Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking"

Rhoda Griffin
6 years ago
Views:

1 Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking Eric Roath, Pharm.D. Director of Professional Practice Michigan Pharmacists Association Learning Objectives 1. Describe the types of human trafficking, and the larger societal problems associated with human trafficking. 2. Recognize the warning signs of trafficking and how to identify trafficking victims in pharmacy and health care settings. 3. Provide resources for pharmacy personnel to report identify and support suspected victims of human trafficking. Why are we having this conversation? 1

2 New Requirement in MI Law (1) By2yearsaftertheeffectivedateof the amendatory act that added this sentence, the department shall promulgate rules to include training standards for identifying victims of human trafficking required for individuals licensed or registered under this article, except those licensed under part 188 or subject to section The training standards for identifying victims of human trafficking shall apply for a license or registration renewal beginning with the first renewal cycle after the rules are promulgated and for an initial license or registration issued 5 or more years after the rules are promulgated. Training Must Cover Understanding the types and venues of human trafficking in the United States Identifying victims of human trafficking in health care settings Identifying the warning signs of human trafficking in health care settings for adults and minors Resources for reporting the suspected victims of human traficking Acceptable providers or methods of training: Training offered by a nationally-recognized or staterecognized health-related organization. Training offered by, or in conjunction with, a state or federal agency. Training obtained in an educational program that has been approved by the board for initial licensure or by a college or university. Reading an article related to the identification of victims of human trafficking that meets the requirements of the law and is published in a peer review journal, health care journal, or professional or scientific journal. 2

To prove you have completed training: An individual must be able to produce: Proof of completion certificate issued by the training provider A self-certification statement by an individual

3 To prove you have completed training: An individual must be able to produce: Proof of completion certificate issued by the training provider A self-certification statement by an individual containing: The date, training provider name, and name of training The title and author of an article, publication name where the article was published 25 Facts About Human Trafficking Types of Human Trafficking 3

4 Sex Trafficking Most commonly thought of form of human trafficking Recruitment and transportation of persons for sexual exploitation Force Labor Victims are coerced or forced to work for free or less than standard wages. Immigrants are particularly susceptible Confiscated identification documents Threat of deportation Although more common for immigrants, it can affect any individual regardless of citizenship status or ethnicity. Child Labor Minors under the age of 18 are coerced into work through either physical or psychological force. Consent is not a mitigating factor (minors cannot consent to exploitation). Indications of exploited labor: Harsh working conditions Substandard or no wages Inability to attend school 4

5 Debt bondage Trafficking victims are forced into labor as repayment of real or alleged debt Time spent does not necessarily apply towards the debt, or the debt amount is unspecified The alleged debt can be increased as punishment for poor behavior Unreasonable high interest on loans can also result in forms of debt bondage Involuntary Servitude Subset of forced labor that involves workers who live and work in the same setting Usually occurs in the bosses home or on some other form of private property Victims may receive little or no pay May be kept in the position through psychological means Child Soldiers Boys and girls under 18 years of age recruited to serve in armed forces Includes roles other than combat roles: Cooking Labor Espionage Messengers Sexual Exploitation Since 2011, 19 countries have been reported to use child soldiers in their national army or in armed opposition groups 5

6 Human Trafficking in Michigan 13 th out of the 50 states for highest number of trafficking victims International border with Canada attributed with relatively high human trafficking rate Detroit identified as a major entry point for human trafficking victims Poverty levels and number of foreign-born workers also considered a factor Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking General Warning Signs Injuries or signs of physical abuse Malnourished Disorientation Lack of identification documents Few personal belongings Nervous or hesitant to talk to strangers Unable to recall his or her own address 6

7 General Warning Signs (Continued) Minors in relationships with much older persons Avoids eye contact Lack of change or appropriateness of wardrobe Fear/distrust of law enforcement Rarely permitted to be in a location alone Generally fearful, anxious or submissive Attests to long work hours, inability to leave work, or harsh working conditions Child-Specific Warning Signs No access to parents/guardians Lack of socialization Truancy from school/lack of education Intimidated affect (atypical for their age) Association with unrelated individuals Frequently unaccompanied by adults Reports of strange or inappropriate treatment at home Healthcare Red Flags Always escorted to and from appointments Escort speaks for the patient Inconsistencies in stories provided by the victim Victim may be unsure how they were injured Multiple STIs; Unclear on how they contracted a disease Request certification that they are no longer infected with an STI Advanced symptoms due to lack of care or untreated injuries Branding, scarring, or tattoo that may indicate ownership 7

8 Healthcare Red Flags No insurance coverage/cash payments Pregnancy tests or multiple pregnancy concerns Prescriptions are routinely lost or stolen Frequent injuries Pain level remains unchanged, despite pain medications patient is taking Frequent filling of medications for STIs Oral contraception in young women STIs or pregnancy tests for inappropriately young women Areas worth screening: Are victims being forced into behavior they don t want? Are victims able to change situations they express discontentment with? Have victims been physically harmed? What are the victims living and working conditions like? Do the victims have appropriate documentation/identification when obtaining prescriptions? Resources for Reporting Suspected Trafficking 8

9 National Human Trafficking Resource Center National anti-trafficking hotline and resource center serving victims and survivors of human trafficking Mission is to provide human trafficking victims and survivors with access to critical support and services to get help and stay safe and to equip the anti-trafficking community with the tools to effective combat human trafficking. US Department of Justice Worker Exploitation Complaint Line For reporting suspected instances of trafficking Any details you can provide will aid in the investigation U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement s Victim Assistance Program Specifically for suspected cases involving migrant workers 9

10 Resources & Phone Numbers National Human Trafficking Resource Center Law enforcement for Human Trafficking (911 for emergencies) U.S. Department of Justice Worker Exploitation Complaint Line US Immigration and Customs Enforcement s Victim Assistance Program Acknowledgements This presentation was developed, in part, using information and resources compiled in the home-study program, Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking by Amy Montague. Copyright, Michigan Pharmacists Association, Home study and other resources can be made available upon request for training of additional healthcare personnel. Please contact Mary Farrington at (517) or by at Mary@MichiganPharmacists.org. References United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Human Trafficking July 30, The Human Trafficking Training Institute. Human Trafficking Awareness Training 101 for Healthcare Professionals. Oct. 18, df. Accessed July 30, The United States Department of Labor. What are Child Labor and Forced Labor? July 30, 2015 United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime. Anti-human trafficking manual for criminal justice practitioners. Indicators of trafficking in persons. Published in New York Printed in Vienna, Austria. Accessed July 30, Polaris Project, Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) Fact Sheet Aug. 6, State of Michigan Attorney General Bill Scheuette. Human Trafficking Laws Aug. 6,

11 References Gu, Q., M.D.; Dillon, C., M.D.,; Burt, V., Sc.M., R.N.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics Data Brief. Prescription Drug Use Continues to Increase: U.S. Prescription Drug Data for Updated Sept. 2, Aug. 6, United States Department of State. Identify and Assist a Trafficking Victim. Accessed July 30, United States Department of State. Trafficking in Persons Report Accessed July 30, The Global Resource & Data base: Human Trafficking Search. Published Last updated Accessed July 30, Child Soldiers International. Who are child soldiers? Last updated Accessed July 30, Kus, L. Fox 17. Child sex trafficking: Michigan authorities taking notice. Nov. 16, Aug. 6, References Human Trafficking Clinic University of Michigan Law School. A Survey of Human Trafficking in Michigan. Jun uman%20trafficking%20in%20michigan.june% pdf. Aug. 6, Lily Pad Haven, Inc. What is Human Trafficking? Published Accessed July 30, Clawson, H.J.; Dutch, N.; Soloman, A.; Goldblatt-Grace, L. Human Trafficking Into and Within the United States: A Review of the Literature. United States. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. Published August Accessed July 20, Farley, M., Cotton, A., Lynne, J., Zumbeck, S., Spiwak, F., Reyes, M. E., Sezgin, U. (2003). Prostitution and trafficking in nine countries: An update on violence and posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Trauma Practice, 2, United States Department of Homeland Security. Myths and Misconceptions. Accessed July 30, National Human Trafficking Resource Center. What is Human Trafficking? Myths and Misconceptions. Accessed July 30, References Rettner, Rachael; Senior Writer. Doctors Can Help Identify Child Sex Trafficking in the US. July 21, Accessed July 31, Dovydaitis T. Human trafficking: the role of the health care provider. J Midwifery Womens Health Sep-Oct;55(5):462 Accessed July 31, Grace AM, Lippert S, Collins K, Pineda N, Tolani A, Walker R, Jeong M, Trounce MB, Graham-Lamberts C, Bersamin M, Martinez J, Dotzler J, Vanek J, Storfer-Isser A, Chamberlain LJ, Horwitz SM. Educating health care professionals on human trafficking. Pediatric Emergency Care Dec;30(12): Accessed July 31, Nuzzolese, E. DDS, Forensic Ondontologist. Journal of Forensic Ondontostomatology. Human Trafficking: Role of Oral Health Care Providers. International Dental Ethics and Law Society Congress. November 2014, Vol. 32, Sup. No.1. Pages Accessed July 30, Innocents at Risk. Protecting Women & Children From Human Trafficking: Warning Signs. Washington, DC Accessed July 31, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Human Trafficking Indicators. Accessed July 31,

12 References Schuette, B, Michigan Attorney General. Human Trafficking Red Flags For health Care Professionals. Accessed July 31, Attorney General of Georgia. Red Flags for Physicians. Accessed August 21, Cardea Family Planning National Training Center, Organizational Development and Research. Human Trafficking in the Family Planning Setting. September, Accessed August 21, Payne, C. Australasian Council of Women and Policing. Trafficking of Women and Children. Accessed August 21, 2015 Department of Health and Human Services. Rescue & Restore Victims of Human Trafficking. Resources: Screening tool for victims of human trafficking. Accessed July 31, Thacker. SB., MD, M.Sc., Director. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HIPAA Privacy Rule and Public Health. Accessed August 21, United States Department of Health & Human Services. Office of Refugee Resettlement. An Office of the Administration for Children & Families. Fact Sheet: Sex Trafficking. Accessed July 31, United States Department of Homeland Security. Human Trafficking. A Global Problem. Accessed July 31, Questions? A review of self-assessment questions will follow the question and answer session. Self Assessment Questions 1) True or False. Human trafficking only involves women and children. 12

13 Self Assessment Questions 2) Which of the following is an example of a red flag in the health care setting? 1. Victim is often escorted to and from appointments and escort may often talk for the patient 2. Presence of branding, scarring, or tattoo indicating ownership by someone 3. Cash payments 4. All of the above. Self Assessment Questions 3) Which of the following is a warning sign of human trafficking in children? a) Outside playing with other children b) Regular attendance at school c) Reports they eat apart from other members in their family/home d) Appears shy. Self Assessment Questions 4) True or False. Victims of human trafficking will always have signs of physical abuse. 13

HUMAN TRAFFICKING FOR HEALTHCARE 101. Swedish Pediatric Specialty Care Jan 26,2018

HUMAN TRAFFICKING FOR HEALTHCARE 101 Swedish Pediatric Specialty Care Jan 26,2018 1 AGENDA 1. Introduction to Human Trafficking 2. How to Identify Human Trafficking 3. Creating a Safe Environment 4. Practical