Human trafficking: a global menace everyone can help fight
BY REV. DERREK BELASE
The month of January is designated as Human Trafficking Awareness Month. The United Methodist program calendar designates January 11 as Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
Bishop Nunn and his Cabinet observed that day by beginning their work focusing on how the church in Oklahoma might respond to this horrific situation. Since blue is the color to honor and remember victims of trafficking, they also wore blue that day.
There are estimated to be more than 27.6 million people — adults and children — subjected to human trafficking around the world, including in the United States. Traffickers often take advantage of instability caused by natural disasters, conflict, or even a pandemic to exploit others.
In 2021, the hotline for human trafficking in Oklahoma received 438 signals with 206 of those being from victims. Of that, 99 cases were identified involving 180 victims. Nearly 90 percent of those were sexually related cases.
The General Board of Church and Society offers a website full of information regarding human trafficking.
January is a perfect time for churches to raise awareness of responding to human trafficking. By being more alert and reporting to authorities situations which seem out of the ordinary is the best way to get involved.
Churches can mentor and support vulnerable persons in their communities because human traffickers often prey on the outcasts of society, those whom others will not miss if they are gone.
Much more information can be found here.
The US State Department offers the following list of indicators that someone may be trafficked:
While not an exhaustive list, these are some key red flags that could alert you to a potential trafficking situation that should be reported:
- Living with employer
- Poor living conditions
- Multiple people in cramped space
- Inability to speak to individual alone
- Answers appear to be scripted and rehearsed
- Employer is holding identity documents
- Signs of physical abuse
- Submissive or fearful
- Unpaid or paid very little
- Under 18 and in prostitution
If you suspect someone is being trafficked, call 911 or call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.