“Through force, fraud, and coercion, people everywhere are being bought and sold against their will–right now in the 21st century.” – A21, non-profil anti-human trafficking organisation.
In 2008 many of us sat nailed to our seats while watching Liam Neeson track down his daughter in the movie Taken. Some of us became paranoid as a result, while some of us still believe it is a faraway issue that is unlikely to ever find its way to our doorstep.
However, when Joshlin Smith was reported missing in February 2024 and reports started surfacing that her disappearance could possibly be linked with human trafficking, the topic was once again widely discussed. Months have passed since the incident and still, not a trace of Joshlin has been found.
Fearmongering is never productive, since fear often has a paralysing effect instead of leading to any real action. That said, many families in our community have small children, while also finding themselves in difficult, often desperate, socio-economic situations. This desperation often leads to unfortunate situations where, children are left unattended or poorly supervised, or parents accept dubious offers of employment in the hopes of providing their families with food and shelter. Of course, those who are neither desperate, nor obviously vulnerable, are not exempt from the dangers of human trafficking. Videos often circulate on social media of small children nabbed from shopping carts or playgrounds.
So, what can we do to keep our loved ones safe?
Here are a few tips to make yourself a less attractive target for a trafficker:
- Don’t post personal information online.
Regularly posting about what you are doing and where you are gives someone who might be staking you as a target background information to use when seamlessly inserting themselves into your life. - If it’s too good to be true, it’s a scam.
Don’t fall for job opportunities that are not from credible / verifiable sources, and definitely don’t go alone. The same goes for purchasing items advertised or meeting up with someone you connected with online. - Go with a friend.
If you need to visit a place that is not generally considered safe, take someone with you. Especially if you need to take your children with you. There is a reason we use the saying “safety in numbers”. - Be vigilant.
Don’t be paranoid, but keep an eye on your surroundings. Notice incongruencies and question them. Notice a stranger hanging around near your child. Notice the man following you to your car in the car park. Avoid dangerous situations by anticipating danger. - Fake confidence, even when you don’t feel it.
This is easier said than done, but don’t show the panic you are feeling on the inside, on your face. When you appear helpless, it gives a stranger a chance to offer “assistance” that masks their ill intentions. - Make a commotion.
If you receive unwanted attention from a stranger that doesn’t leave you alone when you request them to go away, make as big of a scene as you can manage. If the person intends to harm you or do something illegal, they will likely make a quick getaway when too many bystanders become aware of their presence.
- Trust your gut.
Our parents raise us to respect older people. We all want to believe that people are inherently good. This is likely why we tend to give people the benefit of the doubt. In some situations, we do this while ignoring our gut feeling that something doesn’t feel right. Stop. If you are uncomfortable, get yourself away as quickly as you can. Someone else’s hurt feelings are insignificant when compared to your safety. - Be prepared to fight tooth and nail.
Naturally, we all hope that it will never come to this. Unfortunately, sometimes in life having to fight off physical danger might be necessary. It is therefore a worthwhile exercise to learn some basic self-defence manoeuvres and identify objects in your everyday life that could be used in self-defence. Identify possible escape routes. And coach your children in a gentle way about what to do when certain scenarios present themselves.
If you would like to read up on human trafficking and what you can do to get involved in the fight against it, visit the A21 website. Along with great resources you can use to educate yourself and your loved ones, they also have various avenues thought which you can get involved in the fight to end human trafficking.
No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.
NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE 0800 222 777