What is Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, or transportation of a person by means of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of labor or commercial sex. Trafficking often happens in plain sight and affects people across race, gender, age, and socioeconomic background.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice (2023)


Photo source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (2018)

  • Trafficking is defined using the AMP model,which addresses the core components of trafficking: action, means, purpose.

  • This is how the trafficker lures the victim. This includes recruitment, harboring, or transporting.

  • This is what the trafficker does to gain the victim’s compliance. This includes force, fraud, and coercion, often referred to as FFC. For minors induced into trafficking, FFC is not required under legal frameworks.

  • Purpose is the goal of the trafficker. This includes forced commercial sex or labor, debt bondage,or servitude.