So, what exactly are these qualities? Trafficking happens to everyone in every area of the world of any social class, so there can't possibly be things in common, right?
Actually, there are a few things you can point to from victim to victim and say "that put them at risk", even though it seems difficult to do so.
Safe Supportive Learning's website tells us that the factors generally include the following:
- lack of personal safety
- isolation
- emotional distress
- homelessness
- poverty
- family dysfunction
- substance abuse
- mental illness
- learning disabilities
- developmental delay
- childhood sexual abuse
- promotion of sexual exploitation by family members or peers
- lack of social support
If a child grows up in a household that locks them out at night, or is strict enough to keep them from having friends, or possibly with parents that emotionally/mentally abuse them, they are at risk.
If a child is kicked out at a young age by their parents and have a hard time making it without being old enough to have a job, possibly turning to selling drugs just to pay for food, they are at risk.
If a child has a disability that could make them naive to risky behavior of those around them, they are at risk.
If a child grew up in a household where they were sexually abused, or possibly even trafficked by their parents/family members, they are (obviously) also at risk.
It's so important to be supportive of those around you; because it's rare that the child growing up in a broken household will be willing to announce it to people they hardly know. Sometimes victims are embarrassed to admit their situation, seeing themselves as weak, especially if they're already being trafficked. They can't imagine how they could have allowed themselves to be taken advantage of.
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