Human trafficking: A concern for all
Nurses can inform and influence colleagues and others to understand that human trafficking is a modern version of slavery and a 21st century public health issue. In NYC, Barbara Glickstein, MS, RN, MPH, a public health nurse and producer/ host of the radio program, Healthstyles, is a nurse advocate, who is well-known for combating human trafficking and clarifying nurses’ role in identifying and assisting patient victims.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, human trafficking or trafficking in Persons (TIP) is defined as an act of recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing or obtaining a person for compelled labor or commercial sex acts through the use of force, fraud or coercion. Human trafficking occurs virtually in every country in the world, no matter the level of wealth or poverty. Women, young girls and boys in forced labor situations are often sexually exploited. Children as young as five, whose parents were promised by recruiters they would receive an education, are instead used as panhandlers, soldiers and couriers to move drugs, or even plant explosive devices. While children, women, asylum seekers, LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Intersex) and disabled persons remain most at risk, no one is exempt from becoming a modern-day slave, including U.S citizens.
Human trafficking can take place in legal industries such as hospitality, sales crews, agriculture, fairs and carnivals, health and elder care, domestic services, and sports tailgating events. Furthermore, millions of undocumented individuals in the United States, who have fallen victim to human trafficking, must also endure the inevitable pain of either succumbing to the will of their abusers or risk being deported due to U.S. immigration policies.
The degree of complexity and level of sophistication required to effectively address this humanitarian crisis requires the active participation and advocacy of world leaders, law enforcement, policy makers, health care professionals, and community leaders. Recently, U.S. lawmakers, Representatives Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and Steve Cohen (D-TN) introduced the Stop, Observe, Ask and Respond (SOAR) to the Health and Wellness Act of 2018. It is aimed at ensuring that caregivers are trained to identify patients who may be victims of human trafficking.
When conducting a nursing assessment, nurses should observe the patient (potential victim) for the following warning signs: confusion about location, lack of identification, limited proficiency in English, and signs of physical and emotional abuse such as poor hygiene, malnutrition and dehydration, and fearfulness. Once potential victims are identified, the nurse should proceed with establishing trust and following the facility’s policy for addressing human trafficking victims. Careful attempts should be made to separate the patient/victim from the abuser. The trafficker may become suspicious, causing them to flee with the victim, thus destroying an opportunity for possible rescue and freedom. The American Nurses Association has developed specific resources for nurses to use in their practice as they identify potential victims and advocate for their rights, which can be found at www. nursingworld.org.
Human trafficking victims are emotionally, mentally and psychologically fragile. Thus, an intra/ interprofessional collaborative approach must be utilized to ensure the best possible outcome for these patients. Nurses can assist their institutions in the development of policies to address this issue, encouraging community, educational, and religious leaders to educate their populations regarding the problem and the availability of resources, and incorporating educational sessions in community health fairs.
We must all do our best to be informed regarding this public health issue and identify innovative ways to fight against human trafficking. For more information, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888; HHS Office on Trafficking in Persons (www.acf.hhs.gov/endtrafficking ) and HEAL Trafficking (www.healtrafficking.org ). Remember our patients on July 30th, World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. — Lovelyne Jean MSN, RN-BC,
FNP-BC, CCRN, PCCN Critical care staff nurse/preceptor Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center,
Brooklyn, NY