2.2 Psychological Entrapment Many victims believe that they are paying off a “debt” to their trafficker (“debt bondage”). Traffickers’ imposition of a debt bond falls into the “means” part of the trafficking definition which includes coercion and deception/practicing deceit.16 Even if there is a set payment schedule that has been agreed to and repaid by the victim, the imposition of such debt is illegal. In some cases victims have never agreed to the repayment of any debt prior to their arrival in the destination country and then have a debt suddenly and unexpectedly imposed upon them. In other cases the victim has some understanding of a debt that is owed, but they have not agreed to the amount that they are eventually expected to pay. They may not have been told of the nature of the work that they are required to do in order to re-pay the debt; or they understand the nature of the work, but not the exploitative working conditions they will have to endure. Debt bondage may result in people being forced to work in unsafe environments, enduring long hours of work on a daily basis without appropriate breaks, provisions or access to essential facilities17 and/or having their travel documents retained. They may not be paid at all, or are paid wages which fall below the national minimum wage. People held in debt bondage may also endure physical and/or psychological violence.18 Some victims report having extra conditions suddenly imposed upon an existing debt without warning or agreement. For example, a person who believes they will owe a debt for the arrangement of their travel to a destination country may then be taken on a circuitous route through other countries and find that they are charged for this diversion because of the “additional effort” that was required to enable them to enter the country. 2.2.1 The Concept of Debt Bondage United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, “recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs” - - Prevalence and Risk of Violence and the Physical, Mental, and Sexual Health Problems Associated with Human Trafficking: Systematic Review, “repeated acts which could be constituted by words or other machinations, to degrade one’s quality of life and cause a change to one’s mental or physical state”. “Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. This can encompass, but is not limited to, the following types of abuse: psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional. “Controlling behaviour is: a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour” and “Coercive behaviour is: an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim”. 54 The debt that victims owe may also be prolonged and expanded with “interest” because of “deductions” for food, rent, clothes, work tools and, in sexual exploitation cases, self-maintenance and beauty treatments. Deductions or fines may be made by traffickers for “unsatisfactory work” according to their whim19. In many cases victims have no way of finding out the figure that they owe, and they are therefore held in indefinite debt bondage, which has a devastating impact on their psychological health. People who have been trafficked may firmly believe that they must pay for the efforts of traffickers in taking them to the destination country and/or providing them with work. The debt may also accord with their cultural and community values. In some cultures, any default on a debt is a stain on the honour of an entire family and victims may fear attacks or reprisals against themselves or their family members. Some people cling to the belief that once their debt is paid off they will be able to earn money for themselves. This belief can endure even after they have worked for a long period in exploitation without this prospect ever materializing. The concept of debt bondage can be strong enough to enTrafficking of men – a trend less considered: The case of Belarus and Ukraine, “In addition to not receiving a salary, many victims were subjected to fines for what was deemed substandard work or ‘misbehaviour’. This mechanism prevented men from receiving money owed to them and maintained their debt, obligating them to work for longer periods of time. Workers were regularly subjected to fines for missed days of work, alleged low productivity or substandard work.”; Never Work Alone: Trade Unions and NGOs joining forces to combat forced labour and trafficking in Europe -