Today is Human Trafficking Awareness Day, and we’re asking Congress to take the fight against trafficking to the next level.
What have they done so far?
In the past 15 years, Congress has made great progress in combating human trafficking. But the current legislation in place simply responds to trafficking, rather than preventing it. Congress will soon be considering the reauthorization of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, and we’re calling on them to support measures that will help put a stop to it altogether.
What are we asking for?
To move beyond responding to human trafficking, the following measures must be included in the bill:
- Prosecution: Instead of playing whack-a-mole by responding to individual criminals on a case-by-case basis, we must make a concerted effort to identify and disrupt entire trafficking networks. Serious prosecution efforts will require federal funding to properly investigate these large-scale organizations.
- Protection: Victims of human trafficking deserve more protection. Increasing support for the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC)* hotline and local service providers helps survivors get help and stay safe.
- Prevention: Through accurate data collection, we can better understand the trafficking networks that are leading people into forced labor or commercial sex against their will. Stronger data analysis will also help us identify and fight the root causes of vulnerability that traffickers exploit – such as domestic abuse, homelessness, and poverty.
- Partnerships: Our most important partners in fighting against human trafficking are survivors of this crime. Congress took a critical step last year by establishing the first-ever survivor-led Advisory Council on Human Trafficking, but we need to make sure that the Council has ongoing funding and access needed to do its work. We must also build more collaboration with other nations, because a global problem requires a global response.
How can I help?
- Sign our petition and tell your members of Congress to up the ante in its commitment to eradicate human trafficking.
- Share on Facebook and Twitter and encourage your friends and family to take action, using the hashtag #antitraffickingmonth
- Use these sample tweets:
- On #HumanTraffickingAwarenessDay I’m urging Congress to take their fight to the next level #antitraffickingmonth polarisproject.org/action
- This #HumanTraffickingAwarenessDay I’m focusing on prosecution, protection, prevention, and partnerships. #antitraffickingmonth
- It’s time for Congress to take its fight against human trafficking to the next level. #antitraffickingmonth polarisproject.org/action
*The NHTRC is now the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline.
