While we can’t know for certain the effect COVID-19 has on human trafficking, we are worried the economic effects of this virus will increase vulnerabilities that make people susceptible to trafficking in the first place.
Beginning in January 2015, Polaris has been working to further understand the relationship between drugs and human trafficking using data collected through the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
From sex trafficking to labor trafficking, the ways humans are exploited differ greatly. Each type has unique strategies for recruiting and controlling victims and concealing the crime.
Reaching out for help is sometimes easier said than done. Our new resource shows LGBTQ youth that inclusive, identity-affirming help is available, if they want it.
Reaching out to a hotline for help can be daunting. This can be especially true for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (LGBTQ+) individuals.
While traffickers target many vulnerable populations, there are some circumstances or risk factors that traffickers often try to exploit, such as homelessness, or past histories of abuse or discrimination.
We can’t just depend on law enforcement, service providers, or concerned citizens to intervene in a potential trafficking situation. We have to equip individuals with the tools to recognize and respond to trafficking within their own communities.
As the streets chill this November, we at Polaris recognize National Runaway Prevention Month. According to the National Runaway Safeline, between 1.6 and 2.8 million youth run away from home each year.
According to a report, more than 12,000 people throughout the Washington D.C. region are currently homeless. Our homeless population need services, not stigma.
This Sunday, May 29, marks the one-year anniversary of the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (JVTA) becoming law. This legislation made some important steps forward in the fight to end modern slavery and restore freedom to survivors.
A lack of safe housing is a leading risk factor for sex trafficking. LGBTQ youth can be at an increased risk because they may face unique circumstances that lead to homelessness.
