Aware, Recognize, Report

If you see any of these red flags, please report the situation to the authorities provided at the bottom of this post. Do not act impulsively as the presence of these red flags is an indication that further assessment may be necessary to identify a potential human trafficking situation.

Common Work and Living Conditions: The individual(s) in question

• Is not free to leave or come and go as he/she wishes

• Is under 18 and is providing commercial sex acts

• Is in the commercial sex industry and has a pimp / manager

• Is unpaid, paid very little, or paid only through tips

• Works excessively long and/or unusual hours

• Is not allowed breaks or suffers under unusual restrictions at work

• Owes a large debt and is unable to pay it off

• Was recruited through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of his/her work

• High security measures exist in the work and/or living locations (e.g. opaque windows, boarded up windows, bars on windows, barbed wire, security cameras, etc.)

Poor Mental Health or Abnormal Behavior

• Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid

• Exhibits unusually fearful or anxious behavior after bringing up law enforcement

• Avoids eye contact

Poor Physical Health

• Lacks health care

• Appears malnourished

• Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture

Lack of Control

• Has few or no personal possessions

• Is not in control of his/her own money, no financial records, or bank account

• Is not in control of his/her own identification documents (ID or passport)

• Is not allowed or able to speak for themselves (a third party may insist on being present and/or translating)

Other

• Claims of just visiting and inability to clarify where he/she is staying/address

• Lack of knowledge of whereabouts and/or do not know what city he/she is in

• Loss of sense of time

• Has numerous inconsistencies in his/her story

(National Human Trafficking, n.d.)

Tired of reading texts? Here are some interesting videos for references:

Human Trafficking Awareness - Learn the Signs!

(ZOE Children, 2016)

Read The Signs - Human Trafficking

(Crimestoppers UK, 2013)

Human trafficking / Closer than you think

(AdsExhibitCOM, 2009)

Modern Slavery is Closer Than You Think: Understanding Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking

(Home Office, 2014)

Where to Get Help:

Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM)

11th Floor, Menara TH Perdana, Jalan Sultan Ismail Kuala Lumpur 50250 Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur Tel : 03-2612 5600 Fax : 03-2612 5620 email : humanrights@suhakam.org.my

SUHAKAM (Sabah Branch) Suite E1, 8th Floor, CPS Tower No.1, Jalan Centre Point 88000 Kota Kinabalu Sabah. Tel: 088-317405 Faks: 088-317406 E-mel: sabah@suhakam.org.my

SUHAKAM (Cawangan Sarawak) Suite 8.01, 8.02 & 8.03, Tingkat 8, Tun Jugah Tower, 18, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, 93100 Kuching Sarawak. Tel: 082-234650 Faks: 082-254937 E-mel: sarawak@suhakam.org.my

National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 for specialized victim services referrals or to report the situation.

Resources from:

AdsExhibitCOM. (2009, Apr 15). Human trafficking / Closer than you think. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwlWvjF5Ymw

Crimestoppers UK. (2013, Jan 21). Read The Signs - Human Trafficking. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3C9VwiCP2bQ

Home Office. (2014, Aug 28). Modern Slavery is Closer Than You Think: Understanding Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv1H_fAoOG4

National Human Trafficking Hotline. (n.d.). Recognizing the Signs. Retrieved from https://humantraffickinghotline.org/what-human-trafficking/recognizing-signs

ZOE Children. (2016, Aug 8). Human Trafficking Awareness - Learn the Signs! Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQFQqU3O9GM