human trafficking: illicit massage...
TRANSCRIPT
Human Trafficking: Illicit Massage Business
AcrosstheU.S.illicitmassagebusinesses(IMBs)areknownvenuesforhumantrafficking.Hiddeninplainsight,thesetraffickingestablishmentsaredisguisedaslawfulmassageorbodyworkbusinesses.Traffickerssecurevalidpermitsandlicensurewhichhelpthesevenuesappearaspermissiblebusinesses,whenactuallyafrontforexploitation.
Manyvictimsarerecruitedwithpromisesoflegitimateemployment.Traffickersarrangeandpaytravelfees,accommodations,andmayhelpsecurevisasandpassports.Victimshaveoftenaccruedtremendousdebtbythetimetheyarrivewhichisusedasameansofcontroltoforcethemtocomply.Languageandculturalbarriers,andlimitedknowledgeofrightsmakeitdifficultforvictimsinIMBstoseeksupport.
DiscussionQuestions1:22
HowdoesMei’ssituationmakehervulnerabletotrafficking?
1:49
WhatsignssuggestthismightbeanIMB?
2:28
WhatbarriersdoesMeifacethatmakeitdifficultforhertoseeksupport?
3:00
WhatmeansareusedtocontrolMeiandforcehertocomply?Howmightfeelingsofshameandpowerlessnessplayintothiscontrol?
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TheAMPModelofHumanTrafficking
Action:Inducing/recruitment/harboring/transporting/providing/obtaining
Means:Force,FraudorCoercion.Mayinclude:debtbondage/falsejoboffers/threats/intimidation
Purpose:sexualandlaborexploitation
Overview of IMBs
Accordingtothe2017Polarishumantraffickingreport,traffickingrelatedtoillicitmassagebusinesseswassecondinprevalencefollowingescortservices.
Polarisestimatesthatmorethan9,000IMBsareoperatingthroughoutAmericawithatotalrevenuebeingcloseto$2.5billionannually.
(https://polairsproject.org/sites/default/files/Full_Report_Human_Trafficking_In_Illicit_Massage_Business es.pdf)
Exploiting Vulnerabilities
Likemany,MeiwasrecruitedtotheIMBthroughpromisesofemployment,amassagelicense,andopportunitytolearnEnglish.Hertravelarrangements,visaandpassportweresecuredandpaidforbyheremployer.Uponarrival,Meilearnedherjobwasnotwhatshewaspromisedandshewasingreatdebt.Meiwastrapped.
“Ifelttrapped.Ididn’tknowanyoneintheUS.Ididn’tspeakEnglish.Ididn’thaveenoughmoneytoleave.”
Indicators of an IMB
Keysignsindicatingthatthismaybeahumantraffickingvenuesellingcommercialsexinclude:
• Clienteleareprimarilyorexclusivelymale• Womenliveonsiteintheestablishment• Excessivesecurity:cameras,lockeddoors,
coveredwindows,clientsbuzzedinandout• Extendedhoursofoperation,especiallylate-
nighthours• Heavyrelianceontips
OtherIndicators:
• Advertisingoncommercialsexwebsites• Frequentchangesinstorefrontsignage• Pricesformassagesignificantlybelow
marketprice
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Means of Control
Traffickersmanipulatethefearsoftheirvictims.Theymaythreatendeportation,violence,orarrest,orcontrolworkersthroughsocialisolationandrestrictedaccesstoresources.Theymayexploitworkersfinanciallybyofferingfraudulentjobsandthendemandingworktopayoffdebtaccruedthroughtravel,passportandvisaexpenses.
Meiexperiencesfeelingsofpowerlessnessandshameinitially.Shedoesn’tknowanyoneintheU.S.,isnotfamiliarwithherrightsasanimmigrantandworker,anddoesn’thaveenoughmoneytoleave.Shefearswhatwillhappentoherifshedoesn’trepayherdebts.Shetellsherfamilyeverythingisokandthatsheislookingforanotherjobwhilesendinghomeeverythingshecan.
Exposing IMBs
WeallplayaroleinexposingIMBs.Government,lawenforcement,themedia,businessowners,andthepublicallmustworktoexposeandendillicitmassagebusinesses.AshiftinperceptionisneededtounderstandtheharmcausedbyIMBs,andtorecognizetheexploitationofworkersagainsttheirwillisacrime.Servicesneedtobedevelopedsothatvictimscanreceivehelpandrebuildtheirlives.
Community-basedawarenesscampaigns,focusedregulation,andappropriatelytrainedculturallycompetentserviceprovidersarekeytotheeffort.IMBsmustbeexposedforwhattheyareforwhattheyare:humantraffickingoperationsoftenconductedbyorganizedcrimeEndingtraffickinginIMBsispossibleifweunitetoreducethewidespreadcomplacencythatallowsthemtoflourish.
Barriers to Support
MeiknowslittleEnglish,isindebttothetrafficker,andisunsureofherrightsorhowtogetsupport.Herculturalbackgroundmayinfluencefeelingsofshameandobligationthatthetraffickerisabletoexploit.
Lack of Regulation
Lawsandordinncesregulatingthemassageindustryareinconsistentacrossjurisdictions,andoftenvarywidelyevenwithinagivenstate.Thisinconsistencymakesiteasyfortraffickerstomovelocationsandsetupnewbusinesses.SystemicgapsinoversightcreatechallengestothosewhowouldconfrontIMBs.Potentialindicatorsoftraffickingsuchasextendedhoursofoperation,back-doorentrancesandbuzzercontrolleddoors,maynotviolateordinances,andmaynotraiseanyredflagstoobserversorregulators.