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Sex trafficking is a prominent human rights issue that has been increasingly associated with the hosting of large-scale sport events. Despite insufficient evidence demonstrating a causal or correlative link, event stakeholders have implemented antitrafficking efforts in attempts to prevent and promote awareness of sex trafficking. Using Google Trends data to measure audiences' information-seeking behavior online and Twitter data as a proxy for antitrafficking efforts on social media, we employed a difference-in-differences approach to estimate the change in online demand for sex-trafficking information among the residents of Miami-Dade, the host city of Super Bowl LIV (54). Findings highlight an increase in the online demand for sex-trafficking information in the host city during and after the event. This increased demand attributed to the Super Bowl may offer support for host communities utilizing sport events to promote awareness of pressing social issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Human trafficking (HT) is a public health issue that adversely affects patients well-being. Despite the prevalence of trafficked persons in health care settings, a lack of educational modules exists for use in clinical contexts. We developed a 50-minute train-the-trainer module on HT. METHODS: After piloting the workshop for faculty, fellows, and residents (n = 19) at the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) national conference, we implemented it in medical students curricula during their emergency medicine clerkship at the University of Iowa (n = 162). We evaluated the worskhop by (a) a retrospective pre-post survey of self-reported ability to (1) define HT, (2) recognize high-risk signs, (3) manage situations with trafficked persons, and (4) teach others about HT, and (b) a 3-month follow-up survey to assess longitudinal behavior change. RESULTS: In both contexts, results demonstrated improvement across all learning outcomes (pre-post differences of 1.5, 1.3, 1.9, and 1.7 on a 4-point Likert-type scale for each learning objective above, respectively, at the SAEM conference and 1.2, 1.0, 1.3, and 1.3 at the University of Iowa; p < .001 for all). In the 3-month follow-up, we observed statistically significant changes in self-reported consideration of and teaching about HT during clinical encounters among learners who had previously never done either (p < .001 and p = .006, respectively). DISCUSSION: This train-the-trainer module is a brief and effective clinical tool for bedside teaching about HT, especially among people who have never previously considered HT in a clinical context.

Survivors of child sex trafficking (SCST) experience high rates of adverse health outcomes. Amidst the duration of their victimization, survivors regularly seek healthcare yet fail to be identified. This study sought to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to identify SCST and describe the elements of their healthcare presentation. An AI-supported keyword search was conducted to identify SCST within the electronic medical records (EMR) of ∼1.5 million patients at a large midwestern pediatric hospital. Descriptive analyses were used to evaluate associated diagnoses and clinical presentation. A sex trafficking-related keyword was identified in.18% of patient charts. Among this cohort, the most common associated diagnostic codes were for Confirmed Sexual/Physical Assault; Trauma and Stress-Related Disorders; Depressive Disorders; Anxiety Disorders; and Suicidal Ideation. Our findings are consistent with the myriad of known adverse physical and psychological outcomes among SCST and illuminate the future potential of AI technology to improve screening and research efforts surrounding all aspects of this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory study underscores the value of human trafficking hotlines as an important data source for understanding and responding to trafficking at the micro level. Drawing on data from the Tennessee Statewide Human Trafficking Hotline between 2017 and 2021, 2,316 tips were analyzed and revealed a 219% tip increase over five years, with minimal impact noted due to COVID-19. The most common trafficking tips relate to minors (57%), adult sex trafficking (21%), and labor trafficking (4%). Women and minor victims were overrepresented in tips, and only 3% of victims self-reported to the hotline. Tips were concentrated in counties with larger populations; however, tips also indicated human trafficking presence in rural areas. Multiple victims and trafficking suspects were described in 11.5% of cases, and as the number of victims increased, so did the number of suspected traffickers. When suspects operated together, there tended to be one male and one female in the reported trafficking operations. The findings of this study provide insight into the landscape of human trafficking in Tennessee and can inform policy development and enhanced responses by law enforcement and service providers to human trafficking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing body of literature on the barriers and facilitators to exiting the commercial sex industry, but little empirical research on how this process may be different for those who have experienced sex trafficking. In this study, we explored the barriers that people who have experienced sex trafficking encountered when they considered leaving their trafficker or leaving the commercial sex industry, as well as facilitators that helped them overcome those barriers. To address these questions, we used qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with 158 people who had experienced sex trafficking. Among study participants, the circumstances of leaving a trafficking situation incredibly varied. Most participants faced complex barriers to exiting their trafficking situation and their exit pathways reflected these differences. Despite these barriers, most study participants had left their traffickers. We found that there were two broad ways that study participants left their trafficking situations: either actively or passively. We discuss implications for service providers, law enforcement, and policymakers to help support individual agency and decision-making to better facilitate trafficking exit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little research has examined survivors' experiences in human trafficking specialty docket courts, particularly related to their trauma bonds. This CBPR phenomenological study sought to fill this gaps by asking: What are the experiences of trauma bonded survivors of sex trafficking in a human trafficking specialty docket? The sample consisted of 19 female survivors of sex trafficking who were all participants in or graduates of a human trafficking specialty docket. Three themes emerged from the data: (a) love and support, (b) views on change, and (c) depends on the individual. These findings contain significant implications for practice and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: India is home to 14 million survivors of human trafficking, with most being trafficked for sexual exploitation. Trafficking constitutes crimes that violate the rights of survivors, and despite its psychological consequences, there is little evidence-based guidance to meet the needs of these individuals. Aim: The current study aimed to examine the outcome of narrative exposure therapy (KIDNET) among adolescent survivors of sex trafficking in improving trauma-related symptoms, along with psychological distress, dissociation, depression, and anxiety. Methods: A pre-post study design was used with 20 adolescent female survivors of trafficking aged 13 to 17 years, with ten participants in the KIDNET group and ten participants in a waitlist control group. Trafficking Victim Identification Tool and Standard Progressive Matrices were administered as screening measures. The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Children and Adolescents, Kessler's Psychological Distress Scale, Shutdown Dissociation Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire, and Beck Anxiety Inventory were administered as outcome measures. Fourteen sessions of KIDNET were conducted for the clinical group, while sessions were conducted for the control group post delivery of intervention for the clinical group. Results: Findings suggest an overall improvement in the severity of trauma-related symptoms in the KIDNET group, with significant improvement in psychological distress, depression, and anxiety. Conclusion: Results indicate that KIDNET may be a promising and acceptable treatment for adolescent survivors of sex trafficking, and this intervention module may be safely delivered in further randomised controlled trials to ensure that the holistic needs of this vulnerable group are appropriately addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successful identification of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) remains challenging. Laypersons could play a significant role in identifying victims, but only if laypersons recognize trafficking situations as such and do not incorrectly attribute responsibility to victims. In the current study, we examined laypersons' perceptions of situations highly suggestive of DMST. Participants (N = 320), recruited from an internet-based crowd-sourcing platform, read a vignette describing a highly suspicious situation involving a minor and adult in a hotel room with cash on the minor's person. Participants answered questions about what they thought was happening and about their general knowledge of trafficking. The vignette systematically varied the age (13, 15, 17 years) and gender (boy, girl) of the victim to include the most common ages and genders of known DMST victims. Overall, just over half (61%) of participants recognized that a crime occurred, more often with younger (70%) than older (55%) minors. Participants tended to place some responsibility on older minors for their situation, as did participants who exhibited lower levels of general knowledge of trafficking. Overall, the results reveal substantial limitations in laypersons' understanding of DMST, including who is responsible, highlighting the need for targeted educational campaigns to improve that understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the spatial distribution of commercial sex activities (CSA) in urban environments is important in addressing the harms against sex workers and identifying sex trafficking operations. Guided by crime pattern theory, using Census data and New York Police Department (NYPD) prostitution-related arrests data (N = 29,075) from 2010 to 2019, this study examines the "hot spots" of CSA in New York City. Local Spatial Autocorrelation Analysis (LISA) identified distinctive spatial clusters of CSA, whereas logistic regression explained their significant congregation in immigrant and racial-ethnic enclaves. The heterogeneity of clusters by boroughs portrays the convergence of activity space of sex workers, patrons, and sex business opportunities reflecting the high-demand locations of CSA and human trafficking in NYC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the experiences of service providers working with youth who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation (CSE). In this qualitative study, 12 service providers shared their experiences working with youth who have experienced CSE. Thematic analysis was used to develop key themes that included the challenges posed by working with this population, including the breadth of necessary services and the type of support that is needed for this work. Participants shared the importance of being prepared to work with this population and learn from those with lived experience. The complexity of cases and the difficulty engaging youth who had experienced CSE were also themes. These results can inform service providers who work with youth about the common challenges in working with this population and prepare the next generation of service providers for this difficult work. Training service providers, managing their expectations, and getting them ready for their role will be critical for successful intervention with youth who have experienced CSE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this interview, Corban Addison exposes the harsh reality of child sex trafficking in India and across borders with his first-hand experiences with victims, survivors, and activists. Addison has written books on human rights, injustice in the world, and its culture. His works include A Walk Across the Sun (2012), The Garden of Burning Sand (2013), The Tears of Dark Water (2015), A Harvest of Thorns (2017), and Wastelands: The True Story of Farm Country on Trial (2022). Addison, being an engineer, lawyer, and author, began experimenting with writing at the age of fifteen years. He has used his profession as a lawyer in his writing to depict human atrocities, provide validity to victims, and advocate the abolition of modern slavery through his narratives. In this conversation, Addison talks about how he ended up writing A Walk Across the Sun while discussing sexual slavery, his background research, and how he was able to understand the experiences and trauma of sexual violence. He shares anecdotes of his journey to tsunami-affected areas, brothels, and meetings with victims and activists and how he portrays the sexual violence, trauma, and redemption from it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In her 2002 book Taboo: The Hidden Culture of Red Light Area, Fouzia Saeed explains how patriarchal norms in Pakistani society rigidly categorise women into 'pure' and 'polluted', shaping perceptions of prostitution and human trafficking. This article argues that patriarchy has its roots in materiality, and plays an indispensable role in pushing many women into the dreadful practice of prostitution or trafficking for sexual slavery through the structural and institutional flaws threaded within Pakistani culture. Women in Pakistan yet also have internalised the deep-rooted patriarchal ideologies and sexism that lead to a holistic understanding of what this patriarchal culture entails. Focusing on Heera Mandi - Lahore's traditional red light district as depicted in Saeed's ethnographic book, this textual cum descriptive analysis contributes to unveil the dilemmas of women engaged in prostitution who are constantly under threat from patriarchy and other institutions. While unfolding men formulated cultural norms through radical feminist analysis of Taboo, this article concludes that the patriarchal metamorphosing of women into valueless commodities perpetuates the practice of prostitution and trafficking in Heera Mandi. The study also suggests that, to eliminate female inferiority, feminist activism in Pakistan requires measures to restructure patriarchy together with consciousness-raising and political education of women in all respects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sex trafficking of minors is a significant problem across North America, with sizeable numbers of youth being directly or indirectly manipulated into being exploited or trafficked. Identification of these youth remains difficult, in part because of a lack of knowledge about common characteristics and in part because of victims' reluctance engaging with and trusting law enforcement enough to disclose their experiences. Given that many youth are trafficked during school‐aged years, school settings may represent an ideal location to target prevention and identification efforts, especially by health‐related school professionals, whose training, professional duties, and often positive relationships with youth may make the professionals trustworthy disclosure recipients. Whether such professionals are effective, though, depends on their knowledge of who is at risk for trafficking, characteristics that distinguish trafficking from other forms of harm, and effective questioning approaches to elicit disclosures from victimized youth. To document whether this knowledge exists, we surveyed 361 school‐based professionals concerning their ability to identify trafficking and knowledge of trafficking, adolescent development, and interviewing youth. Although nearly all (97%) school professionals recognized general student risk in the vignettes, only 18% identified that risk as trafficking. Professionals who had prior experience with trafficked youth were more likely to recognize trafficking than those without such experience. Finally, professionals evidenced some general knowledge about the existence of trafficking, adolescent development, and interviewing, but demonstrated more limited knowledge in the most common characteristics of trafficked minors and nuanced aspects of best‐practice questioning approaches. Results highlight important directions for training of school‐based professionals to improve prevention and identification of a highly vulnerable and often overlooked population of victims, namely trafficked minors. Practitioner Points: Practitioners should seek out training about sex trafficking in youth, particularly about how signs may manifest in youth, given that the majority of professionals in our study did not recognize the signs of sex trafficking in our vignettes.Practitioners should also seek out training, or ensure they have received training, on how to ask questions and engage youth in discussions (e.g., motivational interviewing, building rapport) particularly when they may be resistant or when discussing sensitive topics.Few professionals in our study made reference to external resources for youth and despite practitioners' best efforts, some youth may still not disclose being sex trafficked. Thus, practitioners should also familiarize themselves with local (e.g., local child welfare or police resources) and national (e.g., national human trafficking hotline) resources that can be shared with youth, empowering them to act once they are ready. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Federal funds for human trafficking victim programmes and services in the United States have increased from approximately USD 10 million in 2002 to more than USD 90 million in 2022. This increase in fund availability, however, has not necessarily translated into meaningful or accessible services for trafficking survivors. This paper examines the distribution of Department of Justice anti-trafficking funds through the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), particularly looking at OVC recipients in Alaska. It highlights certain trends in OVC funding in the state, including changes in funding distribution, the emphasis on task force creation and collaboration between service providers and law enforcement, and discussions of equity and inclusion. The paper further explores institutional mechanisms of exclusion and harm of some victims, complexities in collaborating with law enforcement, criminalisation of trafficking survivors, and criteria to qualify for services. As the reality faced by trafficking survivors does not always align with OVC narratives, these mechanisms are illustrated through the experiences of a sex trafficking survivor who has been turned away as not qualifying for services by many of the OVC funded providers in Alaska. The paper concludes by exploring the implications of this research for policymakers and service providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the smuggling and trafficking of North Korean migrants in China (NKMC), focusing on their migration motives, victimization types, and contributing factors, alongside suggestions for prevention and mitigation strategies. Although the sample size is modest and non-random (N=58), the insights gathered offer a poignant glimpse into the lived experiences of this specific subgroup of migrants who navigated from North Korea to China and subsequently to South Korea. Interviews were conducted with former NKMC residing in South Korea. Participants were recruited through purposive snowball sampling. The primary reasons for leaving North Korea were economic hardships (70.7%) and survival (12.1%). In China, more than 72% of female migrants were sold into marriage, while 21% were coerced into the sex trade. Contributing factors to victimization included economic hardship, a shortage of marriageable women, illegal status, and fear of deportation. Additionally, language barriers, geographical unfamiliarity, and stringent information control policies exacerbated the vulnerability of NKMC to exploitation. Addressing it as a criminal justice issue may be more effective than a human rights approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thousands of youth are sexually trafficked each year in the United States. In order to address this concern, anti-trafficking advocates often emphasize the importance of uniform screening protocols to assist with the identification of survivors. Unfortunately, an oft-overlooked component of sex trafficking identification is what to do once a victim has been identified, and how to best meet survivors' complex needs. In this article, the authors provide social work practitioners and other advocates with best practice guidelines for how to design and evaluate anti-sex trafficking advocacy programs for children and youth. These guidelines include considerations related to direct services with clients, community partnerships, and organizational capacity, as well as recommendations for how to begin and then evaluate programming. Regardless of the form selected for the program, all anti-sex trafficking programs should be designed to provide effective, client-centered follow-up and advocacy once a positive identification is made in the community. The recommendations included in this paper are based upon extant literature, the authors' practice experience with survivors, and insights from anti-sex trafficking program evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper demonstrates how the social construction of gender shapes women's migration choices and post‐migration experience using the example of Ugandan women migrants in Istanbul, Türkiye. Building on an ethnographic case study, we reveal how Ugandan women negotiate and find agency within oppressive structures that force them into debt, into "illegality", and limit their opportunities for safe and dignified work. Our discussion critiques international regulations – the Palermo Protocol – and local structures including the Istanbul Police and Turkish policy on migration and prostitution. We show the complexity of relationships that impact women's lives and show how institutions fail to protect women leaving them vulnerable to harassment and sexual violence. We reflect on the experience of women of colour in Istanbul, simultaneously visible on the street yet invisible in voice and agency. Our work highlights the importance of an intersectional lens in the study of migration, il/legality, workplace abuse and trafficking into prostitution. It has broad implications for understanding how gender, class and racialization define migrants' options for mobility and self‐determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractHuman trafficking training involving didactic sessions supplemented by problem-based learning methods took place with youth services specialists in a southern state. Data were collected confidentially and voluntarily using descriptive and bivariate statistics and qualitative responses. Outcomes from the training compared knowledge attainment and differences between regional perspectives. The authors anticipated the pre- and post-training survey data would show significant learning of human trafficking concepts after the first didactic session, with the second session reinforcing these lessons through problem-based learning exercises utilizing a case study. The authors also expected there to be resulting changes in participant (n = 19) attitudes and responses to youth who were at risk of or experiencing human trafficking. Although participants learned concepts of human trafficking, the lessons were not equally accepted or internalized. Comments gathered from participants through post-training interviews revealed a range of responses. The participant’s employer lacked an agency-wide response protocol and, thus, without external guidance, participants struggled with personal biases regarding youths’ consent and choice. This exploratory study highlights the need for agency-wide human trafficking response protocols that incorporate screening tools. Future research should focus on reviewing agency interactions with youth and developing comprehensive response protocols that include screening and universal education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sex trafficking of persons, a pervasive public health issue disproportionately affecting the most marginalized within society, often leads to health as well as social consequences. Social service provision to meet the resulting needs is critical, however, little is known about the current pandemic's impact on providers' capacity to deliver requisite care. Method: To examine social service providers' perspectives of care provision for domestically sex-trafficked persons in Ontario, Canada, during the COVID-19 pandemic, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 providers and analyzed these using Braun and Clarke's analytic framework. Results: Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on social service care provision were connected to individuals' increased vulnerability to trafficking, difficulties safely and effectively providing services to sex-trafficked persons amid pandemic restrictions, and reduction in in-person educational activities to improve providers' capacity to serve this client population. Securing safe shelter was particularly difficult and inappropriate placements could at times lead to further trafficking. Conclusion: The pandemic created novel barriers to supporting sex-trafficked persons; managing these sometimes led to new and complex issues. Future efforts should focus on developing constructive strategies to support sex-trafficked persons' unique needs during public health crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the high levels of social service usage by women who are sex trafficked. Fifty (N = 50) women who were sex trafficked were surveyed using purposive and snowball sampling methods. The ACEs score for respondents ranged from 2 to 10 with an average score of 7.4 (SD = 2.3). Emotional and sexual abuse tied at 88 percent as the most frequently cited ACEs among the women in this sample. The prevalence of ACEs was significantly higher in this sample compared with known estimates in similar populations, ranging from 20 percent to 54 percent (p <.001). Considering the well-established link between ACEs and poor health outcomes, these findings point to the need for innovative and targeted social service provisions to women who were formerly sex trafficked that take into consideration the high level of ACEs of the women. Given the sociodemographic diversity of this sample, there is a need for services that are trauma-informed, innovative, and culturally sensitive in a variety of social service settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human trafficking is a heinous crime and violation of human rights affecting between 25 and 27 million adults and children globally each year. Current immigration and refugee policy could exacerbate the human trafficking public health crisis. Health care providers working in emergency department and urgent care settings interact with human trafficking victims and provide life-changing care. Research identifies a significant need for coordinated, consistent, and standardized education on human trafficking. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of online educational training in human trafficking on the knowledge and self-confidence of registered nurses and nurse practitioners working in the emergency department and urgent care settings in New York. An asynchronous, online education module was designed for emergency department and urgent care registered nurses and nurse practitioners to address key components of human trafficking identification, assessment, and treatment. Using a 1-group pretest/posttest design, participants completed an existing published survey tool before and 6 weeks after education. Findings revealed statistically significant improvement (P <.05) in knowledge and confidence regarding components of identifying, assessing, and treating victims of human trafficking. Data demonstrated 63.8% of participants had never received human trafficking training, and 80% reported no history of contact with patients known or suspected of being trafficked. Results in this study demonstrate the need for increased standardized education regarding HT for frontline health care workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a robust quantitative approach for determining significant economic factors for sex trafficking in the United States. The aim is to study monthly counts of sex trafficking-related convictions, and use a wide range of economic variables as covariates to investigate their effect on conviction counts. A count time series model is considered along with a regression setup to include economic time series as covariates (economic factors) to explain the counts on sex trafficking-related convictions. The statistical significance of these economic factors is investigated and the significant factors are ranked based on appropriate model selection methods. The inclusion of time-lagged versions of the economic factor time series in the regression model is also explored. Our findings indicate that economic factors relating to immigration policy, consumer price index and labor market regulations are the most significant in explaining sex trafficking convictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human trafficking poses a global humanitarian and public health concern, particularly affecting women and migrants in many countries. This article assessed existing policies and laws addressing human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of women in the Caribbean nations of the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago. It identified the legislative frameworks and procedures for anti‐trafficking efforts in the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago through a comprehensive review of academic literature and policy documents. The analysis focused on evaluating the successes and challenges in implementing these policies. Findings revealed that while both countries had established anti‐trafficking laws, several structural, economic, social, and political barriers prevented effective interventions catering to the needs of vulnerable populations. Based on the analysis, recommendations were made to mitigate country and regional human trafficking, with a focus on the protection of women. Key recommendations include enhancing economic opportunities, strengthening social protections, and improving the criminal justice system's capacity to combat trafficking. A reduction in trafficking and sexual exploitation in the Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago requires comprehensive policy implementation strategies aimed at protecting and supporting at‐risk native and migrant populations, providing sound economic opportunities and social protection, and strengthening effective legal responses to combat trafficking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian law prescribes 'protective custody' for sex workers, placing them in carceral shelters after police and NGO-initiated raids and rescues. Frequent allegations of abuse and incidents of escape are followed by media and judicial scrutiny, leaving shelter detention itself unquestioned. This article situates shelter detention in two ways. It examines its legal prescription in the Indian socio-legal context and its connections to global anti-trafficking and anti-immigration contexts. It also engages with Foucauldian concepts and feminist, socio-legal, historical, and anthropological work on India to analyze the power shelter detention instantiates. Next, the article critiques shelter detentionby drawing upon my ethnography at a Mumbai shelter and reflections on methods and ethics, and by tracking how the media and judiciary responded to an escape. Through these methods, approaches, and findings, I argue that shelter detention curtails sex workers' mobilities and impedes their livelihoods through: 1) Its legal prescription, authorizing multiple forms of governance; 2) Its implementation, shaped by challenges of governance delaying sex workers' release; and 3) Media exposés and judicial interventions further intensifying surveillance. The article shows, further, that sex workers' escapes and acts of resistance illuminate not just 'exceptional' abuse, but the routine, ever-expanding forms of governance animating shelter detention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The understudied bodily harm women experience after commercial sex (CS) may be partially explained by the prominence of Cartesian mind–body dualism in psychological science. Accordingly, we qualitatively explored the mind–body relationship among 79 female sex trafficking survivors. Survivors reported long-term negative alterations in feelings about the body, sex, and physical touch posttrafficking and these negative outcomes did not differ across women who self-perceived as consenting and women who self-perceived as forced. Implications for future research are presented, particularly on measuring dehumanization in CS which contributes to extensive harm even in the absence of physical aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite increased awareness of sex trafficking of minors in the U.S., prosecution of traffickers remains difficult, in part because of victim uncooperativeness. There are questions about how that uncooperativeness is expressed, whether it is evident in successfully prosecuted cases, and whether it is unique to trafficked minors or it emerges in similar age victims of sexual abuse. To provide insight relevant to these questions, we compared appellate opinions in two types of successfully prosecuted criminal cases: sex trafficking and sexual abuse of adolescent victims. In the trafficking opinions, victims were rarely described as disclosing on their own or as knowing their trafficker before the victimization. The opinions also often alluded to the trafficking victims uncooperativeness and delinquency history, and frequently mentioned electronic evidence and prosecution experts. The sexual abuse opinions, in contrast, tended to suggest that victims own disclosures initiated the case, perpetrators were known and trusted adults, and caregiver support during the case was common. Finally, the sexual abuse opinions never explicitly mentioned victim uncooperativeness or electronic evidence and rarely mentioned expert testimony or delinquency. The different characterizations of the two case types highlight the need for improved education concerning effective prosecution of sex crimes against minors.

Janice Du Mont,1,2 Frances Montemurro,1 Rhonelle Bruder,1,2 C Emma Kelly,1 Frances Recknor,1 Robin Mason1,2 1Women’s College Research Institute, Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, ON, M5S 1B2, Canada; 2Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5T 3M7, CanadaCorrespondence: Janice Du Mont, Women’s College Research Institute, Women’s College Hospital, 76 Grenville St, Toronto, ON, M5S 1B2, Canada, Email janice.dumont@wchospital.caAbstract: Health care providers are highly likely to encounter persons who have been domestically sex trafficked and, therefore, possess valuable insights that could be useful in understanding and improving existing services and supports. In-depth interviews were conducted with 31 health care providers residing and working in Canada’s largest province, Ontario. Results were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s analytical framework. Across providers, a key theme was identified: “Facilitators to improve care”, which was comprised of two sub-themes, “Address needs in service provision” and “Center unique needs of survivors”. From these results, eight wide-ranging recommendations to improve services and supports were developed (eg, Jointly mobilize an intersectoral, collaborative, and coordinated approach to sex trafficking service provision; Employ a survivor-driven approach to designing and delivering sex trafficking services). These recommendations hold the potential to enhance services in Canada and beyond by reducing barriers to access and care, facilitating disclosure, aiding in recovery, and empowering those who have been domestically sex trafficked.Keywords: domestic, human trafficking, health care, recommendations, sex trafficking, social services

The study of resilience has largely relied on definitions and conceptualizations of resilience produced by academia, with little of the knowledge produced being grounded in the experience and perspectives of those outside academia. The voices of marginalized and stressed populations are particularly rarely integrated into sanctioned institutional discourses of knowledge, reproducing inequality where these institutions have influence. Specifically, little research has explored the ways in which survivors of sex trafficking define and conceptualize resilience. Thus, academic inquiry into survivor resilience may risk missing what is important to survivors themselves regarding the issue. Using thematic analysis, this study explored survivors' responses to the question "What does 'resilience' mean to you?", which resulted in five themes: resilience as (1) resistance, (2) transition, (3) a sustained force over time, (4) transformation, and (5) resources. Participants defined resilience as being primarily a person-centered phenomenon, rather than a process-centered phenomenon, that was the output of their inherent and enduring personal power to survive or overcome and adversity, and to shape their lives in preferred ways despite adversity. Differing from academic definitions of resilience in several significant ways, participants conceptualized resilience as being promoted by external resources and opportunities but existent even in the absence of such resource and opportunities. Findings suggest that for resilience inquiry to resonate with survivors, it must first acknowledge the inherent power of survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human trafficking has been described as a crime that involves the recruitment of people and compelling or coercing them to provide labour or services or to engage in commercial sex acts. Men, women, and children of all ages and from all backgrounds have become victims of this crime, which occurs in every region of the world. The baby factory phenomenon is the latest form of human trafficking and sex slavery in Nigeria. Although relatively new in Nigeria, this latest trend of human trafficking is rapidly flourishing and gradually gaining ground as a big enterprise in different parts of the country. The baby factory practices involve young women who are held captive and forced to produce babies for sale or trafficking. This is obviously a very dangerous trend that requires serious attention because of the physical, mental, and psychological effects of the baby making activities. This paper, therefore, explores the factors responsible for the growth of the clandestine business as depicted in Irene Agunloye's Disposable Womb. The paper adopts the analytical method of data analysis since the data for the analysis are sourced from the play text. The findings reveal that women's desperation and patronage of the baby factories are due to the stigmatisation of childless couples in Nigeria. This desperation has led to an increase in the demand for babies. The derivable financial benefits from the baby harvesting business have also contributed to the growth of the industry, which results in physical, psychological, and sexual violence to the victims. The paper condemns the evil practice and proffers possible solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a dearth of research on trauma bonding among victims of sex trafficking. This study aims to fill this gap by seeking to understand how service providers working with survivors of sex trafficking conceptualize and observe trauma bonding in their clients. This qualitative study involved interviews with 10 participants. Purposeful sampling was employed among licensed social workers or counselors. Two themes emerged: defining trauma bonding (with four subthemes: embracing intensity, power imbalance, distortion of love, and inescapability) and the development of trauma bonds (with three subthemes: universality, gendered, and grooming). These findings provide much-needed insight into the complexities of trauma bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health care providers are highly likely to encounter persons who have been domestically sex trafficked and, therefore, possess valuable insights that could be useful in understanding and improving existing services and supports. In-depth interviews were conducted with 31 health care providers residing and working in Canada's largest province, Ontario. Results were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's analytical framework. Across providers, a key theme was identified: "Facilitators to improve care", which was comprised of two sub-themes, "Address needs in service provision" and "Center unique needs of survivors". From these results, eight wide-ranging recommendations to improve services and supports were developed (eg, Jointly mobilize an intersectoral, collaborative, and coordinated approach to sex trafficking service provision; Employ a survivor-driven approach to designing and delivering sex trafficking services). These recommendations hold the potential to enhance services in Canada and beyond by reducing barriers to access and care, facilitating disclosure, aiding in recovery, and empowering those who have been domestically sex trafficked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Human trafficking occurs when a person uses force, fraud, or coercion to obtain an act or service from another person. While trafficking is often depicted as a crime perpetrated by strangers, recent literature has found family members can also be traffickers. Only four peer reviewed studies have specifically examined familial trafficking. Method: The current study builds upon this sparse literature by reviewing medical charts of patients in a large hospital system who were identified as survivors of familial trafficking between October 2017 and September 2021. Descriptive statistics are reported for all 39 identified patients. Results: Majority of patients were female (92.3%) and under 36 years old (56.4%; M = 34.2, SD = 11.6). Despite most patients now being adults, all except one were minors at the time the trafficking began. Parents were the most common perpetrator (66.7%) followed by aunt/uncle (12.8%). Nine cases were chosen, given level of detail in patient charts, to be highlighted in a case series to further describe the experiences of these survivors. Cases examined included labor trafficking, parents as perpetrators, intersection of substance use, and males as victims. Force was the most common means of control used and often manifested as physical or sexual abuse that preceded the exploitation. Another reoccurring theme was substance use being a factor when parents were perpetrators. Conclusion: The findings from this paper can help inform screening techniques by encouraging providers to inquire about familial relationships. Findings may also be helpful for providers working with this population and future research endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reconstructs the shrouded career of undercover reporter Natalie de Bogory (mostly from 1911–1922) to illustrate how reporters collaborated with public-private networks to regulate real or perceived crime and extend the reach of the security state, before the practice later expanded within the FBI. De Bogory was twice a guide. Undercover for newspapers, she escorted readers through an urban working-class underworld of dance, sex, and employed single women. Her journalism, however, obscured her more covert work. For private reformers who partnered with city officials, she investigated social issues, including allegations of "White slavery," the alleged sex trafficking of immigrant women. That work, during the nativist hysteria of World War I, drew de Bogory into a scheme to promote the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion," a forged anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that was later dubbed a "Warrant for Genocide." This history of de Bogory is an argument for studying the careers of relatively unknown journalists who often worked multiple jobs to understand their impact, and expose the interconnectivity of journalism with other professions and institutions. This article reconstructs de Bogory's career to reclaim the tradition of reporters collaborating with reformist public-private networks. Then, that neglected history is framed as a model for Henry Ford's newspaper, the Dearborn Independent, which publicized the Protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A small body of research spanning more than a decade finds that survivors of human trafficking may not want to prosecute their traffickers for myriad reasons. An integrated framework combining principles of therapeutic jurisprudence, survivor centered practice, anti-oppressive practice and restorative justice provides an important theoretical lens for examining and offering alternatives to traditional prosecution in human trafficking cases. Specifically, this theoretical essay aims to draw attention to prosecutorial challenges in human trafficking cases and argues for an alternative or enhancement to traditional prosecution. Alternatives that are discussed emphasize the following: mitigating revictimization; supporting survivors' input, aims and goals; providing opportunities for therapeutic moments, repairing harm, and restitution; and incorporating cultural humility and cultural competency in the prosecution process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides a critical review of the film Girls to Buy (Dziewczyny z Dubaju) (2021) by Maria Sadowska in the context of the Polish Dubai-gate scandal and the discourse of the sex trade and trafficking. The intersection of gender, ethnicity and class guides this inquiry into the ways in which both the conservative Polish nationalist agenda and the neo-liberal opposition to such an agenda rely on the phobic Orientalist tropes that configure the Arab world as the main culprit and the 'face' of the kleptocratic capitalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though much is known about children's sexual abuse disclosure, less attention has been directed towards disclosure in other types of youthful victims, especially those who may be reluctant to tell due to either normative development or victims' specific experiences. Trafficked youth, particularly those who are adolescents, represent one such group. Understanding how suspected youth trafficking victims are questioned by authorities, especially with respect to establishing rapport and trust, is important for informing professionals how to effectively question this unique population of victims to overcome their reluctance. We examined transcripts of interviews conducted by federal interviewers (n = 12,653 question‐answer turns across 33 interviews) and police (n = 4,972 question‐answer turns across 14 interviews) with trafficked youth between the ages of 12 and 18. Interviews were reliably coded for the length of pre‐substantive questioning, provision of instructions and ground rules, and use of rapport building and supportive strategies. Federal interviewers used pre‐substantive instructions and built rapport with potential victims more often than police did. Also, and although infrequently used overall, supportive interviewing strategies were evident more often by federal interviewers than police. Results provide much‐needed knowledge about how law enforcement investigators interview and elicit disclosures from vulnerable populations of adolescent victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexually oriented establishments across the United States often pose as massage businesses and force victim workers into a hybrid of sex and labor trafficking, simultaneously harming the legitimate massage industry. Stakeholders with varied goals and approaches to dismantling the illicit massage industry all report the need for multi-source data to clearly and transparently identify the worst offenders and highlight patterns in behaviors. We utilize findings from primary stakeholder interviews with law enforcement, regulatory bodies, legitimate massage practitioners, and subject-matter experts from nonprofit organizations to identify data sources and potential indicators of illicit massage businesses (IMBs). We focus our analysis on data from open sources in Texas and Florida including customer reviews and business data from Yelp.com, the U.S. Census, and GIS files such as truck stop, highway, and military base locations. We build two interpretable prediction models, risk scores and optimal decision trees, to determine the risk that a given massage establishment is an IMB. The proposed multi-source data-based approach and interpretable models can be used by stakeholders at all levels to save time and resources, serve victim-workers, and support well informed regulatory efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major challenges associated with applying Operations Research (OR) models to disrupting human trafficking networks is the limited amount of reliable data sources readily available for public use, since operations are intentionally hidden to prevent detection, and data from known operations are often incomplete. To help address this data gap, we propose a network generator for domestic sex trafficking networks by integrating OR concepts and qualitative research. Multiple sources regarding sex trafficking in the upper Midwest of the United States have been triangulated to ensure that networks produced by the generator are realistic, including law enforcement case file analysis, interviews with domain experts, and a survivor-centered advisory group with first-hand knowledge of sex trafficking. The output models the relationships between traffickers, so-called "bottoms", and victims. This generator allows operations researchers to access realistic sex trafficking network structures in a responsible manner that does not disclose identifiable details of the people involved. We demonstrate the use of output networks in exploring policy recommendations from max flow network interdiction with restructuring. To do so, we propose a novel conceptualization of flow as the ability of a trafficker to control their victims. Our results show the importance of understanding how sex traffickers react to disruptions, especially in terms of recruiting new victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sex trafficking is one type of human trafficking, which involves scenarios where individuals are not paid and are forced to engage in forced sex, forced prostitution, and sexual slavery. Online advertising is increasingly used by traffickers as an anonymous and efficient method to exploit victims. Large sporting events have been linked to increases in sex trafficking, although there is limited empirical evidence to support this claim. The goal of this study is to answer the following question: What is the relationship between Super Bowls and potential online sex trafficking? Using time series Poisson analysis of secondary data on online sexual service advertisements in Florida during the 2020 and 2021 Super Bowls, which took place in Miami and Tampa, Florida, respectively, the result indicates an increase in online advertisements that exhibit indicators of sex trafficking during the two Super Bowls. The paper concludes by providing recommendations for federal, state, and local law enforcement for improving sex trafficking responses during large sporting events and outlines a future research agenda on the relationship between large sporting events and sex trafficking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study identifies the presence of human trafficking indicators in a UK-based sample of sex workers who advertise their services online. To this end, we developed a crawling and scraping software that enabled the collection of information from 17, 362 advertisements for female sex workers posted on the largest dedicated platform for sex work services in the UK. We then established a set of 10 indicators of human trafficking and a transparent and replicable methodology through which to detect their presence in our sample. Most of the advertisements (58.3%) contained only one indicator, while 3,694 of the advertisements (21.3%) presented 2 indicators of human trafficking. Only 1.7% of the advertisements reported three or more indicators, while there were no advertisements that featured more than four. 3, 255 advertisements (19.0%) did not contain any indicators of human trafficking. Based on this analysis, we propose that this approach constitutes an effective screening process for quickly identifying suspicious cases, which can then be examined by more comprehensive and accurate tools to identify if human trafficking is occurring. We conclude by calling for more empirical research into human trafficking indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation and modern slavery have experienced an unprecedented boom over the past decade due to the development of information and communication technologies (ICTs), particularly in digital and networked environments. These developments have created new opportunities for human exploitation and illegal profiteering. Adult Services Websites (ASWs), online platforms on which sex workers post profiles advertising their services, are a key conduit for human traffickers to exploit their victims. Alongside profiles of independent sex workers, traffickers are posting false ASW profiles, advertising the forced services of their victims and camouflaging these false profiles amongst legitimate adverts. In response, police practitioners are proactively investigating ASWs to identify suspect profiles. A key obstacle for practitioners, however, is to distinguish between ASW profiles posted by independent, consenting sex workers advertising their services, and those posted by traffickers exploiting their victims. The exploratory study presented in this paper seeks to address this particular challenge. Working with a British police force, the researchers in this study gathered existing knowledge on the traffickers' use of ASW profiles to create a bespoke tool of analysis, the Sexual Trafficking Identification Matrix (STIM). The aim of this tool has been to identify 'risk indicators' on ASW profiles and to flag these for potential police investigation. This paper presents the results of this exploratory study and its four stages. Furthermore, more broadly, it reflects on the use of evidence-based tools by law enforcement to tackle complex domains of offending such as those of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hotels are often regarded as (un)wittingly complicit in terms of sex traffickers using their facilities for illegal sex purchases. This article examines chain employees' experiences of individual social responsibility (ISR) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the interaction between hotels and three stakeholder groups (online booking channels; governmental and non-governmental organizations; and nearby hotels) in the fight against sex trafficking and illegal sex purchases. Employee perspectives were gathered through semi-structured interviews in Sweden and the Netherlands, two countries with distinctive prostitution legislation. The findings highlight that the hotel employees found tensions between ISR and CSR and the relationship with the external stakeholders challenging. What became apparent was that CSR is often a facade used to report back positive results to external stakeholders rather than CSR and ISR playing a proactive role in fighting sex trafficking and illegal sexual purchases. We conclude by arguing for the necessity to better understand the relationships between ISR and CSR within the hospitality industry and suggesting that there remains a need for better understandings of how CSR can work across industry stakeholders and within academic research in order to ensure actionable outcomes that make a difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss the issue of bringing human trafficking and forced prostitution within the purview of Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Rantsev v. Cyprus and Russia marked a turning point by classifying forced prostitution through human trafficking under Article 4. However, in the judgment in S.M. v. Croatia, the ECtHR further reinforced its view that human trafficking and forced prostitution constitute a violation of Article 4. We explain human trafficking and forced prostitution both theoretically and through a number of international legal acts. We then explain Article 4 of the Convention and provide a comprehensive analysis of the material and procedural guarantees against human trafficking and forced prostitution. We also comment on the positive obligations that the ECtHR set for Member States. The authors believe that, despite numerous criticisms, the ECtHR's position is correct and that both human trafficking and forced prostitution violate the principles of democratic society. Therefore, victims must enjoy the protection afforded by Article 4 of the Human Rights Convention and other conventions if their life situation falls within their scope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]