Survivors of human trafficking, like survivors of domestic violence, are frequently asked the question, “Why did you stay?”
In asking this question, an assumption is being made that the road to freedom is an easy one; when in reality, leaving is often the most dangerous period of time for victims of abuse.
Human trafficking is not just a crime – it is a calculated system of oppression that robs people of their freedom and hope. Invisible chains of fear, manipulation, and economic dependence hold survivors. Even without locks or bars, these powerful forces keep victims trapped. If we want to break this cycle, we must recognize and address these hidden barriers. Only then can we make a real difference.
8 Reasons Why Someone Might Stay in a Trafficking Situation
1.) Fear of bodily harm
Traffickers use a variety of tactics to intimidate their victims and make escape seem impossible, including threating to harm them and their children should they ever attempt to leave. To demonstrate control, instill fear, and ensure that their demands continue to be met, many traffickers subject their victims to recurring physical and sexual.
2.) Economic dependence
Many trafficking victims have been financially dependent on their traffickers for years, either because they are not being paid for their labor or because someone else is pocketing their earnings. Without money of their own, they’re fully reliant on their trafficker for housing, transportation, clothing, and to purchase basic necessities like groceries and hygiene products. In order to leave a trafficking situation, many have to sacrifice stability. When children are involved, this loss of resources and risk of poverty is even more frightening.
For those without proper work experience (perhaps having been trafficked since they were young) or those navigating cultural or language barriers, it can be hard to imagine a future where they become immediately self-sufficient. Traffickers reinforce this fear often through threats and intimidation.
3.) Failure to self-identify as a victim
We’ve worked with many clients who have struggled to identify their own experiences as human trafficking. Often this is because the abuse they suffered didn’t match the image of human trafficking they’d seen in popular culture. They may have been trafficked by a friend or a family member— someone they were raised to trust— as opposed to a stranger, like most traffickers in movies are. Or their trafficker may have manipulated them psychologically rather than physically, differing from their mental image forced labor.
It can be especially hard for people who were trafficked as children to self-identify as they were raised to believe that the abuse they were experiencing was normal.
4.) Promise of eventual freedom
Some traffickers promise eventual freedom after years of servitude. These promises, most of which are falsehoods, motivate victims to remain in exploitative situations in hopes that they will eventually gain their freedom and the resources they need to thrive on their own. Sometimes, the traffickers quote them hefty debts that take them forever to pay off. An example of this is a trafficker saying that someone needs to work for them until they’ve paid back the money they’ve spent to house them and feed them for the past year (a seemingly impossible task as more debt is accrued along the way).
5.) Relationship with a trafficker
Some victims of trafficking are exploited by relatives, parents, and partners. It can take a long time for them to realize they are being trafficked, as they struggle to believe their family could harm them. This can lead to enduring abusive situations without reporting their traffickers. Victims may hesitate to report out of concern for their relatives, feelings of loyalty, fear of being seen as ungrateful, or worry about causing legal trouble for their traffickers.
6.) Shame and Negative Self-Thought
Traffickers prey on already vulnerable people (those with limited resources, substance dependencies, etc.) and manipulate them into believing they deserve ill-treatment. After years of psychological abuse, many trafficking victims have been made to feel that they are worthless, insignificant, and unskilled. They’re told frequently that the violence they experience is their own fault and that they wouldn’t be able to survive on their own.
We’ve also heard victims of sex and labor trafficking say that they decided to stay in exploitative situations because they were ashamed to have their families find out about the work they’d been forced into. What we tell them is this: Shame is not yours to hold.
7.) Lack of information
Many victims of human trafficking are transported and taken to unfamiliar and isolated locations where they are unable to leave or escape. Some of them face language barriers; they do not know who to speak with or where to turn without their traffickers recapturing them and hurting them for trying. Some of the victims are also cut off from their support systems, preventing them from interacting with the outside world or accessing needed information to aid their escape.
8.) Systemic lack of available resources
There is a significant shortage of resources for trafficking victims, making it difficult for them to find safe spaces. Many who call helplines face barriers, as services often lack capacity and direct them elsewhere. Additionally, some shelters have limited stay durations, leading victims to hesitate in leaving situations they may perceive as better.
Human trafficking is a complex issue that thrives on manipulation, fear, and misinformation. Together, we can shine a light on this dark issue and work towards ending human trafficking in all its forms.
This blog post was written by Faith Otchere and Shannon McDonnell.