Issue a Leader Statement Against Human Trafficking
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Make your employees, members, and partners aware of your intention and actions and call your organization to act! You can create a counter-trafficking video and make a statement to set an example for your employees and stakeholders.
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Sample Organizational Proclamation
The sample statement below can be used by transportation industry leaders to take a stand against human trafficking as an example for their employees and stakeholders:
Human trafficking is one of the greatest atrocities of the 21st century. With as many as 27.6 million adults and children exploited for labor, services, and commercial sex worldwide, it may seem like a problem beyond our borders. But the truth is, it’s happening right here in urban, rural, and Tribal communities across the United States.
Those committing this crime are using our roadways, railways, waterways, and airways to recruit and transport individuals being subjected into human trafficking. We cannot allow our transportation system to enable such unlawful acts.
[Organization Name] is joining with our partners across the transportation industry to stop the flow of human trafficking. [Organization Name] is committed not only to preparing our own employees to recognize and report suspected instances of the crime, but also to raising awareness among the public. Our message is that human trafficking will not be tolerated.
In addition to joining the transportation sector effort, [Organization Name] is taking the following measures:
* [Insert activity/commitment]
* [Insert activity/commitment]
We invite you to join us in our efforts to prevent human trafficking. Learn common indicators of human trafficking and be alert when you travel. Your simple act of calling in an indicator-informed tip could help a victim escape their trafficking situation and contribute to moving us closer to a world without human trafficking.
Sample Leadership Statement Talking Points
The talking points below offer a general background on human trafficking and the role that the transportation industry can play in eradicating the scourge:
- Human trafficking is one of the greatest atrocities of the 21st century. As many as 27.6 million adults and children are exploited for labor, services, and commercial sex worldwide.
- We may not think that human trafficking is happening around us, but the truth is, it’s happening in cities and small communities all across America.
- Those committing this unlawful crime are using roadways, railways, waterways, and airways to recruit and transport individuals being subjected to human trafficking.
- Transportation is a critical connector that can both facilitate and prevent human trafficking.
- Survivors of human trafficking often use transportation to escape traffickers and rely on transportation during recovery.
- Awareness is critical. Knowing what to look for and how to respond is essential.
- Frontline transportation employees and members of the traveling public who are equipped to recognize and report suspected instances of human trafficking can help prevent this crime.
- Transportation organizations can help combat human trafficking by:
- Becoming a Partner: Taking an organizational stand against human trafficking by signing the USDOT Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking pledge and/or becoming a Blue Lightning Initiative (for aviation-specific entities) partner.
- Developing Policy: Integrating counter-trafficking efforts into organizational policy initiatives, including due diligence policies and tools to prevent and mitigate the risk of forced labor within supply chains and operations.
- Learning the Signs: Ensuring all employees are trained to understand the risk factors, recruitment, types, and indicators of human trafficking.
- Raising Awareness: Reaching both the transportation workforce and the traveling public to prevent, identify, and respond to human trafficking.
- Reporting Tips: Reporting suspected instances of human trafficking based on multiple objective indicators.
- Sharing Information: Sharing data with other transportation organizations and communicating best practices to maximize the collective impact in countering human trafficking.
- Working together, we can put an end to human trafficking.