IHG Hotels & Resorts and its partner Polaris, a leading organization in the fight against human trafficking, hosted a forum in Atlanta, Ga. on Wednesday, February 22 to unveil findings from Polaris’ National Survivor Study (NSS). Survivors of human trafficking shared insights on the conditions that make people vulnerable to trafficking and the barriers to rebuilding their lives. Elected officials and executives from Atlanta’s top companies also discussed what the State of Georgia and the business community are doing to help to support survivors and stop human trafficking.
The NSS is a scientifically rigorous and survivor-led research project designed to reveal the experiences and needs of human trafficking survivors in an effort to design more effective strategies to eradicate this crime.
Key study insights include:
Prior to their trafficking, survivors reported experiencing vulnerabilities at alarmingly high rates, including 83% having experienced poverty and 96% having suffered abuse (physical, sexual, emotional).
At time of exit, 75% of respondents reported support in accessing behavioral or mental health services as one of their top needs.
Roughly 40% of respondents reported some kind of criminal record as a result of their trafficking experience, hindering their chances for employment.
Survivors’ income lags the rest of the population, with 43% of respondents making under $25,000 per year after exiting trafficking, compared to 26% of the general U.S. population.
Traffickers often exploit victims through misuse of their identity for various financial schemes and over 60% of respondents reported experiencing financial abuse by their trafficker.
Catherine Chen, CEO, Polaris, said: “This event highlighted critical findings from the National Survivor Study that paint a detailed picture of the arc of trafficking – from the conditions that make people susceptible, to the many challenges survivors face after their exploitation. The NSS offers a virtual roadmap…
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