2012 Trafficking In Persons Final Report.pdf - NCJTC Home

FINAL REPORT
reach, drop-in centers and residential facilities are current approaches to short-term victim services. Most of these
short-term services include providing youth with information relating to how to obtain longer-term and more effective
help, when and where it is available. Survivor-informed or -led programs also show promise, especially
for those victims who show readiness for treatment.
More research is needed on how to accelerate/enhance victim treatment readiness, and intervention effectiveness.
Child welfare and juvenile justice programs need to ensure specialized programs are in place for
trafficking victims; communities need to understand the unique needs of trafficked youth, and to make investments
in these specialized programs. Further, practitioners and policy-makers should consider the effectiveness
of traditional juvenile placements (shelters, detention facilities, residential services) as these may not be the most
appropriate arrangements to meet the needs of young victims of labor and sexual exploitation.
More research is also needed to understand the factors that make treatment successful. Programs need to
assess youth risk and needs, and provide services accordingly. Further, more local short-term services need to
be developed to meet the basic needs (e.g., food, acute medical care, temporary shelter, safety) of victims and to
begin the trust-building process necessary for successful longer-term treatment. In mandated placement situations
such as shelters and group homes, facilities need to be dedicated to juvenile trafficking victims. Special training
in trafficking dynamics and their impacts on juveniles should be required for all who work with these victims.
Finally, law enforcement, juvenile justice agencies, and treatment providers also need to be aware of the
negative impact of financial problems and other everyday “life” issues that can arise for victim/survivors. Survivors
should not be negatively impacted by legal records, financial problems or issues that arose as a result of their
exploitation. Criminal charges, credit issues and a lack of work opportunities can all hinder restoration efforts
long after rescue. Policy makers and legislators should carefully consider these issues when drafting trafficking
legislation.
(5) Finally, the SURVIVOR PERSPECTIVE is critical to all phases of anti-trafficking work: identification,
engagement of victims, investigation and prosecution, and restoration. Trafficking survivors already understand
the methods used by traffickers and exploiters, and have first-hand insight into victim/offender dynamics
that is invaluable for understanding this crime. Survivors also know the psychological issues that hinder victim
self-identification and cooperation with authorities, and can offer input related to overcoming these obstacles. In
addition, survivors understand the importance of giving victims choices, and assisting them to avail themselves
of treatment. Survivors themselves strongly advocate the use of survivor-based knowledge in all anti-trafficking
agendas.
Child advocates agree the seriousness of the crimes of child sex and labor trafficking has, until recently,
been largely misunderstood, overlooked, and underestimated. Further research is necessary to equip policy makers,
first responders, and other members of anti-trafficking coalitions to better address the issue. This research
should include providing a clearer and more precise understanding of the scope and scale of the problem for
policy-makers. It should also include providing enhanced understanding of the issue for first responders, educators,
child protection professionals, child advocates, medical personnel, and the public. Additional work needs
to focus on building capacity and competencies for improving and enhancing various roles in combating child
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