Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery where people profit from the control and exploitation of others. Human trafficking is most commonly defined as:

  • Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age
  • The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage or slavery.
  • A victim does not need to be physically transported from one location to another in order for the crime to fall within these definitions.

There are several types of human trafficking including forced labor, sex trafficking, forced child labor, bonded labor, involuntary domestic servitude, debt bondage among migrant laborers and child soldiers. Human trafficking occurs in every part of the world, from less developed countries to more developed countries. As such, it is a crime under U.S. and international law. Victims can be any age, any gender and from any economic standing in life.

CMDA offers continuing education for healthcare professionals to learn more about human trafficking and how to provide healthcare to victims. To get started, visit www.cmda.org/tip.

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Topic: Human Trafficking

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Related Position Statements & Presentations

Topic: Human Trafficking
  • Download folder
    CMDA Position Statement | Human Trafficking

    Click to view/download PDF.

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    The Health Care Professional as a Modern Abolitionist

    Article originally published in The Permanente Press, 2012 Spring;16(2):67-9 © 2012 by Michael G. O'Callaghan, DDS. Click to view/download PDF.

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    Caring for Trafficked Persons Handbook

    CMDA members Drs. Clydette Powell and Katherine Welch participated in the development of this handbook with the International Organization for Migration Expert Group on Health and Human Trafficking.

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    Human Trafficking Fact Sheet

    Use this Human Trafficking Fact Sheet to learn more about human trafficking and how you can get involved in the fight against this crime.

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    Strategic Action Plan for Human Trafficking Victim Services

    CMDA's strategic action plan for providing services to victims of human trafficking by  Jeffrey Barrows, DO, MA (Ethics), and Jonathan Imbody | January 30, 2014

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    House of Hope Blog 2014

    A daily blog from Dr. Autumn Dawn Galbreath's trip to House of Hope in Nicaragua to treat victims of human trafficking in the fall of 2014.

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    Human Trafficking Personal Stories from Global Health Outreach

    Personal accounts from CMDA members who have treated victims of human trafficking.

Related Media Resources

Topic: Human Trafficking
  • Human Trafficking Update by Rachel DiSanto, MD
    Human Trafficking and the Healthcare Professional - An In-depth Seminar | November 2015

    A member of the CMDA Human Trafficking Commission and a family physician in North Country Hospital.  She is also a Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Vermont College of Medicine in Burlington, VT.

  • Human Trafficking from a Survivor's Perspective by Wendy Barnes and Holly Gibbs
    Human Trafficking and the Healthcare Professional - An In-depth Seminar | November 2015

    Survivors of human trafficking tell their story.  Holly is the Patient Care Services Program Director for Dignity Health.

  • The Place of the Forensic Exam for Victims of Human Trafficking by Dalia Racine, JD
    Human Trafficking and the Healthcare Professional - An In-depth Seminar | November 2015

    DeKalb County Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney and expert on human trafficking issues in the court system.

  • Preparing to Properly Respond to Victims of Trafficking in the Healthcare Setting by Jeff Barrows, DO
    Human Trafficking and the Healthcare Professional - An In-depth Seminar | November 2015

    Member of the CMDA Human Trafficking Commission and an Ob/Gyn.  Currently, the Director for U.S. training for the Hope For Justice and participates in a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' working group on health and human trafficking.

  • Trafficking | Response Protocol Development
    Human Trafficking and the Healthcare Professional - An In-depth Seminar | November 2015

    PowerPoint Presentation.

  • Introduction to Human Trafficking
    Life Skills Institute Presentation by Jeffrey Barrows, DO, MA (Ethics)  | August 10, 2015

    YouTube Video.

Related Letters

Topic: Human Trafficking

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Additional Links Relevant to Human Trafficking

  • Human Trafficking Awareness Training

    Human trafficking is a hidden crime, and the first step to combating it is to identify victims so they can be rescued and help bring their perpetrators to justice. The Blue Campaign has developed awareness and training materials to help increase awareness and educate on the indicators of human trafficking.

  • Grace Haven House

    Gracehaven was founded to strategically help the growing number of victims of domestic minor sex trafficking. We believe this issue must be actively addressed in order to effectively help victims, and to prevent others from falling into this world. To that end, Gracehaven employs a comprehensive approach to combating domestic minor sex trafficking.

  • HHS Rescue and Restore

    Could you spot a victim of trafficking in a crowd? Probably not — victims may not look any different than anyone else you see every day. Through the HHS Look Beneath the Surface campaign, we work with grantees and partners to raise awareness of human trafficking and the factors that make certain populations more at risk.

  • Homeland Security on Trafficking

    The Blue Campaign is the unified voice for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) efforts to combat human trafficking. Working in collaboration with law enforcement, government, non-governmental and private organizations, the Blue Campaign strives to protect the basic right of freedom and to bring those who exploit human lives to justice.

  • International Justice Mission

    Every day, countless people are sold into slavery, as slave owners make a profit off their misery. International Justice Mission is a global organization with a plan to eliminate the slave trade everywhere.

  • Salvation Army's Fight Against Trafficking

    The Salvation Army raises awareness of the injustices of human trafficking by partnering with local coalitions. Through prevention activities and our work to reduce demand for forced labor and commercial sex, we prevent future crimes. We also help rescue and restore current victims by improving the identification and prosecution of local traffickers.

  • World Hope International

    We operate on the guiding principle that people who are harmed in relationship are also healed in relationship. Traffickers and abusers usually target vulnerable people, using lies to prey on those desperate for a better life.

  • U.S. Department of State - Trafficking Report 2018

    This year’s report focuses on effective ways local communities can address human trafficking proactively and on how national governments can support and empower them. Local communities are the most affected by this abhorrent crime and are also the first line of defense against human trafficking. By engaging and training law enforcement, religious leaders, teachers, tribal elders, business executives, and communities, we become more vigilant and learn to identify and address vulnerabilities swiftly.