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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Polaris Project, a leading organization in the global fight against human trafficking and modern slavery, congratulated the cast, crew, and filmmakers of 12 Years a Slave on receiving three Oscars tonight at the 86^thAcademy Awards tonight, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Polaris Project named Steve McQueen, Director of 12 Years a Slave, as an ambassador for the non-profit in February to raise awareness that slavery still exists today. The film received nine nominations.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Polaris Project, a leading organization in the global fight against human trafficking and modern slavery, announced today that 12 Years a Slave Director Steve McQueen has been named an ambassador for the non-profit. McQueen will work alongside Polaris Project as an advocate against human trafficking, raising awareness that this is a modern-day problem that requires greater resources and action.

With the help of Clear Channel Outdoor, Polaris Project is working to raise awareness about human trafficking through a billboard campaign in Times Square, Madison Square Garden, and along the I-95 corridor in New York and New Jersey. Learn more at www.polarisproject.org/365days and read Clear Channel Outdoor's press release below:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) hotline, which has been operated by Polaris Project since December 2007, received its 100,000th phone call on Monday. The caller requested legal services. Through these phone calls -- as well as emails, online tip forms and text messages -- the hotline is identifying more victims and providing data and insights into important trends that can help stop this violence and exploitation. In total, nearly 14,500 cases of potential human trafficking have been reported to the hotline.

PHOENIX, AZ – At a press conference this morning, Cindy McCain, Polaris Project, and TRUST announced a yearlong campaign to combat human trafficking with billboards throughout the Phoenix region. Clear Channel Outdoor is donating use of their ad space across all 50 of their digital displays in the Phoenix valley to promote the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) hotline. On average, the campaign will be displayed on approximately 15 of Clear Channel Outdoor’s displays at one time.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 19, 2013) – Polaris Project, a leading organization in the global fight against human trafficking and modern slavery, released a statement today following media reports of the arrest of an Indian consular official, Devyani Khobragade, in New York last week. The case centers on the alleged labor exploitation of a domestic worker.

Keeli Sorensen, Polaris Project’s Director of National Programs, said:

NEWARK, NJ (December 17, 2013) – The New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Polaris Project, a leading organization in the global fight against human trafficking, were named as finalists in the first round of the “Partnership for Freedom,” a competition seeking innovative ideas to better care for survivors of modern slavery in the United States.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) hotline received reports of 9,298 unique cases of human trafficking across the United States in its first five years of operation, Polaris Project announced in a new report today. The report, Human Trafficking Trends in the United States, includes one of the most extensive sources of human trafficking data in the country. From December 7, 2007 to December 31, 2012, cases of human trafficking were reported in all 50 states and D.C.

LAS VEGAS, NV – Polaris Project joined today with Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), and Clear Channel Outdoor to announce a new initiative aimed at educating human trafficking victims in Southern Nevada about where they can obtain help.

"Stephanie" is a young survivor of human trafficking who works with our Client Services team. Below is the statement she delivered during the launch of the 2013 State Ratings on Human Trafficking Laws.

August 14, 2013 -- "There are things in our past that find a way into our present. As much as we may wish they wouldn't. As a minor I found myself a victim of a sexual predator. After almost a decade I still find myself struggling to rise above the things that happened to me."

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 14, 2013) – Releasing the 2013 state ratings on human trafficking laws in the United States, Polaris Project today championed the progress made by a majority of states in passing legislation to combat sex and labor trafficking and support survivors. In 2013, 39 states passed anti-trafficking laws and 32 states are now ranked in Polaris Project’s top Tier 1 category – up from 21 states last year. For the first time ever, two states have successfully fulfilled all rated categories: Washington and New Jersey, where Polaris Project operates an office in Newark.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 11, 2013) – Polaris Project today hailed the Uniform Law Commission’s (ULC) approval of a uniform act that will guide state legislatures when drafting legislation to combat human trafficking in the United States. The ULC drafting committee on human trafficking examined existing anti-trafficking statutes from all over the country and met with law enforcement, prosecutors, and anti-trafficking organizations in order to create uniformity in trafficking laws across all 50 states.