WHO ARE THE VICTIMS?

Victims and survivors of human trafficking represent every race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and community.

Of the cases reported to the the Human Trafficking Hotline in 2018, 71% of victims were female. Many victims were first involved in the sex trade before they turned 15 years old. This means the the average woman Rescue Her works with has been exploited for at least 3 years before receiving any kind of care.

Some victims are hidden behind locked doors in brothels and factories. In other cases, victims are in plain view and may interact with community members. The widespread lack of awareness and understanding of trafficking leads to low levels of victim identification by the people who most often encounter them. (1)


The first time a victim is introduced to the sex trade is between the ages of 12 and 14 years old.

 

Victim Vulnerability

Trafficking can happen in any community because vulnerability exists everywhere. Traffickers prey on the vulnerabilities of potential victims. Often times traffickers will meet real needs of a victim in through a process called “grooming” in order to build trust. They will then manipulate this trust to exploit the victim.

While human trafficking can affect anyone regardless of race, class, or background, the following groups are especially vulnerable to trafficking (1): 

  • Individuals who have experienced childhood abuse or neglect

  • Children and youth involved in the foster care and juvenile justice systems

  • Runaway/Homeless youth

  • Those with mental health concerns

  • American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders

  • Survivors of violence

  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) individuals

  • Migrant workers and undocumented immigrants

  • Racial and ethnic minorities

  • People with disabilities, experiencing homelessness, low incomes, or a history of substance abuse

  • Communities exposed to intergenerational trauma

1 Office of Trafficking In Persons. (2020, February 6). What is human trafficking? Retrieved from https://www.acf.hhs.gov/otip/about/what-is-human-trafficking