January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Today, we’re sharing a few resources about this topic and how you can help to prevent modern-day slavery and human trafficking.
How to learn about human trafficking
The Department of Homeland Security defines human trafficking as “the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act.” Human trafficking is generally divided into these two categories: forced labor or sex trafficking.
Each year, the US Department of State issues its Trafficking in Persons report, which assesses the repsonses of foreign governments to human trafficking. The most recent report, released in June 2019, is over 500 pages. I recommend reading the first several sections, which give a thorough description of human trafficking around the world, and then reading a few specific country narratives.
Journalist Noy Thrupkaew investigates human trafficking and forced labor. Her Ted Talk describes the importance of labor rights for those trapped in human trafficking. I found her personal story with human trafficking really compelling.
The CNN Freedom Project has stories and videos about modern-day slavery.
How you can help
The US Department of State has fifteen ways to help in the fight against human trafficking.
The US Department of Labor produces a List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor. The information in this report is also available via the Sweat and Toil app. I recommend downloading the app to learn about which types of labor exploitation are committed in various countries. The Comply Chain app, developed by the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Affairs, shows how to build or improve a social compliance system in the supply chain. Both apps are helpful to consider in your decisions as a consumer.
You can also support anti-human trafficking efforts in your community. For example, End Slavery Tennessee has ways for Nashvillians to volunteer and give to support survivors of human trafficking.
Lastly, I’ve enjoyed following International Justice Mission’s work over the past several years. This international NGO fights human trafficking in seventeen countries on five continents. Read some of their reports here.
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Just Mercy is a must see for all. The still very uphill battle that needs to be fought was told in a very stark yet poignant way. A perfect movie to see during Black History Month.
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