This document discusses ethics as it relates to human trafficking and the role of human services professionals. It defines ethics and outlines the ethical standards for human services, which include upholding integrity, promoting client welfare, and professional growth. As it relates to human trafficking, two key ethical standards are respecting client integrity and protecting safety if harm is suspected. Statistics on human trafficking globally and in the US are provided, showing it disproportionately impacts women and children. The roles and needs of social workers and victims are discussed, such as identifying and supporting victims, understanding their mindset, and meeting their various needs.

1. Ethics In Human Services

2. Ethics
Ethics is defined as the branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to
human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions
and to the goodness and badness of motives and ends of such action.
www.dictionary.com
Unfortunately for ethics in its purest form it is a topic that will never have total
resolve. Why? Because everyone’s standard of ethical character is different, and
will continue to evolve as other opinions are adopted into organizations across
the world.
According the ethical standards for human service professionals, human services
is a profession developing in response to and in anticipation of the direction of
human needs and human problems. Human Service professionals are to always
uphold the upmost integrity and ethics of the profession, partake in constructive
criticism of the profession, promote client and community well being, and
enhance their own professional growth.

3. As Ethics Relates to Human
Trafficking
As ethics relates to human trafficking there are two standards within our code of
conduct that stand out:
Statement #2 - Human service professionals respect the integrity and welfare of
the client at all times. Each client is treated with respect, acceptance and dignity.
Statement #4 – If it is suspected that danger or harm may occur to the client or to
others as a result of a client’s behavior, the human service professionals’ act in
an appropriate and professional manner to protect the safety of those individuals.
This may involve seeking consultation, supervision, and/or breaking the
confidentiality of the relationship.
As we look into the topic of Human Trafficking also known as “Modern Day
Slavery” let’s keep in mind what our value system as human service
professionals but most of all as human beings.

4. Human Trafficking
An act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harboring or receiving a person
through a use of force, coercion or other means, for the purpose of exploiting
them.

5. HUMAN TRAFFICING STATISTICS
 12.3 Million adults & children are forced in labor,
bonded labor, and forced prostitution around the world
 Only 4,166 trafficking successful prosecutions
 International Market value of 32 billion
 161 countries evaluated by U.S. government

6. More Statistics
Source: U.S. Department of Health Services U.S. Department of Justice, Free the
Slaves
Misc
12%
Factories 5%
Prostituion
46%
Agriculture
10%
Domestic
Servitude 27%
Misc
Factories
Prostituion
Agriculture
 Every 10 Minutes, one person is trafficked into the U.S.
14,500-17,000 estimated number of people trafficked into the United States each year
50% of people trafficked into the U.S, each year are children
In the United States alone, it is estimated that there are 200,000 slaves
East Asia/Pacific is the region that is the largest source of people who are trafficked into the U.S.
each year

7. Federal Agencies Charged With Enforcing U.S.
Human Trafficking Laws
Congress Created in 2000, T-Visas—FY 2002 thru June, 2010
• 2,968 applications for T-1 status
• 1,862 of these applications were approved
“Modern Slavery– be it bonded labor, involuntary servitude, or sexual
slavery—is a crime and can not be tolerated in any culture, community, or
country…It is an affront to your values and our commitment to human
rights.”—Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton

8. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
Article 8
No one shall be subjected
to slavery, servitude or
forced labor. Including
sexual, economic
exploitation and trafficking
Article 7
No one shall be
subjected to torture or
to cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or
punishment.

9. Social Workers & Role
Social Workers
Uphold a Commitment
 To Service
 To Social Justice
 To the dignity & worth of a person
 To the importance to human
relationship
 To integrity & Competence
Role
Education, Research, & Training
Current Federal, State Laws & Policies
Global Issues
Training
- Identify victims
- Relate to victims
Working in a profession centered around
a professional code of ethics, NO social
worker should shy away from the issue.

10. Understanding Victims Mindset
Captivity Isolation No personal ID
Sense of obligation Fear (self & family)
Shame/Self-blame Hopeless

11. Victims Needs
 Crisis intervention
 Long term housing
 Clothing & food
 Protection
 Case management
 Medical/Health Service
 Emotional Support
 Preparation/Employm
ent assistance
 Court
 Interpretation
 Legal Services
 Mental Health
Services
 Education
 Transportation