Human Trafficking amazonaws com
The Reality of Human Trafficking Lesley Smith March, Chief of Victim’s Services Assistant Attorney General, Office of Attorney General Margaret Goldman, Certification Program Manager Office of Attorney General Wilma Lively, Executive Director, Day Spring Villa
The Trauma
Hidden Wounds:
Treatment and the need for trauma-informed care
PTSD Associated Symptoms and the Percent of Trafficked Women Ranking These Symptoms as Severe • Recurrent thoughts/memories of terrifying events • Feeling as though the event is happening again • Recurrent nightmares • Feeling detached/withdrawn • Unable to feel emotion
• • • • •
Jumpy, easily startled Difficulty concentrating Trouble sleeping Feeling on guard Feeling irritable, having outbursts of anger • Avoiding activities that remind them of the traumatic or hurtful event
• Inability to remember part or most of traumatic or hurtful event 36% • Less interest in daily activities 46% • Feeling as if you didn’t have a future 65% • Avoiding thoughts or feelings associated with the traumatic events 58% • Sudden emotional or physical reaction when reminded of the most hurtful or traumatic events 65% International Organization for Migration, 2006; Pico-Alfonso, 2005; Zimmerman et al., 2006).
In
addition to PTSD, victims of human trafficking have been found to suffer from: other anxiety and mood disorders including panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder and substance related disorders
(Alexander, Kellogg, & Thompson, 2005; APA, 2005; Family Violence Prevention Fund, 2005; Zimmerman et al., 2006).
Victims of human trafficking have often “experienced, witnessed, or [been] confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others” and their response to these events frequently involves “intense fear, helplessness, or horror.”
(International Organization for Migration, 2006; Pico-Alfonso, 2005; Zimmerman et al., 2006).
Among the most devastating consequences for victims of any crime can be the destruction of basic life assumptions; • that one is safe from harm, • one is a good and decent person, • and the world is meaningful and just. (Office for Victims of Crime, 1998).
Oklahoma Standards for Sex Trafficking Programs
Title 75 Oklahoma Administrative Code Chapter 30
Mission and Underlying Philosophy: “The mission of the standards and criteria for programs serving adult victims of sexual assault is to eliminate human sex trafficking in the state of Oklahoma. 75 OAC 30-1-1.1 (a)
Mission and Underlying Philosophy (continued) (b) The philosophy underlying the standards and criteria for victims of human sex trafficking is that: (1) All persons have the right to live without fear, abuse, oppression and violence; (2) No one deserves to be victimized by assaultive or abusive behavior; (3) Survivors should be treated with dignity and respect; (4) All people involved in violent crimes are affected, including victims, children, families, partners, friends, the community, and perpetrators;
(5) Perpetrators must be held accountable for their behavior; (6) A coordinated community response is the best approach to eliminating human sex trafficking in Oklahoma, and (7) Safety for the victims/survivors and their dependents is the primary focus of intervention and services. (8) Intervention and services shall be based upon the safety and well-being of individuals and communities. Services to victims are provided in a non-judgmental, non-coercive, trauma-informed environment. (9)Participation in victim/survivor services is voluntary and based on self-determined needs, preferences and values.
Discussion Questions Needs of human sex trafficking victims Domestic violence victims vs. human sex trafficking victims; housing together? Do no further harm Realistic expectations; possibility of returning to former environment Cooperation with law enforcement
The Trauma
Hidden Wounds:
Treatment and the need for trauma-informed care
PTSD Associated Symptoms and the Percent of Trafficked Women Ranking These Symptoms as Severe • Recurrent thoughts/memories of terrifying events • Feeling as though the event is happening again • Recurrent nightmares • Feeling detached/withdrawn • Unable to feel emotion
• • • • •
Jumpy, easily startled Difficulty concentrating Trouble sleeping Feeling on guard Feeling irritable, having outbursts of anger • Avoiding activities that remind them of the traumatic or hurtful event
• Inability to remember part or most of traumatic or hurtful event 36% • Less interest in daily activities 46% • Feeling as if you didn’t have a future 65% • Avoiding thoughts or feelings associated with the traumatic events 58% • Sudden emotional or physical reaction when reminded of the most hurtful or traumatic events 65% International Organization for Migration, 2006; Pico-Alfonso, 2005; Zimmerman et al., 2006).
In
addition to PTSD, victims of human trafficking have been found to suffer from: other anxiety and mood disorders including panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder and substance related disorders
(Alexander, Kellogg, & Thompson, 2005; APA, 2005; Family Violence Prevention Fund, 2005; Zimmerman et al., 2006).
Victims of human trafficking have often “experienced, witnessed, or [been] confronted with an event or events that involved actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to the physical integrity of self or others” and their response to these events frequently involves “intense fear, helplessness, or horror.”
(International Organization for Migration, 2006; Pico-Alfonso, 2005; Zimmerman et al., 2006).
Among the most devastating consequences for victims of any crime can be the destruction of basic life assumptions; • that one is safe from harm, • one is a good and decent person, • and the world is meaningful and just. (Office for Victims of Crime, 1998).
Oklahoma Standards for Sex Trafficking Programs
Title 75 Oklahoma Administrative Code Chapter 30
Mission and Underlying Philosophy: “The mission of the standards and criteria for programs serving adult victims of sexual assault is to eliminate human sex trafficking in the state of Oklahoma. 75 OAC 30-1-1.1 (a)
Mission and Underlying Philosophy (continued) (b) The philosophy underlying the standards and criteria for victims of human sex trafficking is that: (1) All persons have the right to live without fear, abuse, oppression and violence; (2) No one deserves to be victimized by assaultive or abusive behavior; (3) Survivors should be treated with dignity and respect; (4) All people involved in violent crimes are affected, including victims, children, families, partners, friends, the community, and perpetrators;
(5) Perpetrators must be held accountable for their behavior; (6) A coordinated community response is the best approach to eliminating human sex trafficking in Oklahoma, and (7) Safety for the victims/survivors and their dependents is the primary focus of intervention and services. (8) Intervention and services shall be based upon the safety and well-being of individuals and communities. Services to victims are provided in a non-judgmental, non-coercive, trauma-informed environment. (9)Participation in victim/survivor services is voluntary and based on self-determined needs, preferences and values.
Discussion Questions Needs of human sex trafficking victims Domestic violence victims vs. human sex trafficking victims; housing together? Do no further harm Realistic expectations; possibility of returning to former environment Cooperation with law enforcement
