Understanding Human Trafficking

Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons, is a crime that involves the exploitation of a person for the purpose of compelled sex or labor. Any person under the age of 18 who is engaged in commercial sex acts, regardless of the use of force, fraud, or coercion, is a victim of human trafficking.

There is no single profile of a trafficking victim. While members of some communities may be particularly vulnerable, victims of human trafficking can be anyone—regardless of race, color, national origin, disability, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education level, or citizenship status. 

Working together is critical in reaching and supporting potential victims in your community; all organizations play a role in a survivor’s healing journey. To improve your organization’s capacity to support victims of trafficking—

• Know the signs – Encourage staff and volunteers to learn the potential indicators of human trafficking
• Learn the facts – Challenge common myths about trafficking with facts. There is no single profile of a trafficking victim.
• Access training - Take free, web-based training and access resources from human trafficking experts to build your knowledge of the issue.
• Spread the Word – Share human trafficking awareness resources in your community.  
• Partner – Support anti-trafficking organizations and other stakeholders supporting trafficking survivors in your community. 

Build your foundational knowledge about human trafficking through these human trafficking resources. Read and distribute these materials to your staff and stakeholders in your community.

Fact Sheets

Read and distribute these materials to your staff and stakeholders in your community. 

• A fact sheet on Human Trafficking Indicators
• A one-page overview on Sex Trafficking  
• A one-page overview on Labor Trafficking
• A fact sheet on Understanding Trauma

Social Media

Build awareness in your community about the issue of human trafficking through social media. 

• Sample posts for Facebook and Twitter

Videos

Watch and share these videos to help identify the signs and raise awareness of trafficking.

• The Faces of Human Trafficking videos

Training

Take these federal trainings to build your human trafficking knowledge.

• Understanding Human Trafficking training is five interactive online modules for victim providers, allied professionals, and members of the general public. offering foundational learning on trauma-informed and victim-centered approaches to human trafficking
• SOAR to Health and Wellness trainings offer foundational and advanced online modules to educate health care providers, social workers, public health professionals, and behavioral health professionals on how to identify and respond appropriately to individuals who are at risk of or who have experienced trafficking.  

To request free coaching assistance with starting, sustaining, or growing your organization’s anti-trafficking work, contact the Center.