Supporting someone who is being trafficked

Supporting someone who is caught in trafficking can be very challenging, especially if they are a close friend or family member whom you love. Here are some things to keep in mind while supporting someone who is being trafficked.
SELF CARE
  • Establish healthy boundaries and be direct and open with these boundaries.
  • Have safe spaces and people to support you.
  • Watch for signs of burnout or overexertion.
  • Do not try to be their only support. It's better for them to have a small community around them.

BE NON-JUDGEMENTAL
  • A person being trafficked is likely being manipulated or guilted by their trafficker. Be a safe space.
  • It takes a lot of trust to share a trafficking experience with someone, so make sure to honour that trust.
  • Maintain confidentiality with what they share with you. Breaking trust will mean they will stop sharing.

FORGIVE
  • A person being trafficked is processing a lot and may do or say things that they don't mean. Maintain healthy boundaries as much as possible.
  • Avoid blaming them for the actions of their trafficker or abuser.
  • Model healthy behaviours and relationships. As much as you can, show them what loving dialogue can look like.

LISTEN
  • Believe what they are sharing with you.
  • Try to learn as much about their situation as you can.
  • Have a support network to support you so that your time with them can be about supporting them.
  • Have a safe word with them for when their abuser is listening or around.







Understanding The Industry

Understanding why someone enters into and stays in the sex industry is important to being able to support someone who is being trafficked. It is often not as black-and-white as simply leaving their traffickers.
FINANCIAL
There is fast money to be made in the sex industry. When someone is financially pressed or unable to meet deadlines for themselves and their dependents, the draw of making money quickly can be very strong.
LOVE/EMOTIONAL MANIPULATION
Traffickers prey especially on those who are lacking love and emotional support. They exploit this need to create a dependency between them and their target. It is hard for someone to leave the industry when they believe their trafficker truly loves them.
BRAINWASHING/MANIPULATION
Traffickers are very skilled at manipulation and abuse. They often convince the people they are trafficking that they are unworthy of real and loving relationships. Traffickers create distrust between their target and that person's family, friends, and authority figures.
VIOLENCE/THREATS OF VIOLENCE
A trafficker will physically abuse or threaten to abuse their target or their target's family in order to ensure compliance. Disobeying or leaving their trafficker isn't worth the physical harm.
NOWHERE TO EXIT TO
The culture of the sex industry is very unique. People who are caught in it may not feel they could belong in the outside world again. Similarly, the abuse they are experiencing begins to feel normal, and they may not see a need to exit.
ALLURE
In our culture, the sex industry is very glamorized. It is twisted to appear empowering, and aspects of abuse, manipulation, and trauma are downplayed. The fantasy of control is alluring.
FALSE PROMISES/LIES
Traffickers may tell their targets that they can get them a better life if they will work in the sex industry for a certain amount of time. The trafficker will then continually extend the deadline, making it impossible for the person to leave without forfeiting the better life they were promised.
DRUGS/ALCOHOL
Traffickers will get their targets addicted to illegal substances and alcohol. This way, if the person were to leave their trafficker, they would be cut off from their drug supply. The experience of withdrawal and the isolation due to addiction keeps them from leaving.
TRAUMA BONDS
Trauma bonds can develop between a trafficker and the person they are trafficking. Similarly to Stockholm syndrome, the person being trafficked may develop deep loyalty and defensiveness towards their trafficker.
TRAFFICKER CONTROL
Most often, traffickers control their targets through emotional manipulation and abuse. However, sometimes they will also physically control the movements, conversations, and relationships of their targets. They may also brand the people they are trafficking with tattoos.

Reporting and Resources

If there is immediate danger or if you suspect a child under 18 is being trafficked, call 911 or your local police service.
For information and support, call Canada’s confidential Human Trafficking Hotline:
​1-833-900-1010

Resources

Tips and advice on how to establish and maintain healthy boundaries
healthy_relationships___boundaries_handout.pdf
File Size: 487 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
https://www.childrenofthestreet.com/parents
https://www.bridgenorth.org/public-education--awareness.html