Human Trafficking Education

Many law enforcement, medical and human services responders attended Human Trafficking education at St. Vincent on October 25th. The training was presented by BV Hope and Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking.

The training explored root causes of trafficking and the myriad of intersecting identities, vulnerabilities, and social and systemic inequalities that can lead to trafficking. Understanding root causes and complex trauma is key to recognizing the crime in its many forms.

Attendees learned how the experiences of people with healthcare and mental health needs may intersect with the trafficking experience and how providers can be involved in the response.

Human trafficking is a severe form of exploitation for labor (including sex) involving force, fraud, or coercion.

Exploitation: The action or fact of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work.

Force: To make someone do something against their will.

Fraud: Wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain.

Coercion: The practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats.

A big take away from the training is that trafficking does not usually look like how it is portrayed in the movies. And human trafficking does happen here in Lake County.  Learn more at https://combathumantrafficking.org/