Education & Awareness
Understanding human trafficking.
Awareness is the first step toward ending exploitation. This page provides foundational education on what human trafficking is, how it operates, and why it persists — so that communities can recognize it and respond.
The Definition
What is human trafficking?
"Trafficking in persons" and "human trafficking" are umbrella terms used interchangeably to refer to a crime whereby traffickers exploit and profit at the expense of adults or children — compelling them to perform labor or engage in commercial sex.
When a person younger than 18 is used to perform a commercial sex act, it is a crime regardless of whether there is any force, fraud, or coercion involved.
— U.S. Department of State, 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report
By the Numbers
~$150B
Generated annually worldwide by human trafficking
3rd Largest
Criminal industry globally, after drug and arms trafficking
12–14
Average age of entry into sex trafficking
Source: Harvard Law Journal, Trafficking in Persons Report
Two Main Forms
Labor & Sex Trafficking
Labor Trafficking
The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services — through the use of force, fraud, or coercion — for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, 22 USC § 7102(9)
Sex Trafficking
The recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of an individual — through the means of force, fraud, or coercion — for the purpose of commercial sex. Any minor involved in commercial sex is a victim, by law, regardless of apparent consent.
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000
The Three Mechanisms
Force, Fraud, & Coercion
Traffickers use three primary tools to gain and maintain control over victims. Understanding these mechanisms helps us recognize exploitation when it occurs.
Force
Physical, sexual, psychological, spiritual, and emotional abuse used to make someone comply. This includes violence, restraint, and threats of harm.
Fraud
Deception or false promises used to manipulate someone — including false promises of a better life, fake employment offers, withholding wages, and taking documentation.
Coercion
Threats, intimidation, or psychological pressure used to control someone — including threats of violence against the victim or their family, threats of arrest, debt bondage, and withholding legal identification.
Who Is Involved
The Trafficking Triangle
Human trafficking involves three interconnected roles. Understanding each helps communities identify and disrupt the cycle.
Buyers / Demand
Consumers who create demand for cheap labor or sexual services, perpetuating the cycle. Research shows buyers are often upper-class males earning $100k+ annually, most commonly ages 35–54, of any race or sexual orientation — and over one-third are married.
Traffickers
Individuals or networks that exploit, coerce, and recruit. Traffickers span all races, genders, classes, and ages — including family members, intimate partners, gangs, high-profile individuals, and organized crime. Victims are often pressured to assist in recruiting and grooming others.
Victims
For sex trafficking, the average age of entry is 12–14 years old. Victims can be male or female. After grooming, force, fraud, and/or coercion, victims may be forced to service up to 40 buyers per day. Not all recognize they are being trafficked, and not all feel ready or safe to leave.
Recruitment Tactics
How traffickers acquire victims
Contrary to popular belief, most trafficking does not begin with a stranger abducting someone. The vast majority of cases involve people the victim already knows and trusts. Recognizing these tactics is critical to prevention.
Family Members or "Friends"
More than 50% of cases
Romantic Seduction & Coercion
The "Romeo Tactic"
Intimate Partner / Marriage Proposition
Social Media & Online Platforms
Runaway or Homeless Youth
Job Offers & Advertisements
False Promises & Fraud
Posing as a Benefactor
Peer Recruitment
Abduction / Kidnapping
Only ~1–2% of cases
Understanding Vulnerability
Traffickers exploit vulnerability
Trafficking does not happen in a vacuum. Traffickers deliberately target people whose circumstances make them more susceptible to manipulation. Two categories of factors shape this vulnerability.
Push Factors
Internal and environmental vulnerabilities that destabilize a person's sense of safety, attachment, or identity — increasing susceptibility to exploitation.
Pull Factors
External promises or perceived opportunities that appear to meet unmet emotional or material needs — drawing someone toward a dangerous situation.
Source: Denver Anti Trafficking Alliance, 2024
Control Tactics
The Power & Control Wheel
Traffickers use an interconnected web of tactics to maintain control over victims. The Power & Control Wheel illustrates these methods — from economic abuse and isolation to intimidation and emotional manipulation.
These tactics are not random — they are deliberate and systematic. Recognizing them is essential for service providers, law enforcement, and community members who may encounter survivors.
Coercion & Threats
Threatens to harm victim or family; threatens to expose or shame
Intimidation
Harms other victims, children, or pets; displays weapons; destroys property
Emotional Abuse
Humiliates, calls names, plays mind games, convinces victim they're the only one who cares
Isolation
Keeps confined, creates distrust of police, moves victims to different locations
Denying & Blaming
Makes light of abuse, denies exploitation is occurring, places blame on the victim
Sexual Abuse
Uses sexual assault as punishment or control; forces victim to have sex multiple times a day
Physical Abuse
Shoves, hits, burns, brands, tattoos; denies food/water; induces drug addiction
Economic Abuse
Creates unpayable debt; takes money earned; prohibits access to finances
Take the Next Step
Knowledge leads to action.
If you or someone you know may be experiencing trafficking, or if you want to support survivors in our community, we are here to help.