We Have a Dream
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Since 2007, we have worked to empower survivors, providing them with access to the tools they need to overcome systematic inequalities and live a life of true freedom.
Today, we are working toward that dream by sharing the truth behind common human trafficking myths. Join is in breaking down stereotypes and debunking myths by sharing with your community!
Human Trafficking Myths
MYTH: Human trafficking is always or usually a violent crime.
REALITY: The most pervasive myth about human trafficking is that it often involves kidnapping or physically forcing someone into a situation. In reality, most traffickers use psychological means such as, tricking, defrauding, manipulating or threatening victims into providing commercial sex or exploitative labor.
MYTH: All human trafficking involves sex.
REALITY: Human trafficking is the use of force, fraud or coercion to get another person to provide labor or commercial sex. Worldwide, experts believe there are more situations of labor trafficking than of sex trafficking, but there is much wider awareness of sex trafficking in the U.S. than of labor trafficking.
MYTH: Traffickers target victims they don’t know.
REALITY: Many survivors have been trafficked by romantic partners, including spouses, and by family members, including parents.
MYTH: Only undocumented foreign nationals get trafficked in the United States.
REALITY: Polaris has worked on thousands of cases of trafficking involving foreign national survivors who are legally living and/or working in the United States. These include survivors of both sex and labor trafficking.
MYTH: Only women and girls can be victims and survivors of sex trafficking.
REALITY: Men and boys are also victimized by sex traffickers. LGBTQ boys and young men are seen as particularly vulnerable to trafficking.
MYTH: Human trafficking only happens in illegal or underground industries.
REALITY: Human trafficking cases have been reported and prosecuted in industries including restaurants, cleaning services, construction, factories and more.
MYTH: Human trafficking involves moving, traveling or transporting a person across state or national borders.
REALITY: Human trafficking is often confused with human smuggling, which involves illegal border crossings. In fact, the crime of human trafficking does not require any movement whatsoever. Survivors can be recruited and trafficked in their own home towns, even their own homes.
MYTH: If the trafficked person consented to be in their initial situation, then it cannot be human trafficking or against their will because they “knew better.”
REALITY: Initial consent to commercial sex or a labor setting prior to acts of force, fraud, or coercion (or if the victim is a minor in a sex trafficking situation) is not relevant to the crime, nor is payment.
MYTH: People being trafficked are physically unable to leave their situations/locked in/held against their will.
REALITY: That is sometimes the case. More often, however, people in trafficking situations stay for reasons that are more complicated. Some lack the basic necessities to physically get out – such as transportation or a safe place to live. Some are afraid for their safety. Some have been so effectively manipulated that they do not identify at that point as being under the control of another person.
* Source: Polaris Project
3 Ways to Spread Awareness About Human Trafficking
1. Host a Virtual Event. Educate your staff, clients, or friends with a 15 or 30 minute Virtual Event!
2. Post on Social Media. Help spread awareness and dispel myths about human trafficking when you share our ready made posts.
3. Shop the Brave Bracelet. Honor the brave girls and young women escaping human trafficking around the world when you purchase a limited-edition Brave Bracelet today!
