Tattoos as Symbols of Healing for Sex Trafficking Survivors

For most people, a tattoo is a choice. For many survivors of sex trafficking, it is the opposite. Traffickers sometimes force tattoos on the people they exploit, marking them with a name, a symbol or a phrase that signals ownership. Long after escaping, survivors can be left looking at that mark every day.

Across the US, Canada and beyond, tattoo artists, survivors and charities are working to change that, turning brands of control into symbols of healing, or removing them altogether.

What are branding tattoos?

A branding tattoo is a tattoo that a trafficker or exploiter forces on a victim, or pressures them into getting, to show that the person "belongs" to them. Rhonelle Bruder, a Canadian trafficking survivor and founder of Project iRISE, told Global News that a brand signifies the victim belongs to the trafficker, as if she were his property.

Reported examples include:

• The trafficker's name, nickname or initials.
• Gang names or insignia.
• Phrases stating ownership, such as "property of" followed by a name.
• Symbols such as crowns or dollar signs.

Brands are often placed where they can be seen, such as the neck, chest or wrist. As well as being a painful reminder, a visible brand can make it harder to find work, rebuild relationships or feel safe in public.

Survivor's Ink: one survivor's project

One of the best known efforts began in Columbus, Ohio. Jennifer Kempton escaped years of sexual exploitation and was left with brands including her trafficker's name and gang insignia. According to the Thomson Reuters Foundation, she founded Survivor's Ink to give grants that help other survivors cover up or remove their branding tattoos. Her own neck brand was transformed into a large flower "blooming out of the darkness".

By 2016, the project had helped around 100 women, and was receiving requests not only from across the US but also from countries including Canada, Britain and Australia.

Tattoo studios offering free cover ups

Some tattoo artists have chosen to donate their time. In 2019, the University of Georgia's Grady Newsource reported that 3 Ravens Tattoo & Piercing in Athens, Georgia, was offering free cover ups to survivors, working with local support organisations. Owner Jim Mellor described how many survivors carry body shame because the mark constantly reminds them of their past.

Artists there noted that roses and flowers were popular choices for cover ups, and that designs had to take into account the size, colour and placement of the original brand. Darker, larger and textured designs generally hide old ink best.

Removing brands in Canada

In Canada, Rhonelle Bruder's Project iRISE offers survivors skills training and education, along with branding tattoo removal at no cost, Global News reported in 2020. For survivors who do not want any tattoo on that spot, removal can feel like reclaiming their skin entirely.

Cover up or removal?

Both options can help, and the right choice is personal:

• Cover up tattoos replace the brand with a design the survivor chooses, often something that represents hope, faith, freedom or growth. A cover up is usually faster and cheaper than laser removal.
• Laser removal fades the brand over several sessions. It takes longer and can be uncomfortable, but leaves the survivor free to choose whether to have any tattoo there at all. Removal should always be done by a qualified practitioner. Our guide to tattoo removal explains the process.
• Laser fading followed by a cover up can give artists more freedom when the original brand is dark or large.

Why a trauma-informed approach matters

Being tattooed involves physical closeness, pain and giving someone control over your body. For a survivor, that can be difficult. Artists and organisations doing this work stress the importance of:

• Letting the survivor lead every decision, including the design, the pace and the right to stop.
• Private, calm spaces and, where wanted, a trusted support worker present.
• Never asking survivors to share their story.
• Working alongside specialist support services rather than alone.

How tattoo artists and readers can help

• Artists: connect with a local anti-trafficking organisation before offering services, so survivors can be referred safely and supported properly.
• Everyone: learn the signs of trafficking and know how to report concerns. A tattoo alone is never proof that someone is being trafficked, but it can be one sign among others.

The idea of tattoos as tools of healing runs through many stories, from semicolon tattoos for mental health to memorial tattoos for loved ones. For people who were marked against their will, choosing what goes on their own skin can be a powerful step forward.

Where to get help

If you or someone you know may be affected by trafficking or exploitation, confidential help is available 24 hours a day:

• United Kingdom: Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, 08000 121 700.
• United States: National Human Trafficking Hotline, call 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733.
• Canada: Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline, 1-833-900-1010.

If someone is in immediate danger, call your local emergency number.

Sources: Thomson Reuters Foundation, as published by Yahoo News (2016); Global News (2020); Grady Newsource, University of Georgia (2019). Helpline details from Unseen UK, the National Human Trafficking Hotline and the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline.