What is considered a tactic used by traffickers to control victims?

Traffickers often utilize force, fraud, and coercion as tactics to exert control over their victims. These methods enable traffickers to manipulate and dominate individuals, making it extremely difficult for them to escape their situation or seek help.

Force can involve physical violence or the threat of harm, effectively instilling fear in the victim. Fraud includes deceitful practices, such as providing false promises of employment or a better life, luring victims into dangerous situations under the guise of legitimate opportunities. Coercion refers to psychological pressure, manipulation, or exploitation of the victim’s vulnerabilities, creating a sense of dependency on the trafficker.

In contrast, options like direct support and therapy, and community engagement represent positive intervention strategies aimed at helping individuals in vulnerable situations, rather than controlling them. The use of fake documents might be a tactic to facilitate trafficking, but it does not encapsulate the broader, more direct means traffickers employ to maintain control over their victims as effectively as force, fraud, and coercion does. These elements highlight the systemic nature of trafficking and the severe impact on victims' autonomy and well-being.