Enslaved Men Increasing But Still Under-Reported

The Houston Chronicle recently interviewed a trafficking victim who was raped, burned with cigarettes, and forced to work at gunpoint while enslaved in Texas.  But the face of this individual is not the one of a frightened young girl (like the one at the top of this page) or a bruised mother, which usually accompanies such a story; this victim is a man.  He is part of the increasing number of male victims of human trafficking around the world.

In fact, the U.S. Department of State has some recent indications that the trafficking of men is increasing.  The number of certified adult male trafficking victims increased 6 percent from 2006 to 2008.  Despite that increase, Maria Trujillo, Executive Director of Houston Rescue & Restore Coalition, believes trafficking of men is less often reported.

Male victims are really under-reported.  I think there’s just a bigger stigma for men. Some see (reporting) it as losing face, or just take it as their lot in life.

A significant under-reporting of male victims of human trafficking would not be surprising, considering the estimated levels of male under-reporting in other crimes such as sexual assault and rape.  Gender roles and expectations may make men even more unlikely than women to seek help for victimization in human trafficking.  Furthermore, the preponderance of media images of trafficking victims as primarily young women may make bystanders less likely to suspect and report male victims.

The increased number of certified male victims could be due in part to an increased awareness and focus on trafficking into a number of labor (as opposed to sexual) industries, where men are more often victims.  Trafficked men have been found in the gamut of labor industries: agricultural work, construction, service industry job, and even singing in church choirs.  While no adult men than I know of have been ideintified as trafficked into prostitution, young boys have been forced into prostitution in several countries.

The abuse, pain, lack of freedom, exploitation and fear which accompanies human trafficking applies just as much to men in slavery as women.  While men and women may process, react to, and be affected by similar experiences differently, it is important not to ignore the reality of male victims of trafficking, despite under-reporting.  Many of the techniques traffickers use to exploit their victims violate basic human rights, which are intrinsic to all human beings, regardless of gender.

Image from fiferis.com