By Katlyn Miller, Development Associate - Manager of Communications & Media Strategy
While preventing human trafficking is an issue too big for just one person to solve, there are steps you can take to make a change. Here are some examples of small ways you can help spread awareness and prevent human trafficking within your community.
Be a constant learner
The first step to raising awareness and advocating for others is to research, research, research! Read books and articles about human trafficking, follow human trafficking organizations and advocates on social media, sign up for newsletters, research statistics, anything to learn more about the topic of human trafficking. Remember: no one knows everything. That’s why it’s important to continue educating ourselves, even if we think we’re already pretty knowledgeable about the subject.
Know the warning signs
Part of learning about human trafficking includes learning what to look out for. There are many different red flags that could signal human trafficking. Some common warning signs include:
LABOR TRAFFICKING
- Sleeping at their place of work
- *Few or no personal possessions
- *No control of financial records or ID documents
- *Unpaid, underpaid, or paid only through tips
- *Loss of sense of time
- *Controlled/restricted communication
- Limited/restricted freedom to leave working or living conditions
- *Excessive or inappropriate security features
- Works excessively long/unusual hours
- *Limited knowledge about whereabouts
- *Multiple residences within a brief period
- *Avoidance of contact with people
- Tattoos/Branding
- *Signs of trauma, fatigue, injuries, or abuse
- *Excessive fearfulness of law enforcement
- *Non-cooperativeness
- Minor engaged in sexual situations beyond age-specific norms
- Minor with a noticeably older “boyfriend” or “girlfriend” (i.e., 10+ years)
(*red flags of both labor and sex trafficking)
While it’s good to keep an eye and ear out for these signs, try not to make assumptions that a warning sign equates to human trafficking. This is meant to be a helpful guideline of red flags we’ve seen with previous survivors.
Use your voice
Once you’ve done enough credible research to really understand the ins and outs of human trafficking and the importance of raising awareness about it, use your voice to educate others. Speak up in your community, to friends, family members, classmates, coworkers, and anyone else who wants to learn more. If you hear someone spreading misinformation, don’t be afraid to correct them; human trafficking isn’t commonly discussed, so use this moment as a learning opportunity.
If you want to get your community involved, you can try organizing a book club, advocacy group, or awareness event to get others in the community to learn more about human trafficking.
Support HT prevention organizations
Whether it’s donating, volunteering, or simply staying up to date with human trafficking news, supporting organizations that work to prevent human trafficking is a vital role in stopping this violence. If you have questions about human trafficking or similar issues, you can also reach out to these organizations and advocates online about resources or information that you can pass onto others.
Everyone can play a role in preventing human trafficking, no matter how big or small the actions may seem. When we do the work within ourselves to learn about human trafficking and lend that knowledge to others in our communities, we can all help spread awareness and put an end to human trafficking together.
If you are a survivor in need of crisis counseling, shelter, or other resources, reach out to our 24-hour hotline: 1-800-298-7233 (SAFE).