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What to look for: Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world, attracting transnational and domestic criminal organizations because it is becoming more financially lucrative in many cases than the international drug trade or other illegal activities. Several billion dollars per year are generated by victimizing millions of people around the world. It is especially contemptible and inhumane because it inflicts harm upon another human being–stealing their dignity, causing bodily injury, and taking away their freedom–for the sole purpose of the financial gain of criminals. Human Trafficking is a $150 billion dollar global industry and affects nearly 25 million people worldwide.

 The Trafficking Victims Protection Act was passed in 2000 to protect victims of Human Trafficking. U.S. law defines human trafficking as the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts or labor against their will. The Action-Means-Purpose (AMP) Model can be helpful in understanding the federal law. Human trafficking occurs when a perpetrator, oen referred to as a trafficker, takes an Action, and then employs the Means of force, fraud or coercion for the Purpose of compelling the victim to provide commercial sex acts or labor or services. At a minimum, one element from each column must be present to establish a potential situation of human trafficking.

ACTION – INDUCES RECRUITS HARBORS TRANSPORTS PROVIDES OBTAINS

MEANS* – FORCE FRAUD COERCION *Inducing a minor into commercial sex is considered human trafficking regardless of the presence of force, fraud or coercion.

PURPOSE – COMMERCIAL SEX (Sex Trafficking) or LABOR/SERVICES (Labor Trafficking)