What tactics do traffickers use to keep someone in forced labor?
Dressember Reading Day #21
Every day during the month of December, we’re answering common questions and breaking down different aspects of human trafficking on our blog and Instagram. Join us in raising awareness about the injustice of human trafficking by sharing, donating, or joining the Dressember campaign (it’s not too late!).
“Why don’t they just leave?”
This can be a tempting question to ask when we are confronted with the confusing and distressing reality of trafficking. But it is not always as simple as it seems. While you might have learned by now that traffickers often prey upon the vulnerabilities of victims, using the promise of lucrative work or a stable living situation, we’ll break down some of the other tactics used to keep individuals in forced labor.
The tactics
Dressember partner, International Justice Mission (IJM), reports that traffickers will often deny adequate food, sleep, medical care, or schooling in order to keep someone in forced labor.
Other sources report similarly that trafficking victims may be forced to live in subpar conditions without heat or adequate space. They may be restricted from speaking with others unless under supervision, and they may be coached on how to respond to questions from authority figures such as the police. All these tactics create dependency on the trafficker and can prohibit those in slavery situations from leaving.
The psychological impact
In forced labor, individuals are forced to work against their own will and often at the threat of punishment or violence. They can be isolated and coached in order to reinforce a bond between them and the trafficker. Psychologically, the effects of forced labor and trafficking can create feelings of shame and helplessness, denial, disbelief, and confusion. People in modern slavery are also prone to develop Traumatic Bonding, commonly known as “Stockholm Syndrome.” As a survival mechanism, the brain distorts normal patterns and the individual and trafficker end up forming a bond with one another. While this is a survival instinct a person in modern-day slavery may develop in order to help themselves stay alive, it is a major obstruction in the process of rescue for a victim as it prevents them from responding to outreach by authorities or rescue workers.
The psychological tactics go even further to prevent the escape or rescue of victims. Traffickers constantly reinforce shame by telling victims that they are worthless, meaningless, or forgotten. The low self-worth of a victim may even enable them to convince themselves that they are responsible for their situation. Traffickers also threaten with “worst-case-scenarios” reinforcing fear. They may convince their victims to be suspicious and distrusting of others in order to prevent them from speaking out, even insisting that healthcare providers will report undocumented migrants, causing them to be deported or arrested.
While these tactics are disheartening, organizations that work to rescue and encourage survivors to leave their situation are becoming increasingly aware of them. This allows rescue workers and authorities to keep an eye out for certain symptoms or behaviors that might clue them into a trafficking situation. Even medical care professionals are being trained to recognize the behaviors of a person in modern-day slavery. This all gives us hope that, while traffickers work to exploit vulnerabilities and keep individuals in bondage, increasing education and awareness is paving a path towards justice.
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About the Author
Allison McCune is a girl of many interests. Whether it’s slinging drinks as a barista, hiking 600 miles in one summer, or dissecting poetry and literature, she brings passion and insight to everything she does. She hopes to refine her writing in the next few years while using her skills to work with non-profit groups. Her goal is to eventually return to school, complete a doctoral degree, and be able to teach at the undergrad and graduate levels.