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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.

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.

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.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Polaris Project announced the launch of the Global Human Trafficking Hotline Network today, a new alliance of anti-trafficking hotlines that will build a broader safety net for survivors of modern-day slavery and develop a more coordinated global response for victims of this transnational crime. The alliance will also create a data-driven approach that identifies human trafficking trends and informs eradication, prevention, and victim protection strategies.

Washington, DC (March 28, 2013) – Human trafficking victims across the country can now send texts to get help and escape modern-day slavery, Polaris Project and Thorn: Digital Defenders of Children announced today. Victims and concerned citizens can now send text messages to “BeFree” (233733) and instantly connect with the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) hotline (1-888-3737-888), operated by Polaris Project.

Statement by Mary Ellison, Director of Policy, Polaris Project:

“Polaris Project is celebrating a major victory today with the long-awaited passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). After almost two years of urging action on this bill, we are thrilled to see the House of Representatives support this critical tool that provides vital services to survivors and curtails human trafficking at home and abroad.