Human Trafficking Awareness - CNN iReport

Last Thursday, May 15, 2014, the Edgewater Library Community Room featured a presentation about Human Trafficking Awareness by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in cooperation with 48th Ward Alderman Harry Osterman, Illinois Senator Heather Steans (7th District), State Representative Kelly M. Cassidy (14th District), U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District) and Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has taken up more efforts to intercept human trafficking operations in the state of Illinois, nationwide, and around the world to set free victims of human trafficking who are enslaved as senior citizens, mental health patients, women, youth, children, disabled people, in the LGBT group, as well as laborers in agriculture and domestic service, nannies or maids, food service employees, tourist or hospitality workers, janitors, migrant farmers, fishery workers, or as beggars. Victims of Human Trafficking may also be immigrants, aliens or non-immigrants in the United States of America. The Federal Bureau of Investigation's efforts are focusing on human trafficking awareness to combat and deter the exploitation of individuals who work in labor industries targeted by human traffickers and who are often forced into slave labor or sexual exploitation and prostitution. According to the FBI profile, You May Be A Victim of Human Trafficking if: - You are not being paid for your work, or your wages are held by a boss or supervisor. - Your working conditions make you feel unsafe. - You are not free to come and go as you please. - You feel threatened or members of your family have been threatened. - Your personal belongings and ID have been taken away from you. - You are subjected to physical violence or emotional abuse at work. - You have had false ID given to you. - Your communication with family and friends is restricted or denied. - You are denied rest and are forced to work while you are sick.