What is the approach to identify and intervene in cases of trafficking in persons during screening?

• A. Making a note of any inconsistent travel details only
• B. Referring all travelers for potential trafficking as a blanket policy
• C. Recognize signs of coercion or control, exploitative travel arrangements, and refer to authorities or rescue resources as appropriate
• D. Relying on traveler self-report without corroboration

Answer: (C)

Screening for trafficking in persons hinges on actively looking for concrete indicators of coercion, control, and exploitation in travel, and then taking appropriate action by connecting the person with authorities or rescue resources. Signs include behaviors and circumstances such as fear or submission, threats or intimidation, isolation from others, restrictions on movement, inconsistent stories combined with exploitative travel arrangements, and situations that suggest debt bondage or confiscation of documents. When these indicators are present, it’s essential to escalate to the proper authorities or support resources to ensure the traveler’s safety and allow for a proper intervention. Relying only on self-report can miss cases where the person cannot or will not disclose abuse, while focusing narrowly on minor inconsistencies or applying a blanket referral to all travelers can misallocate resources and potentially harm individuals. The best approach is to recognize clear indicators of trafficking and follow established referral pathways to provide appropriate help.