Find help if I or someone I know feels unsafe trading sex
People get involved in trading sex for many reasons, including choice, circumstance or force. How and why someone is involved in commercial sex can change over time. If someone is being forced or pressured into trading sex or if they are under the age of 18 and trading sex, they may be experiencing sex trafficking. You can read more about the signs of trafficking below these resources.
The organizations below provide support that people involved in trading sex have found helpful.
You can also learn more about emotional health on Facebook. On our Safety Center, you can learn more about domestic violence or what to do if someone is sharing intimate images without permission.
Resources
Signs someone may be experiencing sex trafficking
People experiencing trafficking can be found in many different situations. If you or someone you know are experiencing these issues, please reach out to the local authorities or the organizations above for help.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, someone may be in a sex trafficking situation if they:
- Want to stop selling or trading sex but feel scared or unable to leave
- Were reluctant to start selling sex but someone pressured them into it
- Live where they work
- Are transported by guards between home and work
- Have an older or controlling parent, guardian, romantic partner or boss who will not allow anyone to meet or speak with the person alone
- Are being monitored for where they go, what they buy, and/or who they talk to
- Experience violence or threats of violence against themselves or their family and friends
- Have injuries that look like they were from an assault or control measures
- Are threatened with being given to the authorities
- Aren’t allowed to access to their travel or identity documents
- Have a fake identity or fake travel documents
- Don’t know the local language
- Don’t know their home or work address
- Let others speak for them
- Are underpaid or not paid at all for their work
- Work very long hours over long time periods
- Have little or no social time with people who aren’t in their immediate circle
Country resources
Global
Africa
Kenya
- HAART Kenya
- https://haartkenya.org/
- +254 780 211 113
Tanzania
- KIWOHEDE
Asia
Middle East
- Migrant-Rights.org
Syria and Lebanon
- KAFA: Enough Violence and Exploitation
03 018 019
- https://kafa.org.lb/ar
Europe
Ireland
- Ruhama
- https://www.ruhama.ie/
United Kingdom
- Stop the Traffik
- https://www.stopthetraffik.org/
North America
Honduras
Mexico
- Consejo Ciudadano
- www.consejociudadanomx.org
United States
- Human Trafficking Hotline
- https://humantraffickinghotline.org/
- Text: 233733
- Elevate Academy
South America
Argentina
- Programa de Rescate y Acompañamiento a las Personas Damnificadas por el delito de Trata
- oficinarescate@jus.gov.ar