Taking advantage of someone’s needs, fears, age, immigration status, disability, or trust to control or exploit them.

When someone uses their authority, power, wealth, or status to influence, pressure, or control another person in ways the other person cannot safely resist.

Pressure that removes someone’s real freedom of choice — often through fear, guilt, dependence, or manipulation.

A free, informed, enthusiastic “yes” made without pressure, fear, manipulation, or unequal power.

A situation where multiple independent accounts align in detail, behaviour, and experience — strengthening the reliability of survivors’ reports.

Lying, misleading, or hiding information to gain a person’s trust or compliance.

The obligation on the State to take indicators of trafficking or sexual exploitation seriously, and to carry out a genuine, effective investigation aimed at uncovering the truth and holding those responsible to account.

The responsibility of authorities and institutions to recognise possible trafficking or exploitation and formally alert the appropriate safeguarding system, so that a person can be identified, protected, and supported.

Taking advantage of someone — through control, threats, or manipulation — for personal gain, profit, or gratification.

A process where a person builds trust, emotional connection, or dependency in order to manipulate or control someone for exploitation.

Keeping someone in a place or situation where they are controlled, monitored, or prevented from leaving safely.

Actions taken by individuals or organisations to hide wrongdoing, silence victims, or shield powerful people from accountability.

When organisations, authorities, or systems fail to protect people from harm, fail to investigate abuse, or prioritise the interests of powerful individuals over victims’ safety.

A situation where one person holds significantly more power, influence, or resources — making it unsafe or unrealistic for the other person to refuse or resist.

Taking control of a person who has already been exploited, moved, or groomed by others.

The process of drawing a person into a situation where they can be controlled, exploited, or harmed — often by someone who appears helpful, trustworthy, or offering opportunities.

Sex trafficking is when someone recruits, moves, keeps, or controls another person in order to sexually exploit them — using force, threats, deception, coercion, or abuse of power or vulnerability.

Sexual exploitation involves using control, coercion, deception, or power imbalance to cause a person to engage in sexual activity for another’s benefit, whether financial, social, or personal.

A legal protection that shields foreign states and state-owned entities from being sued in UK courts, which can create barriers for survivors when powerful institutions are involved.

Rules about how long someone has to bring a civil claim — which can create pressure or confusion for survivors who disclose abuse later in life, even though delayed disclosure is a normal trauma response.

Using fear, intimidation, or violence — or the threat of them — to make someone comply.

Any movement of a person — even a short distance — used to increase another person’s control or ability to exploit them.

A psychological attachment formed when someone experiences cycles of kindness, affection, fear, control, or dependency — making it extremely hard to recognise abuse or leave the situation.

When an organisation is legally responsible for harm caused by someone acting on its behalf — even if the organisation did not directly commit the harm.