Sex Trafficking: Know the Signs

By Dani Tobert

Suppose you ask a group of people what the signs of someone experiencing Human Trafficking are. In that case, they may say it looks like a person suddenly withdrawing from their friends and family or disappearing at night for several hours. Although these two concepts are a good start, they do not cover the full scope of what Human Trafficking can look like, nor are they an exhaustive list.

For most people, the signs of Human Trafficking are difficult to describe; this difficulty increases if they are asked to differentiate between the increased risk of exploitation and exploitation. If we want to understand Human Trafficking better, this difficulty needs to be addressed.

Sex Trafficking is a type of Human Trafficking that falls under the umbrella of sexual exploitation. To help folks identify what Sex Trafficking can look like, this article will unpack some of the signs.

This article will also explain how you can begin to address a possible situation of Sex Trafficking with a trauma-informed approach. If we can better understand what Sex Trafficking can look like and how to respond to it, we will be better equipped to tackle it and implement preventative measures.

Please be advised that this blog post includes difficult, upsetting or triggering content about sexual assault, human trafficking, and exploitation. If you are uncomfortable while reading this article, please do not hesitate to call our 24 Hour Support Line at 519-741-8633. This blog post is NOT meant to be used as an assessment tool to help determine if someone is being exploited or at risk of being exploited. SASC's Anti-Human Trafficking program can be consulted if a risk assessment is needed.

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Sex Trafficking: who is at Risk, and who is Involved?

• Sex Trafficking is a gender-based issue. Sex Trafficking predominantly impacts women and girls (96%) and folks aged 24 and below (70%). Anyone can be a target, however, so it is important to avoid assuming that it could never happen to certain people.
• Traffickers, or the people exploiting another person, can be anyone – even a family member – who uses their trust with a person to exploit them. It is most often conducted by someone known to the person instead of a stranger. Hollywood perpetuates misinformation by portraying strangers as what Sex Trafficking is most often carried out by, despite that not being the case.
• Traffickers can have mainstream employment, be unemployed, and be from any background.
• Although they are most often male-identifying, traffickers can also be female-identifying or gender-non-confirming people. An essential part of observing for signs is to adopt the idea that traffickers are not just 'one type' of person. This way, you are not limiting your field of view.

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How do you Observe for Signs?

• When someone's risk increases or they are actively trafficked, it is important to know that several signs may or may not be present. We know that no two experiences of Sex Trafficking are identical, but some signs may overlap between them. This overlap depends on who the person is, as traffickers try to target people experiencing multiple intersections of vulnerability, both systemically and individually. They know that folks from these communities are less likely to be protected, believed, and/or resourced.
• Looking for a pattern of drastic changes in behaviour is key. Just one drastic change in behaviour is not enough to determine whether or not a person is becoming increasingly at risk or actively experiencing sexual exploitation.
  • For example, one of the signs of a Sex Trafficking situation can be withdrawal from friends, family, school or support networks when the person used to regularly engage with them, which is also typical behaviour of youth wanting to explore their identity. This sign alone is not enough to consider the person as someone who may be experiencing Sex Trafficking, as a pattern of multiple drastic changes in behaviour is not present.

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What are the Signs of Sex Trafficking?

Before we explore the signs of Sex Trafficking, a vital difference must be named: sex work and Sex Trafficking are NOT the same things. The main difference is choice and consent.
It is legal in Canada for consenting adults aged 18+ to sell sexual services. Treating sex work and Sex Trafficking the same does an immense amount of harm to not only sex workers but also the movement to end Sex Trafficking.
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In addition, looking for signs requires the recognition of a pattern of multiple drastic changes in behaviours, not just one behaviour.
 
For family and friends, the following are signs to observe:

• Withdrawal from friends, family, school, or support network
• Increased absences from home without any notice
• Attendance at school, work, or social activities become poor
• Has a new partner but will not introduce them or give any information about them
• Unexplained articles of clothing, accessories, and electronics that are out of reach for them financially (I.e., a brand-new phone)
• Works odd hours at 'a job' they do not want to talk about (I.e., 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.)
• Shows signs of injuries and physical abuse
• Frequent untreated/treated STIs
• Significant changes in behaviour, personality, and hygiene habits
• Possesses a large number of condoms, lube, and lingerie
• Although it is becoming less common, tattoos and/or branding on the body

 
For support workers, the following signs may be observed:

• Cannot attend appointments alone or are often accompanied by someone who speaks on their behalf
• Calls in with someone else on the phone or asking questions on their behalf
• Often deters to another person prior to answering any questions
• Avoids eye contact, social interactions, and authority figures
• Lacks official identification documents and/or any personal possessions
• Works excessively long hours or hours that are unusual for their age
• Frequently checks into hotels/motels or shares that they are staying there as their current method of housing
• Calling panicked and requesting funding without a reason
• Uses street slang, such as "game," "telly party," "daddy", "john," or "stable."
• Frequently leaves and travels between regions.
• If they leave the region, they cannot provide information about where they are going or how long.

How do you Respond to Signs of Sexual Exploitation?

​Now that you know a bit more about Sex Trafficking, it is time to learn how to respond to what you suspect is a sexually exploitative situation. When you notice a pattern of drastic changes in behaviour, the first action is to recognize when you need support.

Contact SASC’s Anti-Human Trafficking Program
When the person you're worried about displays signs or tells you about being exploited, SASC's Anti-Human Trafficking program is here to provide support through services like a risk assessment and direct 1-1 consultation. If you suspect someone you know is experiencing sexual exploitation, please get in touch with SASC at 519-571-0121 ext. 111 or email ahtp@sascwr.org from Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To learn more about SASC's Anti-Human Trafficking Program, click HERE.
 
Utilize a trauma-informed approach
After recognizing when you need support and reaching out to programs like SASC's Anti-Human Trafficking Program for help, engaging with the person using a trauma-informed approach is essential. This approach recognizes trauma's impact on a person instead of blaming them for what has occurred.
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People experiencing sexual exploitation may have feelings of shame surrounding what they have been forced to do; therefore, if you ask a person if something is happening and they disclose to you that they are experiencing Sex Trafficking, do NOT blame them. Instead, remain calm, thank them for trusting you with their story, help them meet their immediate needs (i.e., providing them with a meal, bus tickets, and access to water), and give them space to talk. Furthermore, if they identify that they have been in an exploitative situation, ask them how they would like you to name it (I.e., "I was exploited") and match your wording with theirs. Practice active listening, empathy, and be mindful of your body language.
 
Offer other supports and resources
Finally, once you and the person have spoken about what has happened to them, ask them if they would like to be connected to appropriate resources to receive support. SASC's Anti-Human Trafficking program has resources that directly support survivors of Sex Trafficking to leave and/or heal from their exploitative situation, which is shared during our work with community members.

If you want other support, contact Victim Services of Waterloo Region at 519-570-5143 or The Canadian National Human Trafficking Hotline's phone or online chat function that operates 24/7 under 1-833-900-1010. If the person is not interested in connecting with appropriate resources, do not pressure them. They have had their autonomy taken away by a trafficker and do not need you to treat them similarly. Through patience and compassion with the person, progress can be made.

Conclusion

We hope this post has provided insight into what the signs of someone experiencing sexual exploitation can look like. We can all do our part to eliminate Human Trafficking in our community, and it starts today.