Human trafficking involves the use of force or coercion to obtain labor or sex act.
Human trafficking involves the use of force or coercion to obtain labor or sex act. Language barriers, fear of their traffickers or law enforcement, keeps victims from seeking help. Those with psychological or emotional instabilities and those living in extreme poverty are at a greater risk of being trafficked due to their vulnerability. Advanced practice nurses can assist in identifying patients who are victims of human trafficking by being aware of specific indicators. These indicators include signs and symptoms of abuse, changes in behavior, cognition status such as being confused or disoriented, timid, or submissive behavior, unsuitable living conditions, restrictions in physical movement, signs of having been denied food, water, sleep, or medical care, and being in the care of a controlling person. (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 2023) Nurse practitioners can help identify HT victims by asking specific questions that would identify the situation and being aware of inconsistent answers. Questioning needs to be done in a caring way so as not to shame or intimidate the patient. HT victims should be held in a safe room, away from their traffickers, to wait for law enforcement to arrive.
Policies and procedures to assist victims of human trafficking include the Victims Protection Act of 2000. This las has been updated several times with the last update released in January 2019. This law uses a 3P approach to include prevention, prosecution, and protection. The federal government has rules for contracted suppliers providing more than $500,000 of goods. The government requires that contractors have an anti-human trafficking plan. (Polaris Project, 2021) Human trafficking is a federal crime that carries a felony sentence, 15 years to life. I do not think this is strict enough. I am not in favor of the death penalty, but in this case, I would make an exception.
References:
Policy & Legislation. Polaris. (2021, June 24). https://polarisproject.org/policy-and-legislation/
US Department of Homeland Security. (2023). Indicators of human trafficking. Indicators of Human Trafficking | Homeland Security. https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/indicators-human-trafficking
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