"Invisible chains"
What do our fragile society and human trafficking have to do with each other? VERY MUCH!
In times of crisis, the true strength of an emergency or disaster manager becomes apparent. I think of his ability to organize chaos, protect lives and bring hope in the midst of darkness.
But alongside countless crises and disasters such as destroyed homes, accidents, fires, pandemics, floods and landslides, droughts, devastated landscapes, conflicts and wars, cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, migration and political instability, there is also an invisible danger that should also require our urgent attention, namely human trafficking.
Natural disasters, pandemics and numerous conflicts not only leave physical destruction in their wake - they also tear down our social protection mechanisms, weaken our communities and increase vulnerability to exploitation. At such moments, human traffickers are on hand to put desperate people in invisible chains. This link between disasters, crises and human trafficking should make us all aware that our overall social action must go far beyond restoring infrastructure.
As emergency, disaster and crisis managers, shouldn't we also see ourselves as a kind of “architect” of resilience?
Carl Jung: “Know all the theories, master all the techniques, but when you touch a human soul, just be another human soul.”
I personally see it as one of the key roles and also competencies, besides the main factor of protecting and saving lives, to also build the resilience of communities to protect them from such hidden dangers.
With new approaches that combine innovative technologies and preventive strategies, we could not only help the victims, but also strengthen entire communities and break the “invisible” chains. Let's promote resilience and awareness together.
Disasters are uniquely human and unfortunately this crucial element is often overlooked when developing plans and
response measures is often overlooked. My approach is a holistic 360-degree perspective i.e. the philosophy of personal responsibility of EVERY individual and the entire community in emergency and disaster response (this ultimately includes human trafficking). My approach aims to promote cognitive thinking equipped with knowledge and appropriate skills. Ultimately, this is the surest way to develop a resilient and therefore antifragile community that will not only withstand the challenges that inevitably face us all, but also thrive and grow. One key will be to change perceptions and mindsets.
Have you ever thought about the double burden of human trafficking and Long Covid?
Not yet? Then now is the time ...
The lack of resilience in society is a decisive factor here, which exacerbates this problem and could potentially lead to more people becoming victims. This problem exists worldwide, whether in Germany, Europe, the USA, Asia, Africa ....
A lot has been written about Long Covid for a long time, there are Long Covid conferences and affected communities, Long Covid clinics and centers are being set up. BUT I have never read about the fact that victims of human trafficking could also suffer from the severe consequences of Long Covid and what this could mean for them.
In my opinion, too little attention is still being paid to the topic of human trafficking among all the countless current crisis topics and I personally wish that this topic would also be integrated as an integral part of social engineering.
Why? Human trafficking and social engineering overlap in the manipulation of emotions and behavioral patterns and therefore, for me, also belong together in the “training and education context”. It would be exciting if lectures and training courses also focused on how human traffickers use sophisticated psychological techniques - similar to social engineering - to gain trust and exploit their victims.
I have been very familiar with the topic of social engineering and Long Covid / ME/CFS for years, but I wanted to learn more about human trafficking and completed a 3-week very exciting Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) at Embry-Riddle Worldwide | College of Arts & Sciences on the topic of “Combatting Human Trafficking: Understanding, Prevention and Action”.
So I came up with the idea and developed various scenarios to make this important topic a little more tangible, visible and vivid for you. I decided on (possible) AR scenarios that could be implemented very well in an awareness campaign.
Scenario 1: The daily life of a Long Covid / ME/CFS sufferer who is also a victim of human trafficking
Aim of this scenario: To illustrate the immense daily struggle of a victim of human trafficking who also suffers from Long Covid or ME/CFS.
Please create interactive elements
• Create a very cramped, poorly lit and poorly ventilated space that realistically portrays the oppressive environment.
What is the goal? To give users an impression of the claustrophobic and oppressive conditions in which the victims live.
Possible interactive elements: Users can move around the room and examine different objects to get clues about the victim's daily life.
▪ For example, simulate breathing difficulties through visual and auditory effects to illustrate the poor ventilation and health effects..
• Also develop interactive tasks such as getting up, getting dressed and preparing breakfast to experience the victim's physical difficulties.
What is the goal? To highlight the daily challenges and immense physical effort that simple tasks represent for people with long-term Covid/ME/CFS.
Possible iInteractive elements: Users should perform simple tasks in the AR room such as getting out of bed, getting dressed and preparing a simple breakfast.
▪ It is important to incorporate time limits and exhaustion effects: Tasks must be completed within a limited time frame and users practically experience exhaustion symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue..
• Please create a simulation of the victim's “daily work routine”, which of course includes forced labor and exploitation.
What is the aim? To give users a deep understanding of the extreme working conditions and exploitation of the victims.
Possible interactive elements: Users accompany the victim through their working day, which includes various tasks and challenges.
▪ It is also important to simulate surveillance by human traffickers or exploiters: users should then decide how to work under constant surveillance and take breaks.
▪ Integration of hazards: Users could experience dangerous work situations here that highlight the lack of safety measures. Decisions should be made on how to deal with risky situations.
• Presentation of the psychological challenges: Dealing with psychological aspects such as stress, anxiety and depression, which are exacerbated by a lack of resilience.
What is the goal? To raise awareness of the psychological stress and emotional pressure on victims.
Possible interactive elements: Users then experience situations in which they have to cope with psychological challenges such as sudden anxiety attacks or depressive episodes.
▪ The simulation of isolation is also important here: users have to decide how to deal with loneliness and seek support.
▪ Incorporating resilience exercises: developing interactive exercises that show how resilience can be strengthened, e.g. mental exercises, breathing techniques and virtual support from mental health professionals.
Possible additional interactive experiences
• Users could make interactive choices here, such as taking short breaks when physically exhausted and taking risks to find hidden places to rest.
• Depiction of isolation and loneliness: Depiction of the enormous isolation and psychological stress to which the victim is exposed.
• Presentation of an emergency simulation: Development of a simulation of an emergency situation in which the victim needs medical help. Users react interactively and experience the dangers and associated complications.
Possible responsible persons and measures
• Scenario designer: Creation and implementation of interactive elements and simulated environments.
• Technical team: Support in the technical implementation of AR experiences.
• Communication team: Creation of accompanying materials to explain the interactive scenarios and their objectives.
Possible innovative approaches
• Augmented reality (AR) glasses: Provision of AR glasses for a more immersive experience of simulated environments.
• Virtual reality (VR): Integration of VR experiences that allow users to slip into the role of the victim and experience the challenges first-hand.
• Empathy events: Organization of empathy workshops where users can reflect on and discuss their experiences.
Possible dissemination strategy
• Companies and health centers: Implementation of training and education campaigns to raise awareness among employees and visitors. Advantage: Direct access to many people as multipliers.
• Constitutional protection authorities/offices: Implementation of training and awareness campaigns to sensitize employees, partners, citizens, companies ... Advantage: already known and established
• Hospitals and specialists/general practitioners: disseminate information material and raise awareness of the issue in their networks. Advantage: Direct contact with patients and passing on information.
• Parents' associations and school advisory boards: Organization of events and information evenings to raise awareness in the community. Advantage: Direct contact with families and organization of information events.
• Ministries, district offices, county councils, local and city councils: Supporting and promoting public campaigns and facilitating access to resources and relevant networks. Benefit: Official support and promotion of public campaigns.
• Public transportation companies: Use of posters and flyers with AR components in buses, subways and streetcars to reach a wide audience. Cab providers too! Advantage: Reach a wide audience through posters and flyers.
• Pharmacies: Distribution of information material through leaflets and other means. Advantage: Contact points for health issues and the dissemination of information.
• Churches: Churches could provide spaces for empathy workshops where community members can reflect and discuss the challenges of human trafficking and social engineering. Clergy could address the issue in sermons and seminars to emphasize the moral responsibility of the community and provide practical tips on prevention. Benefit: Integration of the topic into youth groups and educational programs to raise awareness among young people at an early age. Collaboration between different faith communities to achieve a broader impact and pool resources. Using the extensive networks of churches to disseminate information and mobilize support. Churches are often highly trusted in the community, making their messages particularly effective. Emphasizing compassion and social responsibility can inspire people to take action.
• Trade unions could educate workers about potential risks and forms of exploitation, especially in industries that are prone to illegal labor practices. Educational institutions could develop awareness-raising programs and educate pupils and students early on about the risks and mechanisms of human trafficking and social engineering.
• Schools and universities: Educational institutions could develop programs to raise awareness and educate pupils and students about the risks and mechanisms of human trafficking and social engineering at an early stage.
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) / charitable foundations: NGOs with a focus on human rights, migration or the protection of women and children could be valuable partners here in order to broadly disseminate the topic and develop targeted measures through their networks. Foundations that focus on human rights, education or resilience could provide resources and funding to support the campaign.
Possible responsible persons and measures
• Sales manager: coordinating the dissemination strategy and ensuring cooperation with the various target groups.
• Communications team: Preparation of information material and coordination of information dissemination. Crisis communication team included!
• Partnership and network manager: Establishing and maintaining partnerships with companies, health centers, hospitals and other relevant institutions.
I attach particular importance to resilience exercises in relation to human trafficking/disaster management, as disaster and emergency management and human trafficking have several overlaps, especially when you consider how crises and disasters can increase vulnerability to human trafficking. This means significantly increased vulnerability in times of crisis. Natural disasters, conflicts or pandemics can put people in further distress and significantly increase their vulnerability to exploitation and trafficking. In such times, access to basic needs such as food, water, shelter and safety can be more difficult, making it easier for people to fall into the clutches of human traffickers. In addition, disasters can further weaken the social structures and networks that normally serve as protection mechanisms due to much weaker social structures. Communities and families can be torn apart even more quickly, making it easier for traffickers to find and exploit their victims.
Disaster response teams often operate in refugee and IDP camps, where people are also at increased risk of trafficking. Conditions in these camps could also potentially be unsafe and the lack of various resources makes residents vulnerable to exploitation. As part of disaster and emergency management, immediate measures are taken to protect and support affected people. This includes identifying and supporting victims of human trafficking. Disaster and emergency management teams could help to further strengthen the resilience of communities and better protect them from human trafficking. In my view, emergency and disaster management, but also the social engineering field (e.g. at constitutional protection agencies/offices) could also play a very important role in awareness-raising and prevention. Through training and awareness-raising campaigns, vulnerable groups could be informed and educated about the risks of human trafficking and how they can protect themselves. This also requires the development of interactive experiences that show how the resilience of the population can be strengthened.
Together we can break the invisible chains that hold people in need captive.
Important phone number - Report Human Trafficking
The Blue Campaign, an initiative of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), offers central telephone numbers to report suspected cases of human trafficking. These hotlines are specifically set up to take reports and provide support for victims. If you are outside the US, you can also reach the HSI tip line at 802-872-6199
Homeland Security Investigations Tip Line: 1-866-347-2423
National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 or send a text message with “HELP” or “INFO” to BeFree (233733)
- Germany: Anti-Trafficking Hotline (Berlin): +49 157 537 309 86.
- Austria: LEFÖ-IBF - Protection Organization for Women and Girls: +43 1-796 92 98.
- Belgium: National helpline for victims of human trafficking: +32 78 055 800 (during working hours and 24/7 for urgent cases).
- Bulgaria: National hotline against human trafficking: +359 800 20 100 (active 24/7).
- Croatia: SOS hotline for victims of human trafficking: +385 0800 77 99.
- Cyprus: Anti-Trafficking Police Office: +357 22 808 063 / 064.
- United Kingdom: Salvation Army National Referral System: 0300 3038151.
- Poland: National Center for Victims of Human Trafficking: +48 22 628 01 20.
- Czech Republic: National Anti-Trafficking Hotline: +420 800 077 777.
- Italy: Anti-Trafficking Hotline (rescue network): 800 290 290.
- Hungary: National hotline for victims of human trafficking: +36 80 20 55 20.
- Slovenia: KLJUČ KEY - Society, Center for the Fight against Human Trafficking: 080 17 22.
- France: National hotline for victims of human trafficking: 0800 200 777: Anonymous, free of charge and specifically intended for victims or people who wish to report suspected cases.
- Switzerland: National hotline against human trafficking and exploitation (Association ACT212): 0840 212 212
- Spain: National hotline against human trafficking: 900 105 090. anonymous and free of charge.
- Portugal: National hotline for victims of human trafficking: +351 800 202 148. anonymous and free of charge.
Modern Slavery Helpline Directory: https://www.humanity-consultancy.com/modern-slavery-helpline-directory
On this page you will find links from victims and survivors to support and aid services around the world: https://globalmodernslavery.org/
Valuable links
Tools That Teach: What is Human Trafficking?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35uM5VMrZas
Who is Most Vulnerable?https://polarisproject.org/vulnerabilities-and-recruitment/
Take a Second Look: https://www.dhs.gov/medialibrary/assets/videos/21823
Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda
Survivor Stories: https://polarisproject.org/survivor-stories/
Human Trafficking and Social Media: https://polarisproject.org/human-trafficking-and-social-media/
Gender-Based Violence Awareness Course: https://www.dhs.gov/medialibrary/assets/video/29107
What is trauma-informed care for human trafficking survivors? By Mary Nikkel August 2, 2021 https://theexodusroad.com/what-is-trauma-informed-care/