UNDERSTANDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Transcription

1 UNDERSTANDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING PRESENTED BY: Tina Minnis, M.Ed. Joni Whelan, LCDAC Brandy Smith, LSW HEAAT FOUNDATION

2 OBJECTIVES As a result of this presentation, you will: Learn What is Human Trafficking? Understand about the crime of Human Trafficking and its victims Learn why New Jersey is considered a prime location for Human Trafficking Understand (CSEC) Commercially Sexually Exploited Children

3 WHAT IS HUMAN TRAFFICKING? It s a form of Modern-Day Slavery A Human Rights Issue A Crime

4 HUMAN TRAFFICKING IS: The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons: By the threat or use of kidnapping, force, fraud, deception or coercion, or by the giving or receiving of unlawful payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, and for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor.

5 LEGAL DEFINITION OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING? CHILDREN The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of a CHILD, for the purpose of exploitation shall be considered trafficking in person even if this does not involve any of the means set forth.

6 Human Trafficking is: the illegal use of a variety of means to force an individual (the trafficked) to relinquish his/her personal freedom for the profit of another person (the trafficker). often, simply considered involuntary servitude or modern-day slavery.

7 TYPES OF TRAFFICKING Sexual Exploitation prostitution pornography bride trafficking commercial abuse of children massage parlors, hostess clubs, brothels, escort services, commercial phone sex & internet dating exotic dancing/stripping

8 TYPES OF TRAFFICKING Forced Labor Domestic servitude Child Care, Domestic work Debt bondage Factory workers, construction workers, farm and agricultural workers Nail Salons, Hotel Housekeeping, and Restaurant workers

9 NEW JERSEY RIPE FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING WHY?

10 LOCATION NEW JERSEY RIPE FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING Prime spot along the I-95 Corridor EASY ACCESS Train and Bus Terminals Airports Seaports Major Interstates Migrant Farm Workers Over 300 migrant labor camps in NJ with an average of 32,000 worker and families coming to NJ annually

11 TRAFFICKING AFFECTS Up to 60,000 people are trafficked into the U.S. annually 80% of trafficked persons are woman and children U.S. Citizens and Residents Both Documented and Undocumented Immigrants Runaway Youth Urban pop. Suburban pop.

12 IT IS A HERE PROBLEM Two New Jersey men face decades in prison after authorities accused the pair of running an underage prostitution ring in Atlantic County, according to police. After a four-month investigation, authorities have charged Seleem Reynolds, 25, and Mikal Mitchell, 29, with promoting the underage prostitution, a first-degree crime, Atlantic County Prosecutor Jim McClain announced Friday. The state alleges that Reynolds and Mitchell sold four teenagers for prostitution, according to Jay McKeen, a spokesperson for the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office. The sex of the victims was unknown. The pair was also charged of endangering the welfare of a child and conspiracy, McClain said.

13 IT IS A HERE PROBLEM A former New York City police officer is accused of transporting women between New York and New Jersey including to motels in Fort Lee and Secaucus to engage in prostitution, according to the federal court complaint. Cornejo allegedly transported at least 10 prostitutes he employed to motels in New York and New Jersey, often right after leaving work, the complaint alleges. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.

14 IT IS A HERE PROBLEM Middlesex pimp, girlfriend admit roles in NJ human trafficking prostitution ring Using the street names Knowledge and Don Cholo, Williams found young women in various locations, including the Cleveland area, according to a state indictment. He impressed many of them with high-performance cars, including two Maseratis and a Porsche, and posed as a music producer, authorities said. He then brought them to New Jersey, either against their will or by enticing them with promises of a relationship or better life, in order to enslave them in prostitution.

15 IT IS A HERE PROBLEM Ventnor man indicted on human trafficking charges ran male prostitution ring, police say A Ventnor man was indicted Thursday, Oct on first-degree charges of human trafficking and aggravated sexual assault for allegedly operating a male prostitution ring from his North Newport Avenue apartment. Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman stated that Marc A. Branch, 40, of Ventnor allegedly gave narcotics to young men, including at least one minor, and prostituted them to male clients. The indictment also charges a client who allegedly sexually assaulted a minor and a third man who allegedly tried to conceal evidence.

16 IT IS A HERE PROBLEM 45 arrested, 16 juveniles rescued in Super Bowl 2014 prostitution bust 45 people were arrested and 16 juveniles rescued in a two-week crackdown on prostitution in the New York-New Jersey area leading up to the Super Bowl, according to Federal Bureau of Investigation officials. The FBI also said some of those arrested traveled to the site because of the high-profile football game, which drew an estimated 400,000 visitors to the region. The minors rescued ranged in age from 13 to 17 and included high school students and children reported missing by their families.

17 Why Human Trafficking?

18 WHY HUMAN TRAFFICKING? Fastest Growing Criminal Industry as of Easy Targets with home issues and self esteem problems. Victims do not understand they are victims. GANGS Hard to prosecute Societal views Supply/Demand

19 Multiple studies estimate that 70 to 90 percent of sexually exploited children have a history of child sexual abuse.

20 CSEC IN THE UNITED STATES The National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Throwaway (NISMART) children estimate that 1.6 million children runaway from home each year in the U.S. One in three teens will be recruited by a pimp within 48 hours of leaving home and becoming homeless. The average age of entry for CSEC Victims are as young as 12 years of old

21 PIMP TACTICS COERCION AND CONTROL Enforcing trivial demands Isolation Monopolization of perception Induced debility & exhaustion Degradation Demonstrating SUPREMACY Threats Occasional indulgences

22 Psychological/Emotional Impact of CSEC Disruption of healthy psychological development Self-concept, intimacy, beliefs and goals Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Impulse to revisit traumatic events, intrusive emotions & memories, flashbacks, hyper arousal, exaggerated startle reaction, panic symptoms Self-injurious and suicidal behavior Dissociative disorders Anxiety Paranoia Clinical depression Explosive outbursts Sleep disturbance & nightmares Bond with perpetrators Hyper-sexualization Emotional Impact of CSEC Anger and rage Deep emotional pain/grieving Feelings of humiliation/shame Stigma of exploitation Self-blame/Self-loathing Loss of sexual desire, feelings, or response Spiritual Impact of CSEC Despair Hopelessness Lack of belief in humanity Lack of faith in spiritual power Physical Impact of CSEC Continuous physical abuse Rape & gang rape STDs & STIs HIV & AIDS Loss of bowel control Pregnancy (wanted and unwanted) Sterility Facial/dental reconstruction Tattoos & branding Brain damage Substance abuse/addiction Self-cutting Suicide/Death Social Impact of CSEC Isolation from peer group Disconnection from community Isolation from mainstream society Homelessness Incarceration/Criminal record as obstacle Disempowerment Lack of life skills Trust issues/difficulty maintaining relationships Obstacles to vocation Lack of access to legal economies, lack of job experience/skills Educational deprivation Missed school, disconnection with school system

23 RULES OF THE GAME Constantly having to lie about your age All of your identification is taken away Having to change your name Constantly moving wherever someone else wants to Being kidnapped Being raped, repeatedly Being beaten for not making enough money Having to give all the money you make away Having threats made against your family Having to completely change your appearance Getting a tattoo Being constantly threatened with violence Feeling trapped in an abusive and violent situation

24 CHANGE THE LANGUAGE

25 IDENTIFYING CSEC VICTIMS Evidence of controlling or dominating relationships, including: repeated phone calls from a boyfriend and/or excessive concern about displeasing their partner. Unexplained shopping trips or possession of expensive clothing, jewelry, or electronic devices could indicate the manipulation of an exploiter. Not in control of their own money. Use of lingo or slang from The Life among peers, or referring to a boyfriend as Daddy

26 IDENTIFYING CSEC VICTIMS Secrecy about whereabouts. Unaccounted for time, vagueness concerning whereabouts, and/or defensiveness in response to questions or concern. Keeping late-night or unusual hours. A tattoo that he or she is reluctant to explain.

27 MAKING OF A GIRL

28 ADDRESSING CONCERNS: ASKING YOUTH ABOUT CSEC It seems like you re a little scared of your boyfriend. Would you like to talk about that with me? It s tough to be out there on your own, how are you surviving? Has anyone ever asked you to, or made you feel like, you had to have sex in exchange for money, shelter, clothes, or food? How does that make you feel? It seems there are eyes constantly on you should I ask them to leave so we can talk (I ll say it s me)? ***** ALWAYS CHECK IDs *****

29 NUMBERS TO REMEMBER NJ Human Trafficking Hotline 855-END-NJ-HT ( ) Collaboration of Victim Assistance Experienced Law Enforcement Personnel

30 NUMBERS TO REMEMBER National Human Trafficking Hotline Operated by Polaris National Human Trafficking Resource Center

31 NUMBERS TO REMEMBER The HEAAT Foundation (609) P.O. Box 402 Port Republic, NJ