Human Trafficking and What College Students Need to Know
Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Traffickers and their victims can be from any background, age, race, gender or nationality. Traffickers might use the following methods to lure victims into trafficking situations:
- Violence
- Manipulation
- False promises of well-paying jobs
- Romantic relationships
Understanding Exploitation
On Campus. Traffickers can use physical meeting spaces for recruitment. College campuses have many opportunities where people are in one place (library, student union, class, student organizations, residence halls), creating opportunities for traffickers to use peer-to-peer relationships for recruitment.
Off Campus. Traffickers will research and identify popular gathering spaces and look for opportunities to impair their victim’s judgement such as at bars, house gatherings, parties, parks and concerts. They may buy drinks and lace or add drugs to open sources of alcohol to limit your ability to take care of yourself and make sensible decisions.
Online. Social media, dating and gaming apps can be a great way for people to connect but can also be used criminally. Traffickers use the anonymity of the internet to develop trust and relationships. They then arrange to meet in person and deceive a victim into trafficking.
How to help each other stay safe
- Beware of strangers who expect you to become emotionally attached and establish themselves as trustworthy confidants shortly after meeting.
- Follow a “no person left behind” approach if you go out together. Leave together or in pairs.
- If you drink, don’t accept drinks from open sources or ones that haven’t been in your possession the entire time. Stop friends who have had too much to drink and don’t leave them on their own.
- Beware of job offers that are typically hard to break into such as modeling and acting. If a job offer or posting seems too good to be true, it is!
- Don’t share personal information such as address, phone, or email with people online. Only share your location with trusted friends.
- DO NOT share pictures with anyone you do not know personally.
Available Resources
Blue Campaign is a national public awareness campaign that offers a collection of materials, training and videos at dhs.gov/blue-campaign/learning-center. Check out their guide: Human Trafficking Awareness Guide for Student Leaders on College Campuses.
FSU Center for Advancement of Human Rights offers free training to students: Human Trafficking Prevention Training | Center for the Advancement of Human Rights
Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center has free training as well and Yes, College Students Can Be Human Trafficking Victims - Survive and Thrive.