What is human trafficking?
Human trafficking includes forced labor, sexual exploitation, and other forms of servitude. Victims are often physically abused, psychologically coerced, and fearful of reporting their abuse to authorities.
Where does human trafficking occur?
Human trafficking occurs in our own city, and can occur in any neighborhood. Victims may live and work among us as domestic servants, restaurant workers, and workers in the commercial sex industry (such as massage parlors, strip bars, or escort services). Domestic sex traffickers often prey on “at-risk” children. These are children whom have unstable family lives and have often been the victims of sexual and physical abuse. Domestic sex traffickers recruit by making false promises, providing drugs, or utilizing other enticements. Once involved with the trafficker, the victim is prevented from leaving through psychological and physical coercion.
Who are victims of human trafficking?
Anyone can be a victim of human trafficking, regardless of citizenship. Both foreign nationals and U.S. citizens can be victims. There is no requirement that a trafficking victim crossed any city, state, national, or international border. Trafficking can even be by a victim’s own family members.
How do traffickers maintain control of their victims?
Common ways traffickers maintain control include:
- Debt – requiring the victim to pay off a debt.
- Documents – taking the victim’s legal papers and documents.
- Deportation – threatening to report the victim to immigration authorities.
- Family – threatening to harm the victim’s friends and family.
- Drugs – providing the victim drugs to make the victim more compliant.
- Abuse – abusing the victim physically or sexually.
Why don’t more victims of human trafficking report the crime?
Trafficked individuals are forced, tricked, or coerced to work in a variety of jobs or in the sex industry. Victims are often emotionally and economically dependent upon their abusers, and remain silent as their worlds grow smaller and more dangerous. Along with our partners in law enforcement and the advocate community, we’ve made it easier for trafficked individuals to report crime and obtain services.
What happens if a victim comes forward?
Victims often stay quiet because they are afraid that the trafficker will follow through with his or her threats, or they fear being arrested and deported. However, trafficking victims may be eligible for financial, legal, housing, and immigration assistance from the New York State and federal governments.
Manhattan Family Justice Center
Our Manhattan Family Justice Center at 80 Centre Street has a child-friendly waiting room and play area. We have social services staff on-site who can connect you with individual counseling, family counseling, medical treatment, housing issues, and safety planning.
80 Centre Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10013
212-602-2800
City Bar Justice Center • Immigrant Women & Children Project
42 W. 44th Street, New York, NY 10036
212-382-4711
www.citybarjusticecenter.org
Special Populations: Immigrants, Minors, Sex Trafficking, Labor Trafficking
Services Provided: Community Education/Training, Immigration, Legal Services, Referrals, Trafficking Victim Services
Covenant House
212-613-0300
www.covenanthouse.org
Services Provided: Crisis Counseling, Emergency Housing (boys and girls ages 18-20, and ages 16-18 if ACS is contacted)
Girls Educational & Mentoring Services (GEMS)
201 W. 148th street, Ground Floor, New York, NY 10039
212-926-8089
www.gems-girls.org
Services Provided: Community Education/Training, Court/Police Accompaniment, Crisis Counseling, Domestic Violence (General), Emergency Assistance/Transportation, Job Training, Long Term Counseling, Referrals, Trafficking Victim Services
WOMANKIND
32 Broadway, 10th Floor New York, NY 10004
212-732-0054
888-888-7702
www.iamwomankind.org
Languages: Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin), Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Laos, Japanese, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali
Services Provided: Community Education/Training, Court/Police Accompaniment, Crisis Counseling, Domestic Violence (General), Immigration, Emergency Assistance/Transportation, Health Services, Long Term Counseling, Public Assistance, Referrals, Shelter/Housing Assistance, Emergency Housing (Adult and Children), Stalking, Trafficking Victim Services
Safe Horizon • Anti-Trafficking Program
50 Court Street, 8th Floor, Brooklyn, NY, 11201
Anti-Trafficking Program Hotline: 800-621-4673 (HOPE)
All-Crimes Hotline: 866-689-HELP (4357)
www.safehorizon.org
Services Provided: Community Education, Court/Police Accompaniment, Crisis Counseling, Domestic Violence, Immigration, English as a Second Language Classes, Emergency Assistance/Transportation, Health Services, HIV/AIDS (Referral), Job Training (Referral), Legal Services, Long Term Counseling, Public Assistance (Referral), Referrals, Sexual Assault, Shelter/Housing Assistance (Referral), Emergency Housing (Adult and Children), Stalking, Trafficking Victims Services
Sanctuary for Families • Immigration Intervention Project
212-349-6009
www.sanctuaryforfamilies.org
Languages: Over 35 languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi and French.
Services Provided: Community Education, Crisis Counseling, Domestic Violence (General), Immigration, English as a Second Language, Emergency Assistance/Transportation, Job Training, Legal Services, Long Term Counseling, Public Assistance, Referrals, Sexual Assault, Shelter/Housing Assistance, Emergency Housing (Families), Trafficking Victim Services, Emergency Food and Clothing, Advocacy
Sex Workers Project / Urban Justice Center
123 William Street, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10038
646-602-5617
www.sexworkersproject.org
Services Provided: Community Education/Training, Court/Police Accompaniment, Domestic Violence (General), Immigration, Legal Services, Long Term Counseling, Referrals, Trafficking Victim Services
New York City Mayor’s Office – Let’s End Human Trafficking
http://home2.nyc.gov/html/endht/html/home/home.shtml
Services Provided: Information and other resources about human trafficking