Human trafficking is a global problem, affecting every society, meaning that anyone can be a victim. But so is the fight against human trafficking — anyone can join in the fight. Here are 20 ways you can help.
1. Learn the indicators of human trafficking. This way, you can easily identify a trafficking situation and contact first responders, law enforcement agencies, and trafficking experts that you can speak to. Also, check our post on signs of sex trafficking and what you can do.
2. You can volunteer and support anti-trafficking efforts in your local community. If you look around, you’ll find a number of organizations at the frontlines. If you have any special skills, offer to help with them. You never know how far your services can go to help them.
3. Report trafficking situations to the National Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 1-888-373-7888. If it is an emergency, call 911.
4. Follow trafficking events and activities like the national human trafficking day. You can volunteer with, donate to organizations fighting trafficking, or help in spreading awareness on the subject so that others can hear and join. Follow CNN’s Freedom Project for news of trafficking around the world.
5. Take time to find out the kind of labor used in producing some of your favorite items. We can encourage companies to take steps to prevent human trafficking in their production and supply chains by ensuring they do not use child labor. Check the Department of Labor’s List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor.
6. Inquire about the activities of your local, state, and federal elected officials concerning trafficking.
7. If you live in the U.S., endeavor to stay updated on the laws addressing human trafficking and sex trafficking of minors.
8. A lot of people don't have an idea of what sex trafficking or human trafficking really looks like because it hides in plain sight. So spread what you have learned to your social network. Share your knowledge, so others can have awareness, too.
9. You can encourage your local school district to address human trafficking in its curriculum. This involves creating the best protocols for identifying and reporting any suspected trafficking situation.
10. Since anyone can be affected by human trafficking, it is best to learn how sex and human traffickers recruit their victims. Who knows, the knowledge you gain could help you save your own child or a close relative from predators.
11. You can join faith-based communities to host awareness programs and provide support to victims in your local community.
12. Trafficking victims are often faced with severe trauma. Check whether your company is trauma-informed and reach out to the management of your workplace and urge them to implement trauma-informed business practices.
13. Become a mentor to someone going through difficult situations or having issues at home. Traffickers often target people who lack family support, especially homeless and runaway youth or those with drug issues. Learn more about vulnerabilities that traffickers exploit.
14. If you are a student, try starting or joining an anti-trafficking awareness or support group focused on fighting trafficking and helping survivors. You can even do a research paper on the subject and encourage your school to include human trafficking in the curriculum.
15. Technology — the internet in particular — plays a major role in promoting the sexual exploitation of children. Learn more about the role of technology in the sexual exploitation of children and how you can help.
16. If you are a journalist, you understand how the media can shape the perception of the public on matters like this. You can learn more about how to responsibly report inappropriate activities related to sex and human trafficking and educate the public correctly.
17. As an attorney, you can provide support services to faith-based organizations and NGOs helping victims and survivors of DMST and forced labor. Check the Human Trafficking Legal Center for resources for attorneys representing trafficking victims.
18. Petition the government and local authorities to pass legislation to protect vulnerable people/groups in your local community or prosecute offenders.
19. As an employer of labor, one of the ways you can help is to provide jobs, internships placements, skills acquisition, and other learning opportunities to sex and human trafficking survivors. Also take steps to ensure that you source labor from responsible organizations.
20. Trafficking victims often need therapy to heal and start a new life. As a healthcare professional, you can assist in this area or provide low-cost or free services to trafficking victims and survivors.
21. Read the 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report for an updated and comprehensive report on human trafficking around the world.
Join Us at the Mission Haven
The Mission Haven is a nongovernment, charity-funded organization focused on providing a transformational Haven of Healing for victims and survivors of child sexual exploitation and sex trafficking. We believe that every single DMST or child sex trafficking survivor still has a chance at life at its best.
Our goal at The Mission Haven is to provide them with all the support they need to start over. With your generous donations and support, we can continue to provide a truly safe haven of hope and healing equipped with essential resources to lift victims and survivors of domestic minor sex trafficking. To give, volunteer, or become a partner, feel free to contact us today.