By Katlyn Miller, Development Associate - Manager of Communications & Media Strategy
COVID-19 has affected communities in the United States in so many ways since March 2020. On top of a public health crisis, the country experienced an economic crisis, record unemployment numbers, racial divisiveness, and more. Because traffickers prey on vulnerable communities, there has been a noticeable increase in human trafficking cases during the pandemic compared to previous years.
Throughout the pandemic, especially at the beginning of shelter in place orders, there was a significant increase in human trafficking instances in the U.S. According to Caritas, human trafficking cases rose 185% in the past year. In April 2020, the national human trafficking hotline received a 40% increase in crisis calls compared to April 2019, and emergency shelter needs almost doubled from mid-February through April 2020.
The correlation between nationwide lockdowns and increased human trafficking reports is not coincidental. Traffickers often prey on vulnerable communities and individuals who are in more disadvantaged situations. The pandemic pushed many people into personal, financial, and health-related vulnerabilities. If a trafficker presented a job or housing “opportunity” for someone in this situation, that person may feel like it’s their only hope, only to find out later that the “employer” was taking advantage of their situation and forced them into human trafficking.
Since the onset of the pandemic, traffickers have also turned to internet-based recruitment tactics more frequently. Students attending school remotely and adults working from home means people are online even more than before. Knowing this, traffickers try to recruit people through social media, online chat websites, and dating apps. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, reports of online exploitation of minors has increased from 2 million to 4.2 million between March and April 2020. Remote learning also makes it harder for teachers, staff, and counselors to detect warning signs of abuse and human trafficking among students; children may not have the privacy to disclose a dangerous situation to school leaders if they’re in a house with their abuser or trafficker.
Not to mention, people already in trafficking situations may be put in more concerning circumstances due to the pandemic. Survivors may have little access—or choice—to wear masks or socially distance in these situations. According to JAMA, telehealth visits may also be a barrier for survivors of human trafficking, as they may not have the appropriate technology needed for these calls. Additionally, survivors might not be able to seek help or give full explanations of their injuries or illnesses if their trafficker is in the same vicinity as them.
At My Sisters’ Place, a primary obstacle our clients have faced during the pandemic has been a lack of resources and difficulty getting resources like groceries. Some of our clients who contracted COVID-19 and had to quarantine mentioned that they felt even more isolated because they might not know anyone in the area who they can trust to bring them essentials like groceries and medications. Thankfully, we’ve been able to connect our clients to necessary resources through Feeding Westchester and other food pantries and delivery services throughout the county.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the lives of everyone, survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence have experienced an increase in abuses. During this time, it’s especially important to look out for others and advocate for human trafficking survivors. Many people are in vulnerable positions and could be subjected to human trafficking, but we can always stand up and advocate for survivors and show them our support.
If you suspect you are a survivor of human trafficking, please reach out to us through our 24-hour hotline: 1-800-298-7233 (SAFE).
References
Cases of human trafficking increase during the COVID-19 pandemic (caritas.org)
Human Trafficking During the COVID-19 Pandemic | Polaris (polarisproject.org)
THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING – ArtWorks for Freedom