Did you know that Approximately 75-80% of human trafficking is for sex or that researchers note that sex trafficking plays a major role in the spread of HIV. How about this astonishing fact, there are more human slaves in the world today than ever before in history. It seems like this became a huge issue overnight and rightfully so there are an estimated 27 million adults and 13 million children around the world who are victims of human trafficking. Here at BCG we pride ourselves on being ChangeMakers, looking for solutions and being the change we want to see in this world. When I first had the chance to study in depth this cause a few weeks ago, I was speechless (which is rare for me), I had no idea this was this big and especially in the city I reside in, Atlanta, which has been dubbed the hub. According to the U.S. State Department, human trafficking is one of the greatest human rights challenges of this century, both in the United States and around the world. With the help of the US State Department we’ve compiled a list of 10 ways you can help fight human trafficking!
10 Ways You Can Fight Human Trafficking
1. Learn the red flags that may indicate human trafficking including: signs of physical abuse, being
submissive or fearful and ask follow up questions so that you can help identify a potential trafficking victim. Human trafficking awareness training is available for individuals, businesses, first responders, law enforcement, and federal employees.
2. Call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888 (24/7) to get help and connect with a service provider in your area, report a tip with information on potential human trafficking activity; or learn more by requesting training, technical assistance, or resources. Victims, including undocumented individuals, are eligible for services and immigration assistance from the U.S. Department of Justice at 1-888-428-7581 from 9:00am to 5:00pm (EST).
3. Be a conscientious consumer. Discover your Slavery Footprint, and check out the Department of Labor’s List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor. Encourage companies, including your own, to take steps to investigate and eliminate slavery and human trafficking in their supply chains and to publish the information for consumer awareness.
4. Talk about this cause and incorporate human trafficking information into your professional associations’ conferences, meetings, trainings, manuals,events and other materials as relevant. You can also distribute public awareness materials available from the Department of Health and Human Services or Department of Homeland Security.
5. Join or start a grassroots anti-trafficking coalition.
6. Meet with and/or write to your local, state, and federal government representatives to let them know that you care about combating human trafficking in your community, and ask what they are doing to address human trafficking in your area.
7. Volunteer to do victim outreach or offer your professional services to a local anti-trafficking organization.
9. Donate funds or needed items to an anti-trafficking organization in your area.
10. Organize a fundraiser and donate the proceeds to an anti-trafficking organization.
If you would like BCG to feature your work against Human Trafficking send us your news at tips@BlackCelebrityGiving.com!
