Why don’t victims seek help?

There are many reasons victims do not seek help or self-disclose. Chaplains should be aware of some of the barriers to seeking help. Victim-related barriers include fear of authorities and officials, fear of retribution (violence, beatings) from the trafficker if they reveal any information about their circumstances, and trust issues from earlier abuse in their life. Some victims may not even know that they are victims of trafficking. For children and teens, additional fears may include fear of peers at school learning about their situation, fear of bullying on social networks, and fear that parents/guardians will remove phone or computer privileges.