Get Informed: What Is Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery and a fundamental violation of a person’s human rights. Federally it was first defined by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA).

On the basis of the definition given in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, trafficking in persons has three constituent elements:

  • The Act (What is Done): Recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons

  • The Means (How it is Done): Threat or use of force, coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or vulnerability, or giving payments or benefits to a person in control of the victim

  • The Purpose (Why it is Done): For the purpose of exploitation, which includes exploiting the prostitution of others, sexual exploitation, forced labor, slavery or similar practices.

What Does it Look Like in Contra Costa County?

Given the trafficking trends throughout the world, nation, and state, we know that the East Bay region, and more specifically Contra Costa County, is not immune to the plight of trafficked and exploited persons. Human trafficking appears in many forms in Contra Costa County. Read more about human trafficking in Contra Costa County by downloading the Contra Costa County 2016 Human Trafficking Report here.

 
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Labor Trafficking

Labor trafficking includes situations of debt bondage, forced labor, and involuntary child labor. Labor traffickers use violence, threats, lies, and other forms of coercion to force people to work against their will in many industries.

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Sex Trafficking

Sex trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery in which individuals perform commercial sex through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. Minors under the age of 18 engaging in commercial sex are considered to be victims of human trafficking, regardless of the use of force, fraud, or coercion. 

The Coalition is working to develop additional helpful resources, in the meantime, visit national leaders like

Polaris Project, the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, and the National Human Trafficking Resource Center.