January 11: National Human Trafficking Awareness Day

Human trafficking does not come to an end as soon as the survivor is removed from the situation of exploitation. For a lot of trafficking survivors, it is only the first step within a complex process.

However, on Human Trafficking Awareness Day, it is crucial to go beyond the figures and remember the individuals who live with the reality of human trafficking every day.

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What It Means to Be a Victim

Trafficking often involves enduring pervasive control. Victims are often isolated from significant social networks, surveilled, and threatened with violence. The needs of mere survival shape decisions.

Trauma binding can make leaving dangerous or impossible. Battered women fear law enforcement, some fear revenge, and many believe that they would not be believed if they were to leave.

All these factors contribute to the invisibility that comes with trafficking. Victims in such circumstances do not seek to report their predicament due to the high risks associated with confiding in others compared to staying in their situation.

Life After Trafficking

Trafficking disengagement does not solve the trauma issue. Survivors may experience health-related issues such as lack of housing, limited job opportunities, and stigma.

Some survivors have criminal records for crimes they were forced to commit. Other survivors experience a lack of trust for systems in place for support. There is no linear progression to healing.

A supportive approach must be survivor-centered and based on respect for autonomy and dignity within the context of providing adequate resources for the long term.

The Growing Threat of Digital Exploitation

Technological changes have led to changes in the nature of the operating mechanisms of trafficking. Young people are being preyed upon through online platforms, in most cases unknown to the care providers or guardians. Grooming can happen in the form of friendship or mentorship with the use of common platforms.

It also ushered in other dangers. AI can be used to manipulate images, produce pornography, and/or amplify the control exerted over victims. Such technology can expedite exploitation.

However, technology is not necessarily adversarial.

Use of Technology for Protective Reasons

Technology can indeed

In contrast, technology is used in anti-trafficking operations. A significant example would be the use of image analysis to look for hotel interiors or locations in pictures found on the internet. This includes such details as furniture, artworks, and/or window views. This would help detectives to narrow down possible locations for victims.

This has helped in rescue missions and legal processes that have followed. It shows that it’s possible to save lives through ethical and well-governed innovation.

Why Awareness Still Matters

However, the relevance of awareness will still Awareness is not performative. Awareness goes beyond one day and one month. Awareness is an expression of dedication to learning, questioning dominant perceptions, and taking action for the better. Room to Care's Through Their Eyes project is intended to help address this goal. By giving a voice to the survivors and offering education relevant to their field, they can help uncover what is being missed and ensure that there is a response to what they've uncovered. Human trafficking does not have to be an inevitable occurrence. It can be prevented with the involvement of individuals who understand the true reality.