Shedding light on local issues during Human Trafficking Awareness Month

During National Human Trafficking Prevention Month – with Jan. 11 being National Human Trafficking Awareness Day – it's important for parents and all people in the community to understand the realities of this crime and what can be done to help local victims of human trafficking.

Mattie Critchfield Dodds, program manager with The Formation Project, said that a big part of her job, when it comes to the public, is dispelling the myth of what sex trafficking looks like.

“I would say that 95% of people have an incorrect idea driven by media or movies,” she explained. “Many think it is only a problem in Europe or Asia. But there is a reason why The Formation Project is a local organization.”

The Formation Project, based in North Charleston, is a nonprofit that assists local survivors of human trafficking. As the website describes, “A rapidly growing population and a hot spot for tourism make Charleston an easy target for human trafficking and sexual exploitation. When collaborating with the Tri-County Human Trafficking Task Force, The Formation Project saw a need to help adult survivors in the Lowcountry.”

According to Dodds, one of the biggest misconceptions with sex trafficking is the definition. For adults, sex trafficking is defined as a commercial sex act by means of force, fraud or coercion. She is quick to point out that for minors, sex trafficking is any commercial sex act because they can't give consent.

Dodds went on to explain that many women caught up in sex trafficking are not coerced by money, but instead are being manipulated by verbal or emotional abuse. If the victim happens to be addicted to drugs, they are oftentimes paid with the drug of their choice. And with homeless women, they are coerced with a place to stay. She said that the person manipulating them is often not even physically present in the situation.

Sex trafficking is one of the most under-reported crimes due to misinformation and stereotypes. People may not realize they are even being exploited.

Dodds said that at The Formation Project they take note of a victim's vulnerabilities and risk factors or what it was that got them in the situation. She said that every survivor she has worked with has a unique story, but that they all have the risk factors in common such as childhood sexual abuse; growing up with domestic violence or around gun violence; attending failing schools or living in poverty or an unsafe environment – among others.

She said that the perpetrators are looking to exploit those risk factors and find vulnerabilities.

“It isn't exactly common to get kidnapped and put in the sex trafficking ring in the United States,” she said. But parents should still be aware of the risk factors, and that Charleston County is listed in the top 5 counties for human trafficking in South Carolina.

As for a mom's intuition, Dodds said if you suspect that someone is in a human trafficking situation or unsafe relationship, call law enforcement and do not confront the victim or the perpetrator on your own. “For your safety and the safety of the victim, it is best not to approach them. Plus, the likelihood that the victim will be honest with you in front of their perpetrator is low.”

Some notable industries that may encounter a potential victim are people who work in hotels or in the emergency room.

The Formation Project, which is led by sex trafficking survivor Kat Wehunt, offers many ways to help victims, including providing safety and basic services, such as food and housing, as well as long-term support to identify past trauma and begin the healing process. The nonprofit also has volunteer training for those interested in getting involved, and relies on donations to help in their fight against exploitation and trafficking in the Lowcountry.

The organization also aims to address many of the systemic issues that lead to human trafficking, such as gender-based violence, racism and poverty.

Wehunt was recently recognized for her work with The Formation Project at the 2022 Jefferson Awards in New York City by Multiplying Good, which celebrates individuals nationwide for their extraordinary service to others.

For more information, visit theformationproject.org.