activities, including the recruitment of other victims, and the lines between a victim and a perpetrator may become blurred. This leaves the victims fearful of law enforcement, especially those with prior criminal records. The victims may be charged with crimes without recognition of the coercion they were subjected to. Because the victims are reluctant to come forward due to fear of arrest, deportation, or retribution, the exploitation may go undetected.
Victims of domestic violence who are able to escape the cycle of abuse often find themselves targeted by traffickers because the domestic abuse has left them vulnerable to exploitation. Those exiting from trafficking situations may similarly be vulnerable to future abusive relationships. The legal system often struggles to recognize the overlapping dynamics of domestic violence and human trafficking, and indicators of human trafficking may be missed if the focus is entirely on domestic violence. Raising awareness about the correlation between human trafficking and domestic violence can help the victims recognize the pattern of abuse and help law enforcement and social workers, particularly those working in the area of domestic violence, provide adequate support.
Resources:
– Navigating the Unique Complexities in Familial Trafficking, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, https://www.state.gov/navigating-the-unique-complexities-in-familial-trafficking/
-Polaris: Love and Trafficking, https://polarisproject.org/love-and-trafficking/
-The Intersections of Human Trafficking, Intimate Partner Violence, and Child Welfare, https://web.archive.org/web/20230724101317/https://htcbc.ovc.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh311/files/media/document/Intersections%20of%20HT%20IPV%20CW.pdf