A month designed to bring attention to and inform the public about this very serious, often unreported, and dangerous activity.
Human trafficking includes both forced labor and sex trafficking. 'It is the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or sex act,' said Lori Gonzalez, Domestic Violence Intervention Services (DVIS) Vice President of Advocacy Services. The main element to remember is the force, fraud, and coercion part of the crime.'
There are a multitude of means employed by traffickers when it comes to sex trafficking including threats or serious harm, reputational harm, threats to others, and debt/financial manipulation.
'Sex trafficking can take place just about anywhere, from homes to businesses and on the internet, as well,' said Gonzalez.
If trafficking involves a child (younger than 18), the force, fraud, or coercion element does not have to be present for it to be a crime.
Forced labor is another form of Human Trafficking and is prevalent in the agricultural fields, factories, restaurants, hotels, massage parlors, drug operations, and private homes.
'There is no limit on the location, nor type of industry, when it comes to forced labor,' Gonzalez said. 'It can, and does, occur across the broad spectrum of industries and jobs.'
Traffickers will engage in coercive activities such as threats of force, financial manipulation, and psychological coercion to exploit the labor or services of another person and to avoid detection.
'We sometimes think of Human Trafficking as involving a large number of people,' she said. 'But the plain truth is that it can be a single person that is being trafficked.'
Gonzalez reiterated that the biggest tell-tale sign of human trafficking is the force, fraud, or coercion component.
For the elderly population, Creek County DVIS has a Later in Life Advocate specifically geared toward helping those who may be experiencing human trafficking.
DVIS serves Tulsa and Creek counties, and you can reach them at their 24-hour Helpline: 918-7HELP-ME (918-743-5763). You can also contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline, 800-7997233.
You can reach Creek County DVIS at 918-224-9290.