Philadelphia Anti-Trafficking Coalition

What Is Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking is the recruiting, moving, selling, or receiving of people within or across national borders through force, fraud, or coercion, with the goal of placing them in slavery or slavery-like working conditions. Traffickers use violence, threats, blackmail, false promises, deception, manipulation, and debt bondage to keep vulnerable individuals trapped in devastating circumstances.

The federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) legally defines severe forms of human trafficking as follows:

Sex Trafficking: The recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing, or obtaining of a person for a commercial sex act that is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or where the person induced to perform the act is under 18 years of age (22 USC § 7102).
Labor Trafficking: The recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing, or obtaining of a person for labor or services through force, fraud, or coercion, in order to subject them to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery (22 USC § 7102).

How to Help

About the Philadelphia Anti-Trafficking Coalition

The Philadelphia Anti-Trafficking Coalition (PATC) is a partnership of social service, government, and law enforcement agencies dedicated to fighting human trafficking across the Philadelphia area. The coalition builds a network of agencies that help victims of human trafficking, coordinate an appropriate response to victims, and make a wide range of services available.

Led by Covenant House Pennsylvania (CHPA), the coalition was founded in 2005 and meets several times each year to discuss how to advance efforts to fight this important issue.

Coalition members gathered at a Harrisburg event — Coalition members at a Harrisburg gathering

Common Questions About Human Trafficking

What is human trafficking?

Human trafficking is the recruiting, transporting, selling, or receiving of persons within or across national borders through force, fraud, or coercion in order to place them in slavery or slavery-like work conditions. Traffickers use violence, threats, blackmail, false promises, deception, manipulation, and debt bondage to trap vulnerable individuals.

What is the difference between sex trafficking and labor trafficking?

Under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), sex trafficking involves recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing, or obtaining a person for a commercial sex act induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or where the person is under 18. Labor trafficking involves recruiting, harboring, transporting, providing, or obtaining a person for labor or services through force, fraud, or coercion for involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.

What is the Philadelphia Anti-Trafficking Coalition (PATC)?

PATC is a partnership of social service, government, and law enforcement agencies dedicated to fighting human trafficking in the Philadelphia area. It builds a network of agencies to help victims, coordinate an appropriate response, and make a wide range of services available. The coalition is led by Covenant House Pennsylvania and was founded in 2005.

How often does the coalition meet?

The coalition meets several times each year to discuss how to advance efforts to fight human trafficking.

How can I get involved or help?

Visit the How To Help page to learn about member expectations and ways to support the coalition, or contact us directly.

Whether you are a service provider, a member of law enforcement, or a concerned community member, the Philadelphia Anti-Trafficking Coalition offers ways to connect and contribute. Explore our training and news pages to stay informed, or reach out to learn how your organization can join the network working to support trafficking victims across the Philadelphia area.