Youth Trafficking Still a Big Issue in Wisconsin [OPINION]

134. That is the number of human trafficking cases that were reported in 2018 in the state of Wisconsin. Out of those 134 cases, 105 were sex trafficking instances according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. While to some these numbers may not be surprising, they are still very alarming. Is trafficking still a prominent problem in the state of Wisconsin? Trafficking is a much bigger problem in Wisconsin than people think. Unfortunately, Milwaukee alone is believed to be a sex trafficking hub and by the looks of it, that is not going to change anytime soon.

 

According to Mary Spicuzza from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a report was released last year and, in the report, it was estimated that 340 young adults and children were victims of sex trafficking in Milwaukee between Jan. 1, 2013, to Dec. 31, 2016. While it is believed that Milwaukee is such a popular area because it is a quick ride to Chicago, Wisconsin Officials are striving to make it known that this really is a statewide issue.  

Human Trafficking in Milwaukee: Lifting the Veil

Human trafficking is happening to our children, our friends, and our family in even the smallest towns. But most people do not realize that this is a problem. A big issue is that most individuals are unsure of what trafficking even looks like. People expect to see someone being dragged off the street or to hear screaming coming from the trunk of a car. They think they will see people’s hands tied, dirty or fearful looking. But in reality, perpetrators are smarter than that and the signs aren’t that clear.

In Wisconsin, trafficking looks like a new career, a lot of money, a new life but sadly, that’s just an act.

The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families noted that it is really difficult to identify when someone is being trafficked but they provided a useful guide for responses and indicators of youth that could be a victim of trafficking.

In 2018, the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families took a big step to start a conversation about this issue in Wisconsin. The department strived to launch a huge public campaign to shed some light on the issue of human trafficking in the state of Wisconsin. They named the campaign “WI, We Need to Talk” and used that on all of their advertising and media in hopes to catch people’s attention. The “WI, We Need to Talk” campaign was an effort to try and raise awareness about youth sex trafficking and educating communities more about the signs of trafficking. Being aware of what is around you and paying attention to different signs is essential.  

That campaign notes that all youth are at risk, but there are some that are more at risk than others. In Wisconsin, there is a big link between trafficking and out-of-home care. This includes individuals in group homes, foster homes, care centers, supervised independent living and placement with a relative who is not a parent. These individuals that are being trafficked also are more vulnerable and tend to have little to no social and legal protection. Also, the majority of victims are women which comes to no surprise. About 70 percent of victims are women, and this is believed to be because they tend to be more vulnerable.  

The truth is, many trafficking victims do not even realize they are being trafficked because of the way perpetrators lure them. And on the flip side, many bystanders do not notice trafficking victims which is a real issue. Some red flags the U.S. Department of State recommends looking for to help identify possible victims are noticing people living with an employer, being unable to speak to someone privately, any signs of abuse, fearful behavior, poor hygiene and speaking in a manner that may appear scripted or even rehearsed.

Trust your gut, if something feels off or odd, it usually means that something is wrong. It is never a bad thing to be over conscious. 

As college students, we try our best to be aware of our surroundings, especially being in Milwaukee and walking home at night. But we are not as aware as we think we are and that’s the truth. The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee realizes that we do have an issue right here in Milwaukee, and they offer a variety of human trafficking classes available to students to further educate on the pertaining issue that is happening in our state and city.  

Making the steps forward to being more aware and acknowledging the issue of human trafficking in Wisconsin is a step in the right direction to lowering the rising numbers. In Wisconsin, it is done subtle and done all over. Trafficking is a big issue and will continue to be so until people are more aware and educated.  

There are tons of resources available to anyone who may think they are a victim to trafficking or to anyone that suspects someone is being trafficked.

Visit: traffickingresourccecenter.org for more information.