WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS
Human trafficking is inherently difficult to identify and measure due to its covert nature. Documented cases represent only a fraction of the reality, as many instances may never be uncovered or reported. Victims frequently encounter systemic barriers to reporting, including fear of retaliation, language obstacles, and a profound lack of trust when cooperating with authorities, resulting in a significant gap between evidence and experience.
WHEN TRAFFICKING INTERSECTS WITH AUTHORITY
People experiencing trafficking may recognize what is happening to them long before institutions recognize, document, investigate, or act on it. Being unable to report an experience—or being unable to produce the documentation an institution expects—does not mean the experience did not occur.
People may face serious barriers to reporting and documenting trafficking, including coercion, threats, fear of retaliation, financial instability, lack of reliable phone or internet access, loss or destruction of devices, housing instability, lack of privacy, and difficulty reaching someone who can help. Institutional failures can create additional barriers when reports are dismissed, inadequately investigated, not properly documented, or otherwise fail to result in meaningful action. Documented cases also show that people in positions of authority can sometimes participate in, facilitate, protect, ignore, or obstruct trafficking.
These realities can leave a substantial gap between what people experience and what ultimately appears in official statistics and records. My Turn to Speak wants to help examine that gap. We collect reports to identify possible patterns and then look for corroborating information, public records, documented cases, and other independent evidence. A report is not treated as proof of wrongdoing—but it deserves to be heard, documented, and examined.
The goal is not to assume what happened. The goal is to gather better information so that trafficking—including trafficking involving institutional failures or abuses of authority—is less likely to remain invisible or uncounted.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: This research does not mean people in these professions generally participate in trafficking. It establishes that only documented categories supported by credible sources are included to ensure accurate accountability tracking and to protect the integrity of the data.
DOCUMENTED CASES & RESEARCH
UNODC — Corruption and Trafficking in Persons (2025)
U.S. Department of State — Official Complicity in Human Trafficking
U.S. Government Accountability Office — Human Trafficking: Challenges Identifying and Investigating Cases
United Nations research documents the relationship between corruption and human trafficking, including cases in which public officials have facilitated trafficking operations, provided protection or logistical assistance, assisted recruitment, or directly participated. The report explains that involvement by officials can make victims believe that help or rescue is unavailable.
The U.S. Department of State has documented forms of official complicity including law-enforcement personnel ignoring exploitation, facilitating trafficking, protecting establishments where victims are exploited, obstructing investigations, and government officials using their positions to commit or facilitate trafficking. The Department states that governments should investigate and prosecute officials involved in trafficking.
GAO found significant difficulties identifying and investigating trafficking. Law-enforcement officials and prosecutors reported challenges including difficulty identifying trafficking, victims’ fear of retaliation, distrust of law enforcement, limited victim services, and difficulty distinguishing trafficking from other crimes. These barriers mean reported cases do not necessarily represent the full extent of trafficking.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
My Turn to Speak is examining reports involving systems and positions of authority or trust. This can include government agencies, law enforcement, courts and the legal system, healthcare and medical institutions, schools and educational institutions, child-welfare systems, correctional institutions, nonprofit organizations, religious organizations, employers, businesses, and other institutions. Inclusion of a profession or institution on this list does not mean people working within it generally participate in trafficking. We are examining whether credible reports, public records, documented cases, or independently corroborated information reveal patterns involving particular people, organizations, institutions, or systems.
FROM REPORT TO EVIDENCE
A report submitted to My Turn to Speak is an allegation, not a finding of wrongdoing. We will look for corroborating reports, documents, court records, government records, investigative findings, credible published research, and other independent evidence. Multiple reports concerning the same institution, conduct, location, individuals, or methods may help identify patterns requiring further investigation.
CONNECT AND UNITE TO GET INVOLVED
My Turn to Speak examines systems and patterns. Reports submitted by individuals are allegations, not established facts. We look for patterns, corroborating information, public records, and independent evidence before drawing conclusions.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
People who have experienced or witnessed suspected trafficking can share information without having to prove the entire system themselves. Reports can help identify patterns that may not be visible from one case alone.