Human Trafficking Prevention Month

What is Human Trafficking?

Human Trafficking, in addition to being a violent crime, is a serious violation of human rights. Its victims are controlled and exploited for profit. Forced labor and sexual exploitation are the most common types of human trafficking.

Most trafficking victims, are often not held physically captive, but nevertheless are not free to leave their trafficker. In fact, trafficking victims’ bonds and chains are most often invisible due to the psychological and physical abuses and threats perpetrated by their traffickers.

More Information

Who are the victims of human trafficking?

How Does DFPS fight human trafficking?

National Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Federal Requirements and Definitions

The Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act requires DFPS to find, document, and provide services for a child in state care when it is reasonable to believe the child is a victim of trafficking or is at risk of becoming a victim.

The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 defines the following "severe forms" of human trafficking.

Sex trafficking
  • Using force, fraud, or coercion to recruit, harbor, transport, provision, obtain, patronize, or solicit a person for a commercial sex act.
  • Recruiting, harboring, transporting, obtaining, patronizing, soliciting, or provision of a person under 18 years old for a commercial sex act.
Labor trafficking
Using force, fraud, or coercion to recruit, harbor, transport, provision, or obtain a person for labor or services. The victim experiences involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.