Understanding and Responding to Trafficking in Persons
An introductory e-module to Trafficking in Persons for frontline and non-frontline Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers.
Understanding and Responding to Trafficking in Persons
The British Red Cross and Australian Red Cross – in partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) – are excited to be launching the first global online training on human trafficking within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement: the e-module Understanding and Responding to Trafficking in Persons.
This course was developed in partnership with National Societies and an IFRC working group. It was designed in consultation with survivors of trafficking through the Survivor Alliance, and reviewed by the Global Protection Cluster. It is designed for Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers, but much of the content is also relevant to external audiences involved in humanitarian work.
Meet Felix and Sakiya
The e-module features two central characters, Sakiya and Felix. The learner gets to know them through a series of animations during the course. Their stories, along with case studies from National Society contexts, help to demonstrate and explore:
- why trafficking is a protection issue that concerns the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
- what trafficking is and how to identify it
- the impact of trafficking
- the humanitarian needs of trafficked people
E-module overview
Understanding and Responding to Trafficking in Persons is an introduction to human trafficking for Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers. By completing this e-module, learners will know how to recognise trafficking and what steps to take to prevent and respond to it. A dedicated unit in the e-module explores the impact of Covid-19 on human trafficking.
Trafficking violates a person’s dignity, integrity and human rights, and endangers their life and physical security. It is a complex global issue, influenced by sociocultural, economic, political and context-specific factors. These factors can all be exacerbated by the onset of an emergency.
In their programmes and operations, National Societies may encounter people who are:
- in the process of being trafficked
- have fled a trafficking situation
- are at risk of trafficking.
This course aims to enable staff and volunteers to recognise people in each of these situations, and to know the main steps to take to mitigate risks and safely respond.
Building on this understanding, the e-module introduces how trafficking is and can be addressed by National Societies and the IFRC. It also explains the core knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to safely respond to concerns or disclosures about trafficking.
Some National Societies have the skills and experience to respond to trafficking in more specialist ways. The e-module has an optional learning section to explore such specialised responses. It also examines the impact of emergencies on trafficking, with a focus on Covid-19.
Course learning objectives
By the end of the course learners will be able to:
- explain the legal definition of human trafficking and recognise its three elements
- recognise that exploitation exists on a continuum and identify different forms of exploitation
- explain why human trafficking is a protection issue that is of concern to the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
- specify factors that heighten the risk of trafficking
- define the difference between human trafficking and smuggling of migrants
- identify warning signs of trafficking
- explain the impact of trafficking and the humanitarian needs of trafficked people
- describe how the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement addresses trafficking in its work
- recall the best way to respond safely if a person tells you they have been trafficked or you suspect they may have been
- recognise the impact of Covid-19 on human trafficking