Human trafficking, often referred to as modern-day slavery, remains an issue in the United States, with over 18,000 active cases looming. As reported by humantraffickinghotline.org since its launch in 2007, more than 100,000 victims of human trafficking have been identified.
“This is, unfortunately, a multi-billion-dollar business,” said Gina Gueno Ramos, co-founder of Casa Esperanza para Mujeres y Niños (translated for women and children) at a panel discussion that Mercy University hosted in Dobbs Ferry on Jan. 31.
As noted by unodc.org , it is considered a highly profitable industry, generating over 150 billion annually.
The panel was led by Dr. Lucia Alfano, Director of Clinical Affairs for the School of Nursing, and featured a group of experts including Ramos; Dr. Carol Bennett-Speight, Professor and Program Director of the Traditional Nursing Program at Mercy; Lisa Gerstmann-Boyle, Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner at Westchester Medical University Hospital; and Konrad Motyka, Executive Director of Campus Safety at Mercy.
Ramos shared with the audience a harsh truth:
She explained that human trafficking knows no boundaries victims can come from any background, race, or socio-economic status. One of the key factors in trafficking, she emphasized, is how the media often portray a glamorous lifestyle that can trap young people, making them easy targets for traffickers.
“Children see this grandiose lifestyle and fall exposed to it,” Ramos said, describing how traffickers prey on the desires of the young and vulnerable.
Ramos’ organization prides itself as a haven for those in need.
“Using donated space in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, we will offer assistance with emergency shelter to those women needing immediate assistance along with a six (8) week program that provides supportive and educational training to women impacted by domestic violence residing in shelters in Puerto Rico,” its website states.
The panelists discussed the emotional and psychological toll on victims. Bennett-Speight highlighted that some victims are trafficked by people they trust, such as family members or romantic partners.
“Some are trafficked by their loved ones and silenced by the fear of breaking up their home lives,” she explained.
Ramos shared her own experience in trying to help victims.
“Husbands often got aggressive when I tried to see their wives alone,” she recalled. “At times, I had to call the police.”
This behavior is part of what Gerstmann-Boyle referred to as a “trauma bond” – the emotional attachment that keeps victims tied to their abusers.
“It’s not easy to leave,” Gerstmann-Boyle said. “There’s this fear of destabilizing their lives. People become desensitized to the trauma they experience.”
The panel also touched on the role of communities in either helping or hindering efforts to stop trafficking. Many trafficking cases are covered up, especially in certain religious communities, where victims are often afraid to speak out. Close tight communities tend to conceal what they deem an internal issue to avoid public scandal.
Ramos, who has witnessed the reality of trafficking firsthand, shared her encounter with organ trafficking during her time living in the Philippines. I saw people who woke up and had a kidney missing,” she recalled shedding some light on another side of trafficking that goes unnoticed.
” It’s happening,” she added.
As law enforcement and advocates work to fight against trafficking, perpetrators of these crimes are also advancing. Most perpetrators tend to have clean records and no prior criminal activity, with 71% of the defendants charged with human trafficking having no previous convictions, according to bjs.ojp.gov .
“As technology evolves, the bad guys evolve with it,” Motyka warned, pointing out how platforms like Airbnb are increasingly used to move victims without raising suspicion. The 3P paradigm prosecution, prevention, and protection is important in addressing these tactics, as highlighted by state.gov, to combat trafficking and protect vulnerable individuals.
Bennett-Speight’s ended the panel, making it clear: “Human trafficking is a grave violation of human rights.”
To help combat trafficking on campus, Mercy University offers an anonymous reporting system called Care Referral, which allows students to report any concerns or suspicions related to trafficking or abuse in an anonymous manner. Additionally, those in need of support or wishing to report trafficking incidents contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888.
