Dispel the Dark

Dispel the Dark is a series of interactive installations that motivate travelers to
combat human trafficking at the airport. Due to using a medium of both light and shadow, the experience sheds light on the human trafficking happening right in front of us and teaches travelers signs to look out for.

Background

25 Million People Worldwide Are Victims Of Human Trafficking

Human trafficking can be defined as an exploitation of human rights by way of “compelling or coercing a person’s labor, service, or commercial sex acts. “ It is a broad term that describes two different types of trafficking: sex trafficking and labor trafficking. This covert crime happens all over the globe and in each state in the US. In fact, out of all fifty states, Georgia ranks within the top three states for human trafficking.

Georgia has been classified as a human trafficking hub since 2005 . One of the main reasons for the activity is Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world with about 260,000 customers a day. In addition to Hartsfield-Jackson, Georgia has a growing entertainment industry, hosts large events (Super Bowl, SEC Championships, etc), and has four major interstates running through Atlanta. These features allow traffickers to move victims quickly and inconspicuously. The human trafficking business is extremely profitable, bringing in around $150 billion a year. The crime benefits not only traffickers, but private businesses as well. For example, employees at four Atlanta-area hotels knew sex trafficking occurred at their hotels; instead of reporting the crime, employees accepted financial compensation for their silence.

9 Warning Signs of Human Trafficking

1. A traveler's poor clothing

You might notice that a traveler has few or no personal items. Victims may be less well-dressed than their companions. They may be wearing clothes that are the wrong size, or are not appropriate for the weather for their destination.

4. They can't provide details of their flight information

Traffickers avoid raising suspicion about their crime and to keep victims enslaved. Some traffickers won't tell their victims where they are, where they are being taken or what job is supposedly waiting for them. This makes it harder for them to escape.

7. They are afraid to discuss themselves around others, deferring any attempts at conversation to someone who appears to be controlling them

Fear and intimidation are two of the tools that traffickers use to control people in slavery. Traffickers often prevent victims from interacting with the public because the victim might say something that raises suspicions about their safety and freedom.

2. A traveler is traveling alone, but doesn't seem to know details of who will be meeting them on arrival

A trafficker may have bought the traveler a ticket under the pretense that they have a modeling job, or something similar, awaiting them at their destination.

5. Their communication seems scripted, or there are inconsistencies with their story

Sometimes traffickers will coach their victims to say certain things in public to avoid suspicion. The same applies to the suspected trafficker -- they may provide inconsistent details about the victim's name or age.

8. They seem to be afraid of uniformed security personnel

They may be fearful of revealing their immigration status. Therefore it can be worthwhile for airport officials to dress in plainclothes when approaching potential victims.

3. They have a tattoo with a bar code, crown, bags of money possibly the words "Daddy" or "Property of"

Many people have tattoos, so a tattoo in itself is obviously not an indicator. However, traffickers or pimps may mark their victims as a sign of ownership, so a barcode tattoo, or a tattoo saying "Daddy" or even a man's name, could be a red flag that the person is a victim.

6. They can't move freely in an airport or on an airplane, or they are being controlled, closely watched or followed

People being trafficked into slavery are sometimes guarded in transit. A trafficker will try to ensure that the victim does not escape, or reach out to authorities for help.