When people think of trafficking, they think of the movies where a girl from a nice family is kidnapped and forced into it. The hero then rescues her, and everything is wonderful by the closing credits. The reality is more complicated. Traffickers take advantage of vulnerabilities that affect too many women and girls. When we learn about and address these, we can end human trafficking.
Poverty: The Root Cause of Vulnerability
Poverty remains one of the most significant drivers of human trafficking, including limited access to safe and sustainable economic opportunities. Economic desperation means survival is the primary concern. Women in impoverished communities may accept offers promising assurances of employment, education, or a better life, only to find themselves trapped in exploitative labor or sex trafficking networks. At Nomi Network, this is why we focus on income solutions and employment. When a woman is economically empowered, they can meet their family’s needs and have more, safer choices.
Educational Gaps: Barriers to Awareness and Empowerment
Educational disparities disproportionately affect women, particularly in regions where cultural norms and systemic inequities limit girls’ access to schooling. Without education, women lack the skills to recognize the warning signs of trafficking schemes, understand their rights, and restrict the ability to seek help. Gaps in education and lack of a diploma prevent employment and access to vocational training programs. A core component of the Nomi Network program is providing employment readiness and workforce development training. Adolescent girls are empowered to continue their education and explore employment and career options.
Lack of Social Capital: Isolation and Exploitation
Social capital—the networks and relationships that provide support and resources—is a crucial protective factor against trafficking. Women with robust social connections are more likely to have access to information, support systems, and opportunities that reduce their vulnerability. Women marginalized by race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status often have limited access to the social capital needed to escape cycles of exploitation. Social isolation, whether due to migration, discrimination, or cultural barriers, creates greater risk. Women and girls are surrounded by a supportive community with Nomi Network. Staff are trained in trauma-informed practices, and cohorts comprise peers with the same experiences and goals.
The Intersectionality of Vulnerabilities
Poverty, educational gaps, and lack of social capital rarely exist in isolation; they are interrelated and mutually reinforcing. Additionally, many women who have been trafficked have had interactions with the criminal justice system, often as a result of their exploitation. The criminalization of activities associated with trafficking can lead to arrests, incarceration, and fines. Criminal records prevent women from being considered for jobs. Foster youth are also more vulnerable, with some of the highest rates of trafficking. Nomi Network addresses these by working with women and youth who are justice-involved and may be from foster care. At Nomi Network, women and girls address these vulnerabilities through life skills and employment readiness training, joining a supportive community of trauma-informed practitioners and survivors, and accessing new education and career opportunities. We make multi-year commitments to every girl and woman so they have time to write a better future story where they end exploitation and reach their full potential. Visit our website to learn more about our work and to become a partner in our mission: https://nominetwork.org/
