What is Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking is the use of force, fraud or coercion to compel a person into any form of work or service against their will.

Human trafficking can occur in any industry, including agriculture, construction, domestic service (housekeeper, nanny), restaurants, salons, commercial sex work, massage parlors, and small businesses. With awareness, you can help to identify and report cases of human trafficking.

Signs of Human Trafficking

• An abusive employment situation
• One person controlling another or a group (speaking for them; escorting them to/from work)
• An employer in control of employee’s identification/immigration documents
• People locked inside a residence or workplace
• Someone unable to leave a particular job (forced to work there)
• Threats to employee or employee’s family by an employer
• “Debt” owed by an employee to employer
• An employee living in employer-owned or controlled residence

Human trafficking is a violent act against humanity. Traffickers and purchasers of those who are victimized lack a conscience, remorse, or respect for the women, men, children, and youth who are victimized by the atrocities that occur when one is trafficked. If you suspect you or someone you know is being trafficked or exploited, call us at (707) 545-7273 any time of day.

Did you know?

Verity advocates have some important information about trafficking in our county to share with you:

• Verity worked with at least 60 human trafficking victims last year by providing crisis intervention, food, shelter, transportation, referrals and much more.
• The average age for a victim to be forced into the sex industry in Sonoma County is estimated to be between 12-14 years.
• Victims are usually targeted based on vulnerability. Homelessness, experience in foster care, previous experiences of sexual or domestic violence, and younger ages all play a factor in a victim’s susceptibility to being trafficked.
• Perpetrators or “buyers” come from all walks of life and all sorts of backgrounds. Our advocates have seen engineers, bankers, brew-masters, jewelers, attorneys, photographers, marijuana growers, laborers, and others. We’ve seen married men, fathers, single men, and a son-in-law gifting purchased sex to his father-in-law.
• 43% of California trafficking incidences occur in the San Francisco Bay Area alone.
• Human trafficking is the world’s fastest growing criminal enterprise and is an estimated $32 billion-a-year global industry
• Here in Sonoma County, more than 200 cases of human trafficking have been filed by the District Attorney’s office since 2011.
• Due to the nature of the crime, a majority of cases go unreported. The numbers and statistics do not represent the scale of the situation here in Sonoma County, in California, or worldwide.