The Role of
“Helping”
Professionals in
Combating Human
Trafficking
Julie Lewellyn
Marywood University
Definition
 “The
act of recruiting, harboring,
transporting, providing, or obtaining a
person for compelled labor or
commercial sex acts through the use of
force, fraud or coercion” (U.S. Dept. of
State, 2013, p. 31).
Types of Human Trafficking
 Labor
trafficking
 Sex trafficking
 Forced labor
 Debt bondage
 Involuntary domestic servitude
 Recruitment and use of child soldiers
(U.S. Dept. of State, 2013).
Statistics

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Estimated that there are 20.9 million trafficking
victims worldwide (U.S. Dept. of State, 2013).
Approx. 80% female, 50% children (Dovydaitis,
2010).
Estimated that 17,500-20,000 victims are
trafficked into U.S. each year (Peters, 2013).
Estimated that 100,000-200,000 American
children are victims of sex trafficking in the
U.S. (Peters, 2013).
Legislative Responses
 Victims
of Trafficking and Violence
Protection Act of 2000
 United Nations Protocol to Prevent,
Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons,
especially Women and Children
Research Question
 What
can helping professionals do to aid
in the identification, protection and
prevention of human trafficking victims?
 Three perspectives-nursing, criminal justice
and social work
Nursing Perspective

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Harsh working conditions often lead to
physical and psychological
symptoms/conditions
Common physical symptoms/conditions
Psychological symptoms/conditions
Trafficking victims rarely receive routine health
care, but research suggests that receiving
emergency care might be fairly common
(Baldwin, Eisenman, Sayles, Ryan and
Chuang, 2011).
ER nurses are in a unique position
Nursing Perspective
 Signs
to look for
 Signs to listen for
 What to do
~ treat immediate medical needs
~ build rapport
~ separate from trafficker
~ obtain interpreter, if needed
(Cole, 2009; Dovydaitis, 2010).
Nursing Perspective
 Medical
exam- tattoos, GPS tracking
devices (Peters, 2013).
 Collect evidence (Peters, 2013).
 Ask questions (Sabella, 2011).
 Educate
 Offer resources/assistance
 Respect person’s decision
 Must report if victim is under 18 years of
age (Dovydaitis, 2010).
Nursing Perspective
 Increase
awareness
 Develop procedures
 Collaborate with law enforcement and
service providers
Criminal Justice Perspective
 Trafficking
Victims Protection Act-gives
vital role to law enforcement
 Environmental signs (Logan, Walker, Hunt,
2009)
 Physical signs (U.S. Dept. of State, 2013;
Ren, 2013; Sigmon, 2008).
 Impact of trauma (David, 2007)
Criminal Justice Perspective
 Ensure
safety
 Refrain from wearing uniform or having
weapon in sight
 Obtain interpreter if necessary
 Make support services available
 Build rapport
(U.S. Dept. of State, 2013)
Criminal Justice Perspective
 Educate
victims about the legal provisions
afforded to them in the Trafficking Victims
Protection Act
 2005 reauthorization (Ren, 2013)
 Federal assistance benefits (Ren, 2013)
 Restitution (Ren, 2013; Gallagher &
Holmes, 2008)
Criminal Justice Perspective
 Literature
stresses the importance of
collaboration between local and federal
law enforcement and social service
agencies (Wilson & Dalton, 2008)
 Task forces and protocols for screening
potential victims are recommended
(Wilson, Walsh & Kleuber, 2006; Wilson &
Dalton, 2008; Farrell et al., 2010)
Criminal Justice Perspective
 Research-2
national studies and 1 in
Georgia
 Majority of law enforcement leaders
indicated their staff had not received
training on human trafficking and they did
not have personnel specifically assigned
to the issue (Wilson et al., 2006; Farrell et
al. 2010; Grubb & Bennett, 2012)
Social Work Perspective
 Values
and skills are valuable assets in the
fight against human trafficking
 Likely to encounter survivors of trafficking
(Macy & Graham, 2012; Stotts & Ramey,
2009)
 Most critical needs of survivors (Macy &
Johns, 2011; Busch-Armendariz, Nsonwu &
Heffron, 2014)
Social Work Perspective
 Conduct
needs assessment
 Address safety and shelter needs
 Case management and its benefits
(Palmer, 2010; Macy & Johns, 2011; BuschArmedariz et al., 2014; Caliber, 2007)
 Utilize trauma-informed care practices
when assisting survivors (Stotts & Ramey,
2009; Macy & Johns, 2011; Yakushko, 2009;
Palmer, 2010)
Social Work Perspective
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Can identify gaps between needs and
resources (Palmer, 2010)
Provide education to other professionals and
community members (Kotrla, 2010; Androff,
2010; Okech et al., 2011; Palmer, 2010)
Conduct awareness campaigns (Okech et
al., 2011)
Conduct outreach to vulnerable populations
(Kotrla, 2010)
Social Work Perspective
 Address
the legal, cultural and
socioeconomic factors that sustain
human trafficking (Hodge, 2008; Okech et
al., 2011; Rijken, 2009)
Ethical Considerations
 NASW
Code of Ethics
 Human rights violation- United Nations’
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
 Kant’s categorical imperative
(Beauchamp & Childress, 2009)
 Human trafficking violates Kant’s
categorical imperative of respect for
persons which is inherent in Declaration of
Human Rights
Ethical Considerations
 Trafficking
Victims Protection Act places
conditions on the rights of victimshypothetical imperative (Logan et al.,
2009)
 Further consideration needs to be given
to TVPA
Summary
 Helping
professionals can play a vital role
in combating human trafficking
 Nurses
 Law enforcement
 Social workers
 Importance of collaboration
Questions???
References
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Androff, D. K. (2011). The problem of contemporary slavery: An
international human rights challenge for social work. International
Social Work, 54(2), 209-222. doi:10. 1177/0020872810368395
Baldwin, S. B., Eisenman, D. P., Sayles, J. N., Ryan, G., & Chuang, K. S.
(2011). Identification of human trafficking victims in health care
settings. Health and Human Rights, 13(1), 1-14.
Beauchamp, T., & Childress, J. (2009). Principles of biomedical ethics (6th
ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Busch-Armendariz, N., Nsonwu, M. B., & Heffron, L. C. (2014). A
kaleidoscope: The role of the social work practitioner and the
strength of social work theories and practice in meeting the complex
needs of people trafficked and the professionals that work with them.
International Social Work, 57(1), 7-18. doi:10. 1177/0020872813505630
References
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Caliber. (2007). Evaluation of comprehensive services for survivors of
human trafficking: Key findings and lesson learned. National Criminal
Justice Reference Service.
Cole, H. (2009). Human trafficking: Implications for the role of the
advanced practice forensic nurse. Journal of the American
Psychiatric Nurses Association, 14, 462-470. doi:
10.1177/1078390308325763
David, F. (2007). Law enforcement responses to trafficking in persons:
Challenges and emerging good practice. Trends & Issues in Crime &
Criminal Justice, 347, 1-6.
Dovydaitis, T. (2010). Human trafficking: The role of the health care
provider. Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health, 55(5), 462-467.
doi: 10. 1016/j.jmwh.2009.12.017
Farrell, A., McDevitt, J., & Fahy, S. (2010). Where are all the victims?
Understanding the determinants of official identification of human
trafficking incidents. Criminology & Public Policy, 9(2), 201-233.
References
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Gallagher, A. & Holmes, P. (2008). Developing an effective criminal
justice response to human trafficking: Lessons from the front line.
International Criminal Justice Review, 18(3), 318-343. doi: 10.
1177/1057567708320746
Grubb, D. & Bennett, K. (2012). The readiness of local law enforcement
to engage in US anti-trafficking efforts: An assessment of human
trafficking training and awareness of local, county, and state law
enforcement agencies in the state of Georgia. Polcy, Practice and
Research, 13(6), 487-500. doi: 10.1080/15614263.2012.662815
Hodge, D. R. (2008). Sexual trafficking in the United States: A domestic
problem with transnational dimensions. Social Work, 53(2), 143-152.
Kotrla, K. (2010). Domestic minor sex trafficking in the United States.
Social Work, 55(2), 181-187.
References
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Logan, T. K., Walker, R., & Hunt, G. (2009). Understanding human
trafficking in the United States. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 10(1), 3-30.
doi: 10.1177/1524838008327262
Macy, R. J., & Graham, L. M. (2012). Identifying domestic and
international sex-trafficking victims during human service provision.
Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 13(2), 59-76.
doi10.1177/1524838012440340
Macy, R. J., & Johns, N. (2011). Aftercare services for international sex
trafficking survivors: Informing U.S. service and program development
in an emerging practice area. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 12(2),
87-98. doi: 10.1177/1524838010390709
References
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Okech, D., Morreau, W., & Benson, K. (2011). Human trafficking:
Improving victim identification and service provision. International
Social Work, 55(4), 488-503. doi: 10. 1177/0020872811425805
Palmer, N. (2010). The essential role of social work in addressing victims
and survivors of trafficking. ILSA Journal of International and
Comparative Law, 17(1), 43-56.
Peters, K. (2013). The growing business of human trafficking and the
power of emergency nurses to stop it. Journal of Emergency Nursing,
39(3), 280-288. doi: 10. 1016/j.jen.2012.03.017
Ren, X. (2013). Legal protection and assistance for victims of human
trafficking: A harm reduction approach. International Perspectives in
Victimology, 7(2), 65-76.
References
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Rijken, C. (2009). A human rights based approach to trafficking in human
beings. Security and Human Rights, 3, 212-222.
Sabella, D. (2011). The role of the nurse in combating human trafficking.
American Journal of Nursing, 111(2), 28-37.
Sigmon, J. N. (2008). Combating modern-day slavery: Issues in
identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking worldwide.
Victims and Offenders, 3, 245-257. doi: 10.1080/15564880801938508
Stotts, E. L. & Ramey, L. (2009). Human trafficking: A call for counselor
awareness and action. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, Education
and Development, 48, 36-47.
United Nations. (n.d.). Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Retrieved
from: www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml
References
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U. S. Department of State. (June, 2006). Trafficking in persons report.
Retrieved from: www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2006/65983.htm
U. S. Department of State. (June, 2013). Trafficking in persons report.
Retrieved from: www.state.gov/documents/organization/210737.pdf
Victims of Trafficking and Violence Prevention Act of 2000, H.R. 3244,
(2000, October 28). Retrieved from: www.state.gov/j/tip/laws/
61124.htm
Wilson, D. G., Walsh, W. F., & Kleuber, S. (2006). Trafficking in human
beings: Training and services among law enforcement agencies.
Policy, Practice and Research, 7(2), 149-160. doi: 10.
1080/15614260600676833
References
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Wilson, J., & Dalton, E. (2008). Human trafficking in the heartland:
Variation in law enforcement awareness and response. Journal of
Contemporary Criminal Justice, 24(3), 296-313. doi: 10.
1177/1043986208318227
Yakushko, O. (2009). Human trafficking: A review for mental health
professionals. International Journal for the Advancement of
Counseling, 31(3), 158-167. doi: 10. 1007/s10447-009-9075-3