On July 30, we commemorate the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, a crime which has caught more than 40 million people worldwide in exploitation situations.

Despite being a recognized crime around the world, there are many myths that surround its reality. To better understand what human trafficking is, we will share some of the most common claims about this crime, and review one by one whether they are true or not.

- Victims of human trafficking are always physically bound, chained or locked up.

FALSE: It is more common for trafficked persons to be trapped by psychological coercion and other forms of control than by physical ties, and these circumstances are orchestrated by traffickers. The confiscation of identity documents, the latent or explicit threat of hurting their loved ones, and lack of knowledge about another language and culture are some of the many situations that make it difficult for a trafficked person to escape or seek help.

 

- The most common purpose of human trafficking is sexual exploitation.

FALSE: Specialists estimate that more people are trafficked for labor exploitation than for sexual exploitation, and that the former affects almost all industries in some aspect. This includes the areas of manufacturing, fishing, agriculture, construction, entertainment and domestic work.

 

- The youngest children are those who are most often forced to beg.

TRUE: Children forced to beg are often under 10 years old. Traffickers know that younger people gain more sympathy from passersby and that is why they exploit them. Sometimes babies and young infants are rented by their parents or guardians during the day.

 

- People in poverty are more vulnerable to human trafficking.

TRUE: Although trafficking in persons involves victims with different levels of income and education, ethnicity, nationality, sex, etc., poverty can make people more vulnerable to trafficking. Other situations that place people in situations of greater vulnerability are climate change, natural disasters, war, discrimination, corruption, being a minor and having disabilities.

 

- Human trafficking can occur both at a national and international level.

TRUE: The crime of trafficking in persons can occur both within a country and outside it, and in many cases there are known networks of trafficking in persons operating at both levels (national and international).

 

- If you pay someone to help you cross a border illegally, that is human trafficking.

FALSE: Paying someone to facilitate the illegal crossing of the border without going through official routes with a passport and other documents deemed necessary, or avoiding controls, is illegal smuggling of migrants. Since the smuggling of migrants implies the crossing of borders facilitated by a third party, it is an administrative crime against the State.

Smuggling may become trafficking in persons if the migrant is then forced into exploitation, but if the person is free once he or she reaches their destination, it is smuggling and not trafficking.

 

- Human trafficking is one of the most lucrative businesses.

TRUE: It is estimated that human trafficking generates profits of more than US $150 billion annually, making it one of the most lucrative criminal activities.

 

Human trafficking may seem like a distant situation over which we do not have much influence as individuals, but there are several actions we can do to increase knowledge about this crime: talk with family and friends about the issue, report local authorities if you suspect of a trafficking case, and supporting companies that ensure decent working conditions for their workers. All these actions allow an increase in citizen oversight on trafficking.

To make a report about trafficking in persons in the region, contact the following telephone numbers:

• Belize: 911

• Costa Rica: 911

• El Salvador: (+503) 2298 6804

• Guatemala: 110

• Honduras: 911

• Jamaica: 967-1389 / 922-3771

• Mexico: (+01) 800 832 4745

• Nicaragua: 133

• Panama: 311/104 / 507-3200

• Dominican Republic: 700

• Trinidad and Tobago: 800-4288 (4CTU)