Help trafficked people get out of the shadows

January is Human Trafficking Month

By Dr. Marivir R. Montebon

New York City – My good friend Susan Pineda, paralegal and immigration consultant, had once said that our modern-day society is blind to people who have been trafficked and enslaved.

“It was easy to see a slave in the olden days as they were tied and placed in cages and people could acquire them for labor in their farms and factories. Today, we will never know who are victimized by unscrupulous employers or human trafficking syndicates,” she said during the launch of the Women’s Immigration and Communications Café (WICCAFE) at the auspices of the HJ International Graduate School for Peace and Public Leadership in September 2019.

It takes knowledge of one’s situation, bravery, and a clear support system to be free from human trafficking, whether it’s labor or sexual slavery.

Trafficked people may not even realize that they have been trafficked or are feeling shamed and fearful to come out of the shadows.

January is Human Trafficking month. It is thus appropriate to take this opportunity, early on toward 2025, to educate people, especially workers, on how human trafficking occurs.

The New York State Department of Labor noted that labor trafficking occurs when individuals are forced, defrauded, or coerced into working against their will. Labor trafficking impacts people of all backgrounds but disproportionately affects minorities and marginalized communities.

The NYSDOL identified labor trafficking as: 

• Being forced to work to pay off debt

• Promised benefits (like a green card, for example) that are withheld

• Employers keeping passports, IDs, or contracts

• Threats involving police or immigration services

• Threats of violence or harm to the individual or their family

In 2017, I published my fifth book titled ‘In the Belly of the Beast’ and is available on Amazon. Published by the University of San Carlos Press in Cebu City, Philippines, I was truly honored to have been given by the opportunity by my alma mater and to Dr. Jose Eleazar Bersales for giving me the trust.

In the Belly of the Beast is a valuable contribution to the rare collection of human trafficking narratives that are still widely silenced by shame and fear. The stories of pain and triumph in this book are real-life experiences of Filipino men and women which give readers strength, inspiration, and wisdom.

It takes knowledge of one’s situation, bravery, and a clear support system to be free from human trafficking, whether it’s labor or sexual slavery.

You can get a copy of my book here. https://www.amazon.com/Belly-Beast-Stories-Filipinos-Trafficked/dp/9715391125/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.pQNmwzKiU5MuPbvT8VJoxbkz3JHFUrSzLK481NfZyPQ.Ydh02BoRFc3SmhGvcLCLkBmCTYMrQgUdKXK46otE3xg&qid=1735841989&sr=8-1

To report trafficking or schedule an awareness presentation at the NYS Dept of Labor:

• Call 877-466-9757

• Email trafficking@labor.ny.gov

For U or T visa certifications:

• Email uandtvisa@labor.ny.gov 

Additional Resource from the World Population Review

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/human-trafficking-statistics-by-state

The United States is ranked as one of the worst countries globally for human trafficking. It is estimated that 199,000 incidents occur in the United States every year.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline has one of the most extensive data sets on human trafficking in the United States collected through phone calls, texts, online chats, emails, and online tips received by the Hotline. While this information is some of the most comprehensive available, the data does not define the totality of human trafficking. The number of cases presented is only the cases that are reported.

The Human Trafficking Hotline serves victims and survivors of human trafficking across the United States. The Hotline is available 24/7, 365 days a year, and in more than 200 languages. The confidential Hotline helps any person of any age, religion, race, language, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. To contact the Hotline to report a tip, seek services, or ask for help, dial 1-888-373-7888. Hearing and speech-impaired individuals should dial 711. You can also send an SMS text to 233-733 or start a live chat on their website.

In 2020, the United States had 8,839 human trafficking cases reported. The most common type of trafficking was sex trafficking, with the most common venues being illicit massage/spa businesses and pornography.

California consistently has the highest human trafficking rates in the United States, with 1,334 cases reported in 2020. This is followed by Texas with 987 cases, Florida with 738 cases, and New York with 414 cases. These four states with the highest human trafficking rates have the highest populations in the U.S., which can explain why their numbers of cases are significantly higher than other states and have very high immigrant populations. This, combined with certain industries such as agriculture, creates prime environments for forced labor.

Blog Post Title Two

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Three

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Four

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.