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Human
Trafficking
Although the crime of human trafficking
differs from IPV/DV in many ways, there may also be some overlap,
as some abusers engage in human trafficking of victims of
IPV/DV. According to US Department of Health and Human Services,
Office of Children and Families (OCF) (2004), the following
are sample questions healthcare providers can ask in screening
an individual to determine if he/she is a potential victim
of human trafficking. As with IPV/DV victims, if you think
a patient is a victim of trafficking, you do not want to begin
by asking directly if the person has been beaten or held against
his/her will. Instead, you want to start at the edges of his/her
experience. And if possible, you should enlist the help of
a staff member who speaks the patient's language and understands
the patient's culture, keeping in mind that any questioning
should be done confidentially.
Interpreters should be screened in order
to ensure they do not know the victim or the traffickers and
do not otherwise have a conflict of interest.
Screening For Victims
of Human Trafficking
Before asking the person any sensitive questions,
try to get the person alone if possible, particularly if the
person was accompanied by someone who could be a trafficker
posing as a spouse, other family member or employer. However,
when requesting time alone, it should do so in a manner that
does not raise suspicions.
Suggested screening questions:
- Can you leave your job or situation if you want?
- Can you come and go as you please?
- Have you been threatened if you try to leave?
- Have you been physically harmed in any way?
- What are your working or living conditions like?
- Where do you sleep and eat?
- Do you sleep in a bed, on a cot or on the floor?
- Have you ever been deprived of food, water, sleep or
medical care?
- Do you have to ask permission to eat, sleep or go to
the bathroom?
- Are there locks on your doors and windows so you cannot
get out?
- Has anyone threatened your family?
- Has your identification or documentation been taken from
you?
- Is anyone forcing you to do anything that you do not
want to do?
If you think you have come in contact with a victim of human
trafficking, call the Trafficking Information and Referral
Hotline at 1.888.3737.888. This hotline will help you determine
if you have encountered victims of human trafficking, will
identify local resources available in your community to help
victims, and will help you coordinate with local social service
organizations to help protect and serve victims so they can
begin the process of restoring their lives. For more information
on human trafficking visit www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking.
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