Modern slavery

Human trafficking is another way of describing modern slavery, although it is without any visible chains. This is when someone takes advantage of another person’s hopes and dreams, by forcing the person to live their life not as they choose.

It is a common misunderstanding to think that prostitution is the only manifestation of human trafficking and that only women can become victims of traffickers. Some groups are more exposed than others; migrants or other people in search of a better life, poor people, or drug addicts. Children and homeless young people are also more probable victims of human trafficking.

Anyone can be a perpetrator: someone who acts like your friend, a supervisor, a family member, or even your partner. A human trafficking victim does not believe he is being abused and therefore doesn’t know that he is a human trafficking victim. The perpetrator seduces a victim by showing attention, care, love, safety, or a promise of a job - all to gain the trust of the victim.

It can be human trafficking if someone:

• Doesn’t pay you for your work.
• Threatens you or your family violence if you don’t do something.
• Forces you to live in unhealthy circumstances.
• Keeps you in a confined space against your will.
• Takes away your passport or other important documents.
• Forges your passport or provides you with a fake passport
• Pays for your travel to Iceland and makes you pay the debt by working.
• Forbids you to talk about your circumstances with your friends, family, or authorities.
• Uses your addiction to make you do something.
• Forbids you to seek medical help or demands to accompany you to the doctor.