Human Trafficking Prevention

January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month

President Biden reaffirms January as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month by signing the Presidential proclamation to bring awareness and educate all members of society on how they can prevent and respond to human trafficking. It is also an opportunity to celebrate the progress that survivor leaders, anti-trafficking organizations, communities, and allied individuals have achieved through their ongoing efforts and contributions to ending human trafficking.  

“  We all have an important role to play in preventing human trafficking and protecting victims.  This month, I encourage Americans to learn more about the signs of human trafficking and share the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888) — an important resource to report a tip or ask for help.  Together, we can combat human trafficking and its cruel consequences — creating a safer, freer, and more just world for everyone.” -- President Biden

The proclamation emphasizes the importance of a whole-of-government approach and references National Combat Plan to Combat Human Trafficking. Through federal coordination and collaboration, “the plan links anti-trafficking initiatives to our wider efforts to counter illicit financing; advance gender and racial equity; expand the rights and dignity of working people; and promote safe, orderly, and humane migration.”

The proclamation calls on all of us—businesses, civil society organizations, communities of faith, families, and individuals—to work together to prevent human trafficking.

What is Human Trafficking?

end human trafficking

Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States.

In the United States, some of the most vulnerable populations include American Indian/Alaska Native communities, lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-questioning individuals, individuals with disabilities, undocumented immigrants, runaway and homeless youth, and low-income individuals. These victims are deceived by false promises of love, a good job, or a stable life and are lured or forced into situations where they are made to work under deplorable conditions with little or no pay.

Victims can be found in legal and illegal labor industries, including child care, elder care, the drug trade, massage parlors, hair salons, restaurants, hotels, factories, and farms. In some cases, victims are hidden behind doors in domestic servitude in a home. Others are in plain view, interact with people on a daily basis, and are forced to work under extreme circumstances in exotic dance clubs, construction, health and beauty services, or restaurants.

Potential Red Flags for Human Trafficking Situations

The following scenarios might be red flags for relationships or jobs that may develop into human trafficking. One or more of these may indicate that an individual is at-risk for sex or labor trafficking. This list is not exhaustive.

The Intimate Partner or Employer: 

  • Comes on very strongly and promises things that seem too good to be true – i.e. promises extremely high wages for easy work.  

  • Expects that you will agree to the employment or relationship on the spot, and threatens that otherwise the opportunity will be lost.  

  • Is unclear about the terms of employment, location of employment and/or the company details/credentials.  Partner/employer denies access to information about your rights.

  • Denies contact with friends or family or attempts to isolate you from your social network.  

  • Constantly checks on you and does not allow you access to your money.

  • Asks you to do things outside of your comfort zone such as performing sexual favors for friends.  

  • Displays signs/characteristics of a dangerous person including attempts to control movement and behaviors, exhibits jealousy, lashes out or delivers punishment in response to noncompliance, is verbally/emotionally/physically abusive.  

  • Uses threats or displays of violence to create a culture of fear.

Not all indicators listed above are present in every human trafficking situation, and the presence or absence of any of the indicators is not necessarily proof of human trafficking. https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/safety-planning-information

U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline

The National Human Trafficking Hotline connects victims and survivors of sex and labor trafficking with services and supports to get help and stay safe. The Trafficking Hotline also receives tips about potential situations of sex and labor trafficking and facilitates reporting that information to the appropriate authorities in certain cases. 

The toll-free phone and SMS text lines and live online chat function are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Help is available in English or Spanish, or in more than 200 additional languages through an on-call interpreter.

Hearing and speech-impaired individuals can contact the Trafficking Hotline by dialing 711, the free national access number that connects to Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS).

The National Human Trafficking Hotline serves all individuals who reach out for our services regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or any other factor protected by local, state, or federal law.

National Human Trafficking HotlineNational Human Trafficking Resource Center

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Department of Defense

The Combating Trafficking in Persons Program Management Office (CTIP PMO) is the lead office responsible for coordinating the Department of Defense (DoD) efforts to prevent human trafficking, prosecute traffickers, and assist in the protection of victims of human trafficking. The DoD CTIP PMO falls within the purview of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD (P&R)) in the Defense Human Resources Activity (DHRA). DHRA is responsible for CTIP policy development, planning, resource management, and program evaluation for all of DoD.

DOD Resources:


Department of Justice

Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS): Prosecutes cases of child pornography, sex trafficking of children, parental child abduction, and sex tourism.

Civil Rights Division

Office for Victims of Crime (OVC): works to enhance the Nation’s capacity to assist crime victims and to provide leadership in changing attitudes, policies, and practices in ways that will promote justice and healing for all victims.

DOJ Resources:


Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)


Department of Health and Human Services

Office on Trafficking in Persons (OTIP): funds services for foreign national victims of trafficking and it funds regional grants to identify foreign victims of human trafficking and to conduct outreach activities. OTIP also provides certification and eligibility letters so that foreign national victims of trafficking are eligible to receive federal and state benefits to the same extent as a refugee. In addition, OTIP has a national public awareness campaign called Rescue & Restore Victims of Human Trafficking and funds the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

    Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA): Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force Initiative funds collaborative law enforcement and non-governmental (NGO) partner Task Forces around the U.S.

    Office for Victims of Crime (OVC): Provides technical assistance to the Anti-Human Trafficking Task Forces, and victim services funding for foreign national victims of trafficking, and pilot sites for U.S. citizen minor victims of trafficking.

    Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS): The Human Trafficking Reporting System (HTRS), in conjunction with Northeastern University, tracks and analyzes human trafficking crimes reported by the Anti-Human Trafficking Task Forces.

    National Institute of Justice (NIJ): Funds research on human trafficking in the U.S. and around the world.

    Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP): Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces (ICAC) investigates internet-related crimes of child pornography and enticement and implements a number of training and capacity-building initiatives related to the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC).

    HHS Resources:

    Department of Homeland Security

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement: 

    United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): Adjudicates applications for T and U visas which are available to foreign national victims of trafficking. Lawyers and advocates may check on the status of an already submitted case by calling the VAWA Unit Helpline at: 802-527-4888.

    DHS resources:


      Department of Labor


      Department of State

      Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP): 

      DOS Resources:

      Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center: A collaborative effort between the Department of State, Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and functions as a centralized information center for smuggling, human trafficking and national security.

      Other Federal Resources

       

      Forced Labor:

      Survivor-related:          

      If you believe you are a victim of human trafficking or may have information about a potential trafficking situation, please contact the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911.

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      DEA. 13 January, 2022. Human Trafficking Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.dea.gov/human-trafficking-prevention on 21 March, 2023