Speaker for the Living

Nonphysical abuse through psychological and emotional means is an integral component of trafficking and slave-like practices. Hosts Seth Daire and JJ Janflone discuss Seth's unpublished paper on the topic that ties together psychological coercive methods used in trafficking, torture, and domestic abuse. The loss of control and identity that can be a part of trafficking are traumatic. To be controlled to the degree required for slavery and trafficking means that even if there are no rapes, threats or bruises, the person has been abused. To effectively prevent and prosecute sex and labor trafficking, and to effectively assist survivors, we need to better recognize and understand the role of psychological coercion within human trafficking.

Biderman’s Framework and Trafficking Survivors

Method

Trafficker Application

1. Isolation

Kept away from family and friends so no social support. Social isolation increased the power imbalance to make victims more dependent. This led to depression and loneliness.

2. Monopolization of Perception

Limited exposure to and understanding of the outside world. Monopolized their attention, so felt presence of trafficker when gone. Constantly watched.

3. Induced Debilitation and Exhaustion

Deprivation of basic human needs such as food, sleep, and health care. Victims worked day after day for long hours. Some victims were forced to consume drugs or alcohol.

4. Threats

Threats of arrest or deportation, and against family members. Threats of violence and death. Fostered anxiety and despair.

5. Occasional indulgences

Occasion kindness gave victims positive motivation for compliance, as it provided a reprieve from abuse. As it was unknown when indulgences would be given, this created anxiety to please and not make mistakes in hope of an emotional or material reward.

6. Demonstrating "Omnipotence" and "Omniscience"

Traffickers claimed influential connections to law enforcement, immigration officials, or deities. This created paranoia, fear, doubt of their sense of reality, and a sense they did not control their fate.

7. Degradation

Insulted, humiliated, denied privacy and dignity. Reduced to basic animal-level concerns.

8. Enforcing Trivial Demands

Focused on petty concerns developed habits of compliance to keep them entrenched. Also created a need to be perfect, which led to stress and anxiety, especially since work was debilitating due to lack of sleep, food, and social support.

Sources:

Patterson, Orlando. Slavery and Social Death. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1982.

Evans, Patricia. The Verbally Abusive Relationship. Blue Ash: F+W Media, Inc., 2009.

Seligman, Martin. Learned Optimism. New York: Random House, 2011.

https://chs.ph.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/downloads/Psychological%20Coercion%20in%20HT%20QHR%202014.pdf

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0153263#pone-0153263-t002

http://ilr.law.uiowa.edu/files/ilr.law.uiowa.edu/files/ILR_96-2_Kim.pdf

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, and queer people are among those trafficked for sex and labor. Hosts JJ Janflone and Seth Daire discuss how they can be vulnerable to trafficking and ways to address the needs of LGBTQ people.

Sources:

http://www.med.monash.edu.au/gendermed/sexandgender.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-isaacs/why-were-adding-the-q_b_8535208.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephanie-farnsworth/why-lgbt-and-sex-worker-rights-go-hand-in-hand_b_9367888.html

https://polarisproject.org/sites/default/files/LGBTQ-Sex-Trafficking.pdf

https://polarisproject.org/news/press-releases/10-steps-improve-services-lgbtq-trafficking-victims

http://www.nccdglobal.org/blog/the-commercial-sexual-exploitation-of-lgbtq-youth

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, and queer people are among those trafficked for sex and labor. Hosts JJ Janflone and Seth Daire discuss how they can be vulnerable to trafficking and ways to address the needs of LGBTQ people.

Sources:

http://www.med.monash.edu.au/gendermed/sexandgender.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-isaacs/why-were-adding-the-q_b_8535208.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephanie-farnsworth/why-lgbt-and-sex-worker-rights-go-hand-in-hand_b_9367888.html

https://polarisproject.org/sites/default/files/LGBTQ-Sex-Trafficking.pdf

https://polarisproject.org/news/press-releases/10-steps-improve-services-lgbtq-trafficking-victims

http://www.nccdglobal.org/blog/the-commercial-sexual-exploitation-of-lgbtq-youth

Did Thomas Jefferson, a slaveholder, father children with one of his slaves, Sally Hemings? While this hasn't been proven with certainty, it raises questions relevant to modern slavery. Hosts Seth Daire and JJ Janflone explain the story and discuss related issues like rape, consent, agency, and how society views antebellum slavery vs modern trafficking. Sources:

https://www.monticello.org/site/plantation-and-slavery/thomas-jefferson-and-sally-hemings-brief-account

https://allthingsliberty.com/2016/04/sexual-liberties-of-thomas-jefferson/

https://www.tjheritage.org/trial-analysis-on-the-evidence-of-paternity

http://uvamagazine.org/articles/anatomy_of_a_mystery

http://thepoliticus.com/content/what-8-us-presidents-owned-slaves-during-their-presidency

http://pres-slaves.zohosites.com/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jefferson/true/

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/09/22/president-toms-cabin

https://blackyouthproject.com/sally-hemings-thomas-jefferson-and-the-normalization-of-slave-rape-narratives/

Did Thomas Jefferson, a slaveholder, father children with one of his slaves, Sally Hemings? While this hasn't been proven with certainty, it raises questions relevant to modern slavery. Hosts Seth Daire and JJ Janflone explain the story and discuss related issues like rape, consent, agency, and how society views antebellum slavery vs modern trafficking. Sources:

https://www.monticello.org/site/plantation-and-slavery/thomas-jefferson-and-sally-hemings-brief-account

https://allthingsliberty.com/2016/04/sexual-liberties-of-thomas-jefferson/

https://www.tjheritage.org/trial-analysis-on-the-evidence-of-paternity

http://uvamagazine.org/articles/anatomy_of_a_mystery

http://thepoliticus.com/content/what-8-us-presidents-owned-slaves-during-their-presidency

http://pres-slaves.zohosites.com/

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/jefferson/true/

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/09/22/president-toms-cabin

https://blackyouthproject.com/sally-hemings-thomas-jefferson-and-the-normalization-of-slave-rape-narratives/

Hosts Seth Daire and JJ Janflone examine human trafficking in Saudi Arabia, including how the kafala system has been abused to keep migrant women in situations of domestic servitude.

Sources:

https://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2016/258850.htm

http://humantraffickingcenter.org/unimplemented-laws-social-norms-lead-migrant-abuse-saudi-arabia/

https://www.thenation.com/article/why-are-thousands-malagasy-women-being-trafficked-abusive-jobs-middle-east/

http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/hundreds-mauritanian-women-subject-slave-conditions-saudi-arabia-121500465

http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2014/11/05/isis-says-islam-justifies-slavery-what-does-islamic-law-say/

http://www.jstor.org/stable/4617607?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

http://www.lettertobaghdadi.com/

Hosts Seth Daire and JJ Janflone examine human trafficking in Saudi Arabia, including how the kafala system has been abused to keep migrant women in situations of domestic servitude.

Sources:

https://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2016/258850.htm

http://humantraffickingcenter.org/unimplemented-laws-social-norms-lead-migrant-abuse-saudi-arabia/

https://www.thenation.com/article/why-are-thousands-malagasy-women-being-trafficked-abusive-jobs-middle-east/

http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/hundreds-mauritanian-women-subject-slave-conditions-saudi-arabia-121500465

http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2014/11/05/isis-says-islam-justifies-slavery-what-does-islamic-law-say/

http://www.jstor.org/stable/4617607?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

http://www.lettertobaghdadi.com/

The Trump administration may suspend the DRC Conflict Mineral rule that requires US public companies disclose whether they have conflict minerals (cassiterite, wolframite, and coltan, and gold) in their supply chain from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Hosts Seth Daire and JJ Janflone look at how conflict minerals are mined with forced labor, how the rule may have had some unintended consequences, and challenge our government and corporations to come up with a solution rather than a cop-out. The issue is best summed up by auditing firm Deloitte, "Although many companies may view social compliance efforts as cumbersome, experiences with conflict minerals suggest that these efforts have helped companies improve supply chain transparency and risk identification capabilities."

Sources:

https://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2016/258747.htm

https://www.sec.gov/rules/final/2012/34-67716.pdf

https://www.sec.gov/News/Article/Detail/Article/1365171562058

https://www.verite.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Verite-Report-Illegal_Gold_Mining-2.pdf

https://journalistsresource.org/studies/international/globalization/conflict-minerals-responsible-sourcing-3tg

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/08/business/dealbook/companies-struggle-to-comply-with-conflict-minerals-rule.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/how-a-well-intentioned-us-law-left-congolese-miners-jobless/2014/11/30/14b5924e-69d3-11e4-9fb4-a622dae742a2_story.html?utm_term=.9ce5001a37e9

http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/more-conflict-minerals-drama-81929/

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/02/conflict-minerals-are-about-get-reprieve

https://www.sourceintelligence.com/what-are-conflict-minerals/

http://www.statschippac.com/aboutus/drc_stmt.aspx

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2013/09/conflict_minerals_from_the_congo_is_your_cellphone_made_with_them.html

https://business-humanrights.org/en/chinese-companies-continuing-to-buy-minerals-from-eastern-dem-rep-of-congo-but-local-directives-market-pressure-may-push-them-to-ensure-their-purchases-dont-fuel-conflict

https://journalistsresource.org/studies/international/globalization/conflict-minerals-responsible-sourcing-3tg

The Trump administration may suspend the DRC Conflict Mineral rule that requires US public companies disclose whether they have conflict minerals (cassiterite, wolframite, and coltan, and gold) in their supply chain from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Hosts Seth Daire and JJ Janflone look at how conflict minerals are mined with forced labor, how the rule may have had some unintended consequences, and challenge our government and corporations to come up with a solution rather than a cop-out. The issue is best summed up by auditing firm Deloitte, "Although many companies may view social compliance efforts as cumbersome, experiences with conflict minerals suggest that these efforts have helped companies improve supply chain transparency and risk identification capabilities."

Sources:

https://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2016/258747.htm

https://www.sec.gov/rules/final/2012/34-67716.pdf

https://www.sec.gov/News/Article/Detail/Article/1365171562058

https://www.verite.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Verite-Report-Illegal_Gold_Mining-2.pdf

https://journalistsresource.org/studies/international/globalization/conflict-minerals-responsible-sourcing-3tg

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/08/business/dealbook/companies-struggle-to-comply-with-conflict-minerals-rule.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/how-a-well-intentioned-us-law-left-congolese-miners-jobless/2014/11/30/14b5924e-69d3-11e4-9fb4-a622dae742a2_story.html?utm_term=.9ce5001a37e9

http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/more-conflict-minerals-drama-81929/

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/02/conflict-minerals-are-about-get-reprieve

https://www.sourceintelligence.com/what-are-conflict-minerals/

http://www.statschippac.com/aboutus/drc_stmt.aspx

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2013/09/conflict_minerals_from_the_congo_is_your_cellphone_made_with_them.html

https://business-humanrights.org/en/chinese-companies-continuing-to-buy-minerals-from-eastern-dem-rep-of-congo-but-local-directives-market-pressure-may-push-them-to-ensure-their-purchases-dont-fuel-conflict

https://journalistsresource.org/studies/international/globalization/conflict-minerals-responsible-sourcing-3tg

President Trump met with anti-slavery organizations at the White House on February 23rd and signed the Enforcing Federal Law with Respect to Transnational Criminal Organizations and Preventing International Trafficking on February 9th. Host Seth Daire and JJ Janflone give credit to the new administration for bringing attention to human trafficking, but also point out how these appear to be prosecution-oriented and lacking in specifics. While it's laudable that there has been increased law enforcement stings against sex trafficking to begin the year, that is largely part of a yearly cycle relating to funding rather than a priority change. Still, all efforts against modern slavery are appreciated.

Sources:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/02/09/presidential-executive-order-enforcing-federal-law-respect-transnational

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/02/23/remarks-president-trump-listening-session-domestic-and-international

http://www.freetheslaves.net/news-reports-trump-pledges-to-make-ending-human-trafficking-a-priority/

http://www.guestworkeralliance.org/2017/02/trump-executive-order-on-trafficking-is-a-victory-for-traffickers-21017/

https://endslaveryandtrafficking.org/statement-executive-order-international-trafficking/

http://www.generation-freedom.org/platform/

https://endslaveryandtrafficking.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/TransitionReport_2017-01-19.pdf

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/02/24/ivanka-trump-pushes-white-house-agenda-human-trafficking/

http://reason.com/blog/2017/02/27/trumps-fake-crackdown-on-sex-trafficking

https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/02/23/remarks-president-trump-listening-session-domestic-and-international

http://www.natlawreview.com/article/trump-s-commitment-against-human-trafficking-brings-greater-uncertainty-contractors

http://www.towardsjustice.org/2_27_2017_press_release

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article134892534.html