January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Human trafficking has become one of the biggest crimes against humanity. January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and this month serves as an important reminder to raise awareness about recognizing and preventing this terrible human rights abuse.  

Human trafficking robs individuals of their freedom and dignity. It involves the exploitation and coercion of people for the profit of traffickers. People who have experienced human trafficking have been identified in over 25 different U.S. industries, and it happens in workplaces more often than many people know. In 2023, 7,380 signals were made to the National Human Trafficking Hotline requesting help from self-identifying victims or survivors of human trafficking.  

Human trafficking takes various forms, including sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and domestic servitude. People who are exploited come from all different walks of life and can be of any age, ethnicity, or gender. They are often lured by false promises or manipulated through force, fraud, or coercion and driven to do work against their will. Human trafficking is a complex and multifaceted issue that requires a coordinated response from individuals, communities, businesses, and governments in order to identify people who are stuck in dangerous human trafficking situations so they can get the assistance they need to escape their exploiters.

The impact of human trafficking on individual victims is devastating. Beyond the physical abuse and exploitation, human trafficking victims often endure long-lasting emotional and psychological manipulation and trauma, including having an increased prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many survivors struggle with feelings of shame, guilt, and fear, making it difficult to seek out help to escape their traffickers. Even after some survivors are able to break free, they may face challenges rebuilding their lives and finding healing, stability, community support, and true freedom.  

Identifying and assisting people who are exploited through human trafficking can be a challenging task. Often, they are hidden in plain sight, and their suffering goes unnoticed by many of those around them. It requires trained professionals, law enforcement, and well-informed community members to be vigilant and knowledgeable about the warning signs of human trafficking. By recognizing indicators of human trafficking and offering support, employees in public facing workplaces can help human trafficking survivors find a way out of dangerous and abusive situations.

Often, people experiencing human trafficking can only be recognized and helped when they are identified in some of the places that traffickers use most, such as hotels, restaurants, truck stops, rideshare vehicles, bus stations, train stations, airports, and seaports.  

This January, in honor of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, more hospitality workplaces and transportation centers are recognizing the importance of raising awareness to prevent human trafficking in their facilities. Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST) is a nonprofit that specializes in working with employers to take proactive steps to raise awareness, provide professional consultation, and deliver staff training to help stop human trafficking and create a safe environment for all.

What Employers Can Do

This January, any business or government agency can post BEST’s Not Alone awareness signs inside restroom stalls and in the public access areas of their facilities. BEST’s multi-lingual Not Alone signs for sex trafficking and labor trafficking can be download and printed from BEST’s website for free.

Business owners and managers can provide BEST’s online video-based trainings to help their employees learn how to spot and safely report human trafficking in their workplace. BEST Basics is a human trafficking prevention training that can be used by any employer in any industry. BEST also offers training specifically designed for the aviation, transit, rideshare, maritime, and hospitality industries. Employers can contact BEST to learn how to begin training their staff.  

National Human Trafficking Prevention Month is also an excellent time for employers to make sure they have inclusive workplace policies designed to promote a culture that takes a stand against human trafficking. BEST offers professional consultation that can help employers develop and implement anti-trafficking policies in their workplace.  

How Individuals Can Help

If you witness a human trafficking situation, you can report it to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, and they can direct the situation to local law enforcement or social service agencies.  

Call 1-888-373-7888
Text BeFree (233733)
Email: help@humantraffickinghotline.org

Anytime a child is involved in a commercial sex act or if a child is in danger, call 911 immediately.  

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