Human Trafficking

• About Human Trafficking
• Stories from Victims of Human Trafficking
• What You Can do to Help

Human trafficking is a big problem in our world. However, there are things you can do to help fight human trafficking. Here are some of them:

You can learn the indicators of human trafficking so you can help identify a potential trafficking victim. Human trafficking awareness training is available for individuals, businesses, first responders, law enforcement, educators, and federal employees, among others. If you are in the United States and believe someone may be a victim of human trafficking, report your suspicions to law enforcement by calling 911 or the 24-hour National Human Trafficking Resource Center line at 1-888-373-7888. Trafficking victims, including undocumented individuals, are eligible for services and immigration assistance. Also, be a conscientious and informed consumer. Discover your slavery footprint, ask who picked your tomatoes or made your clothes, or check out the Department of Labor’s List of Goods produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor. You should encourage companies to take steps to investigate and prevent human trafficking in their supply chains and publish the information for consumer awareness as well. Volunteer and support anti-trafficking efforts in your community. Meet with and/or write to your local, state, and federal government representatives to let them know you care about combating human trafficking, and ask what they are doing to address it, would be a good idea too. Host an awareness event to watch and discuss films about human trafficking. For example, learn how modern slavery exists today; watch an investigative documentary about sex trafficking; or discover how human trafficking can affect global food supply chains. Also, check out CNN’s Freedom Project for more stories on the different forms of human trafficking around the world. Organize a fundraiser and donate the proceeds to an anti-trafficking organization. Organizations such as The Polaris Project work to end trafficking. Work with a local religious community or congregation to help stop trafficking by supporting a victim service provider or spreading awareness of human trafficking. If you work in a business, provide jobs, internships, skills training, and other opportunities to trafficking survivors. If you are still in school, take action on your school. Join or establish a club to raise awareness about human trafficking and initiate action throughout your local community. Consider doing one of your research papers or essays on a topic concerning human trafficking. Request that human trafficking be included in the curricula. If you are a health care provider, learn how to identify the indicators of human trafficking and assist victims. With assistance from anti-trafficking organizations, extend low-cost or free services to human trafficking victims. If you are a journalist, remember that the media plays an enormous role in shaping perceptions and guiding the public conversation about human trafficking. Here are some media best practices on how to effectively and responsibly report stories on human trafficking. If you are an attorney, you can offer human trafficking victims legal services, including support for those seeking benefits or special visas. Resources are available for attorneys representing victims of human trafficking. If we all do our part, together we can stop human trafficking.

Note: I got most of this information from this website.