What to know about sex trafficking

Dr. Celia McIntosh DNP, RN, FNP-C,

PMHNP-BC, SCRN, CEN, CCRN, CNRN,

is the President of the Rochester Regional

Coalition Against Human Trafficking

(RRCAHT).

The spotlight is on the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell sparking growing conversations about sex trafficking. Maxwell is being accused of six counts of sex trafficking and other crimes. Tocsin spoke with Dr. Celia McIntosh to learn more about sex trafficking is and its impact.

Tocsin: What is the name of your organization?

Dr. McIntosh: Rochester Regional Coalition Against Human Trafficking (RRCAHT)

Tocsin: How long has it been in existence?

Dr. McIntosh: On April 4th, 2013, the coalition gathered at the Motherhouse. It was on this day that RRCAHT confirmed their intention to network and collaborate in an effort to prevent and address the human rights violation of human trafficking.

Tocsin: Why did you decide to get involved with advocating against sex trafficking?

Dr. McIntosh: I joined RRCAHT in 2014 after learning about the horrific crime of human trafficking for the first time at an awareness event at Rochester General Hospital.

Tocsin: What is the difference between Sex Trafficking and Human Trafficking?

Dr. McIntosh: What Is Human Trafficking? Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act.

There are two forms of human trafficking Sex trafficking and Labor Trafficking

Sex Trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age; or 2 Labor Trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.

Tocsin: Do you see a lot of sex/human trafficking cases in Rochester? What about New York State?

Dr. McIntosh: Human Trafficking is a hidden crime and often victims are not aware they are victims so it is often underreported and under-recognized. RRCAHT is an organization of individuals and organizations we do not provide direct services we are dedicated to eradicating human trafficking through education, advocacy, and networking but many of our

partner organizations do. In 2019, Rochester's Center for Youth Services received over 200 referrals from police, medical officials, and local agencies about kids who could be sexually exploited. Of those, over 70 of those kids acknowledged that they had been sold for sex.

Tocsin: Why would someone be charged with sex trafficking?

Dr. McIntosh: Someone can be charged with sex trafficking when “a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age.

Tocsin: Are there any statistics as to how serious sex trafficking is?

Dr. McIntosh: Trafficking occurs in all 50 states and New York State has the 4th highest call volume behind states like California, Texas, and Florida. Since 2007, the National Human Trafficking Hotline has received more than 229,000 calls to the hotline of those 51,000 are confirmed cases of human trafficking in the United States. Of those, 7900 calls have come from the Great State of New York. Sex trafficking cases account for about 73% of human trafficking cases.

Tocsin: Is there any truth to white vans kidnapping women at gas stations or other public places?

Dr. McIntosh: I know this has been a trending concept on social media for some time now so let me clear the air. I will say that although abduction is one form of recruitment into human trafficking it is not the most common form. Human Trafficking is largely a relationship-based crime there have been reports of victims being trafficked by their parents for drugs, by boyfriends, family, or people that groom them to develop a relationship with them. Traffickers are notorious for grooming and developing relationships with victims, prey

on their vulnerability with their victims with the aim to deceive them, and “turn a profit”. 50% of traffickers are women some of which may have been previously trafficked themselves.

Tocsin: Is there a particular age that traffickers look for?

Dr. McIntosh: Anyone could be a victim of human trafficking. Traffickers often target people with vulnerabilities. Causes that contribute to people being vulnerable to trafficking include:

Homelessness, being a youth, mental illness, substance use/addictions, developmental delays, racism, and discrimination place them at a higher risk of being trafficked, in poverty, or LGBTQ population. Sexism, classism, racism, and abuse, are foundational to human trafficking.

Tocsin: How would one protect themselves from being a victim of sex trafficking?

Dr. McIntosh: By educating themselves about the signs of human trafficking. Stay informed. Know the resources. Educate others to spread the word about human trafficking. Visit rrcaht.org to find out the signs.

Tocsin: Do you currently have a contact number for victims to call?

Youth: Local resources:

Bivonia Child Advocacy Center

• 585-935-7800

• https://www.bivonacac.org/

Center for Youth

• 24-hour line: (585) 271-7670

• Toll-free crisis hotline: 1-888-617-KIDS (5437) or go to a designated Safe Place site.

Salvation Army Genesis House

• 24-hour hotline: 585 235-2660

• Genesis House is a fourteen-bed, co-ed shelter for youth ages 16-20, with case management services, life

skills training, and after-care.

Adult Local Resources:

Willow Domestic Violence Center

• 24-hour hotline (585) 222-SAFE

• info@willowcenterny.org

Workers Justice Center of New York

• 1187 Culver Road Rochester, NY 14609

• T: 585-325-3050 F: 585-325-7614

• Toll-free # 1-800-724-7020

• www.wjcny.org

National resources

Department of Homeland Security

• 1-866-347-2423

National Human Trafficking Resource Center

• 1-888-373-7888 OR Text HELP to BeFree (233733)

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children