those they are exploiting; the means and purpose that drive the act provide a deeper perspective into the crime. The means The means used by traffickers are integral to the definition of this element of human trafficking. Use of threats or force, coercion, and fraud define human trafficking. A common misconception of trafficking is that it always involves physical force; that is, a weaker individual is physically forced to live with and provide services for the trafficker. However, not all traffickers use physical force to exert control. Instead, traffickers use a myriad of powerful, coercive techniques, such as deception and legal threats, to groom and exploit others (UNODC, 2020). Traffickers may use deception to insert themselves into the lives of those they are controlling. False promises and offers can evolve into a more sinister reality of abuse and exploitation. An example of this can be found in the case studies section, specifically the story of Amir, who is promised opportunities from his traffickers that result in poor working and living conditions. Threats of legal or social repercussions may also control the individual. Many traffickers prey upon a person’s fear of being deported or arrested and convince the person being trafficked that it is they, and not the trafficker, who is committing a crime and would be arrested. Conversely, traffickers may show intimacy and affection toward the person, who may have been deprived of both before and during trafficking (Dando et al., 2016), and then use that perception of a close relationship to manipulate and exploit the person. The purpose The purpose of human trafficking is often to gain profit from others without their consent. Using complex and dehumanizing means, traffickers have generated one of the largest industries in the world (UNODC, 2020). Human trafficking is estimated to gross more than $150 billion (USD) worldwide (International Labor Organization [ILO], 2017). The illegal practice is highly profitable for traffickers because services provided by trafficked persons, whether they involve sex or labor, may be exploited repeatedly. Research into the market and profitability of trafficking is difficult due to the covert nature of the crime. Traffickers’ profits may vary greatly on their individual communities they work in, the demographics of whom they exploit, and other factors (UNDOC, 2020). Factors that increase trafficking include: proximity to international borders, large immigrant populations, numerous ports and airports, and industries that attract forced labor. The National Human Trafficking Hotline lists data from 2019 of reported cases by state. Florida is number three after California (number one) and Texas (number two). (National Human Trafficking Hotline, 2019). Traffickers used these states as both entry and exit points for transporting individuals. Labor-trafficked individuals supply human resources and profits for industries such as agriculture, construction, domestic work, and manufacturing (U.S. Department of State, 2019). Labor trafficking also occurs within the hospitality sector, sales crews, shipyards, health and elder care, salon services, fairs and carnivals, and even peddling and begging (UNDOC, 2018). Incidence and scope Human trafficking is a global public health and human rights issue (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [UNODC], 2020) that involves the exploitation of 40 million people and yielding profits of $150 billion (USD) per year worldwide (International Labor Office [ILO], 2017). In 2018, within the United States, 10,949 human trafficking cases were reported to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (National Human Trafficking Resource Center, 2015c). Although
organizations from all sectors have emerged to fight against and prevent human trafficking, healthcare professionals are in a unique position to prevent, identify, and care for persons who have trafficked. In fact, one study reported that 28 % of trafficked women interacted with a healthcare professional during their time being trafficked (Dovydaitis, 2017). After this initial foundational study, research has shown that the demographics of the individual trafficking victims impact the probability of whether they will interact with healthcare systems during their trafficking (Chisholm- Straker & Stoklosa, 2017). Despite a high frequency of contact with trafficked individuals, there is a documented lack of education (Powell et al., 2017) available to healthcare providers on the signs of human trafficking as well as a lack of protocols on how to care for trafficked individuals. The Polaris Project, a U.S. supported effort, operates a national and a global hotline, along with a text-line that connects survivors of human trafficking with sources to assist them, as well as resources for communities to combat this awful crime. According to the Polaris Project’s website, “Our comprehensive model puts victims at the center of what we do—helping survivors restore their freedom, preventing more victims, and leveraging data and technology to pursue traffickers wherever they operate” (Polaris Project, 2017a). The website includes immediate contact information for victims to find resources in their area and a link and phone number for reporting suspected cases of human trafficking. (Department of State, 2016). (To learn more about the Polaris Project, visit https://polarisproject.org/about) In 2012, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign was originated as a unified collective effort to combat human trafficking. This collaborative effort involves law enforcement, government, nongovernmental, and private organizations. The effort was designed to combat human trafficking through awareness training, resources to assist victims, and a reporting of tips to appropriate law enforcement agency (Polaris Project, 2017a & 2017b.). According to a study of the United States Department of Justice human trafficking task force, 83% of sex trafficking victims identified in the United States were United States citizens. Additionally, the average age that a trafficked victim was first used for commercial sexual activity was 12 to 14 years old (myfloridalegal.com., 2016). Evidence-Based Practice Up to 87.8% of trafficked victims seek medical care at some point in their exploitation (Hemmings et al., 2016). This clearly indicates that medical care providers have a responsibility to rescue these victims and possibly identify traffickers exploiting others. Florida information Florida is considered a gateway state due to the innumerable ports, a year-round demand for farm labor, and a high demand for sex industry exploitation. It has also been considered a state with a high incidence of human trafficking (Polaris, 2017b). Florida ranks third in the nation in the number of calls to the National Human Trafficking Hotline (Polaris, 2017b). Since 2007 the Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline recorded that Florida had over
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