Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 20, 2014) – Polaris Project, a leading organization in the global fight against human trafficking and modern slavery, released a statement on the series of bills the U.S. House of Representatives considered today on human trafficking. The bills included H.Res. 573, H.R. 4058, H.R. 4573, H.R. 3530, H.R. 3610, and H.R. 4225.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Safe Shelter Collaborative, a collaboration between Caravan Studios, Polaris Project, and the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, was named as a winner of the Partnership for Freedom’s Reimagine: Opportunity innovation challenge today. The Safe Shelter Collaborative will dramatically increase access to safe, supportive shelters for survivors of human trafficking. It is one of two winners chosen from more than 160 submissions from 260 applying organizations.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Polaris Project, a leading organization in the global fight against human trafficking and modern slavery, released a video today featuring a survivor of human trafficking who bravely reveals the exploitation faced by victims in the United States and the resilience it takes to rebuild their lives. The spoken word poetry featured in the video, “America’s Daughters,” was written and performed by a survivor of sex trafficking.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Polaris Project, a leading organization in the global fight against human trafficking and modern slavery, hailed passage of Arizona House Bill 2454, which was signed into law by Governor Jan Brewer today. The bill passed the Arizona House and Senate unanimously. Polaris Project partnered with the McCain Institute for International Leadership to strengthen anti-trafficking legislation in Arizona and other mountain states.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Polaris Project, a leading organization in the global fight against human trafficking and modern slavery, released a statement today following the annual meeting of President Obama’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons at the White House.

Bradley Myles, CEO of Polaris Project, said:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Polaris Project released the first year of texting data today, one year after launching a texting short code that enables people to reach the national human trafficking hotline by sending text messages to BeFree (233733).  An analysis of this initial data shows that texting is a vital way for victims of human trafficking to reach out for help. Victims reached out to the hotline by text message at a higher percentage than by phone calls: 17% of texting conversations were from victims, compared to 9% of phone calls in 2013.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Polaris Project, a leading organization in the global fight against human trafficking and modern slavery, today hailed a groundbreaking report released by the Urban Institute that estimates the size and scope of the underground commercial sex economies (UCSE) in Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Miami, Kansas City, San Diego, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. in 2003 and 2007.

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.