Trafficking victims—men, women, and children—often endure physical violence at the hands of traffickers and intermediaries who aim to subdue them and reinforce the power relationship that is so necessary to the success of the traffickers. Women and girls may be raped as part of this violence. Psychological trauma is also common, as victims are
confronted with threats, isolation, feelings of helplessness, and verbal abuse. Trafficking is particularly pernicious because it involves moving the victim away from her/his normal environment, robbing them of known protection services and safety nets. When people are trafficked into other countries, additionally, they may not know the language of the people with whom they come into contact, and find it impossible to even think of escaping because they do not know who to turn to or how to explain their situation. The fact that they are regularly told by traffickers that their documents are not legal, or that their exploiters take away their documentation, makes them even more unlikely to seek help.