For Philadelphia, one of our initial focus cities under the initiative, we created this action guide with and for local stakeholders to help prevent trafficking of the local vulnerable youth population.

The post Action Guide: Trafficking Prevention for Youth in Philadelphia first appeared on Polaris.

A call might come from an aspiring actress who accepts a modeling job that turns out to be prostitution. Or from a father of three forced to work 12-hour days with no breaks and no pay. Or a caring neighbor who has noticed the way the housekeeper next door is mistreated. When they contact the Trafficking Hotline, Polaris connects them to local services, helps with safety planning, and assists with reporting to law enforcement if desired.

Beyond meeting immediate needs, the Trafficking Hotline also serves as the largest source of data on trafficking in North America, enabling us to observe trends, improve practices, and advocate for needed resources and system changes. This function is at the core of anti-trafficking response, not only for Polaris but for the entire field.

As we celebrate the Trafficking Hotline’s anniversary this December and look forward to a new year ahead, here are 15 milestones to mark 15 years of keeping the lights on for victims and survivors.

1. Polaris launches the Trafficking Hotline in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2007) Today, the Trafficking Hotline works with more than 3,000 service providers, reporting contacts, and other organizations in its Reporting and Referral Database to make sure victims and survivors get the help they need.
2. Polaris answers an average of 479 calls per month in the Trafficking Hotline’s first full year of operation. (2008)
3. Because texting is a more discreet way for victims to safely contact the Trafficking Hotline, Polaris adds SMS capability through the BeFree textline. (2013) Since then, texting has grown exponentially, especially among youth: From 2019 to 2020, the percentage of texts from potential victims under 18 more than doubled.
4. Using data from the first five years of the Trafficking Hotline, Polaris publishes “Human Trafficking Trends in the United States: National Human Trafficking Resource Center 2007–2012,” advancing a data-driven understanding of the crime. (2013)
5. To support the international safety net, Polaris launches the Global Modern Slavery Directory (GMSD), listing 770+ organizations addressing modern slavery and human trafficking around the globe. (2014) Since then, the site has grown to 2,600+ listings and become the primary resource for international cases on the Trafficking Hotline.
6. Responding to the needs of victims and survivors, Polaris establishes partnerships with transportation and hospitality companies to provide ride shares, flights, and short-term hotel stays to offer emergency support to those leaving situations of trafficking or pursuing their recovery. (2014)
7. In partnership with Consejo Ciudadano, Polaris helps stand up Mexico’s first national human trafficking hotline. (2015) Polaris continues to support Consejo and has advised 15 other countries, such as the UK, Canada, and South Africa, in launching or strengthening their own trafficking hotlines.
8. Analyzing more than 32,000 cases from the Trafficking Hotline, Polaris publishes “The Typology of Modern Slavery,” a first-of-its-kind classification system that identifies 25 main types of human trafficking in the U.S. (2017)
9. Polaris hires a survivor leader to conduct a survivor-centered evaluation of the Trafficking Hotline and provide recommendations for improving, which Polaris starts to implement. (2017) Survivor leadership continues to be a key priority for the Trafficking Hotline and Polaris overall.
10. Polaris publishes “Human Trafficking on Temporary Work Visas: A Data Analysis: 2015-2017,” using Trafficking Hotline data to identify nearly 800 trafficking victims holding guest worker visas. (2018) Polaris has since updated this report for 2022, identifying nearly 4,000 such victims.
11. Collaborating with the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Polaris analyzes 10 years of Trafficking Hotline data in “Human Trafficking at Home: Labor Trafficking of Domestic Workers” to inform recommendations for protecting workers at risk of exploitation. (2019)
12. Given trafficking’s reliance on financial services, Polaris launches the Financial Intelligence Unit to leverage Trafficking Hotline and other data in equipping financial industry and law enforcement partners to disrupt situations of trafficking. (2020)
13. Strengthening the three-way partnership that makes up the North American Safety Net, Polaris hosts the first trilateral North American Human Trafficking Hotlines Summit with Consejo Ciudadano and The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking. (2020) This collaboration is vital for coordinating cases across borders when any of the three hotlines receives a contact.
14. As the COVID-19 pandemic overtakes the world, Polaris rises to the challenge, shifting the Trafficking Hotline to remote operations (2020) and sharing eye-opening data about trafficking trends during lockdowns. (2021)
15. Since launch, the Trafficking Hotline has handled hundreds of thousands of contacts. The latest monthly statistics show more than 17,000 total contacts via call, text, webchat, email, and online tip form — 35 times as many as its first year. (2022)

Stop human trafficking today

Help fix the broken systems that make trafficking possible so we can prevent it from happening in the first place.

Make a Gift

The National Human Trafficking Hotline is supported by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the United States (U.S.) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $4.5 million with 78% funded by ACF/HHS and $1.3 million and 22% funded by non-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACF/HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit the ACF website, Administrative and National Policy Requirements: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/administrative-and-national-policy-requirements#chapter-8.

The post Answering the Call: 15 Years and Counting first appeared on Polaris.

Though the sheer volume of exploitation may seem shocking, it should not surprise anyone. The growth in trafficking is possible because simply — and sadly — the underlying conditions that make people vulnerable to sex and labor trafficking have not been addressed. Poverty, environmental destruction, structural racism and discrimination, and gender and economic inequity persist as underlying drivers of human trafficking around the globe. 

In the midst of the pandemic, especially, Polaris found that vulnerabilities among some populations had gotten worse. Some people saw their employment opportunities vanish. Many were willing to take any type of job, in any condition, rather than leave their households without an income. As the ILO/IOM/Walk Free report indicates, migrant workers, women, and children are especially vulnerable to falling prey to traffickers. The same thing happens with other global events, as armed conflicts, natural disasters, and social exclusion exacerbate vulnerabilities for people already experiencing difficulties. As a result, new migrants, women, and children will remain at a disproportionate disadvantage.

These new estimates are significant because they are a call to action. The solutions to trafficking are as wide ranging as the underlying problems — and require society-wide change. For example, the new report estimates that 86 percent of labor trafficking cases are found in the private sector. Therefore, it is impossible to think about addressing the causes of human trafficking without engaging businesses and corporations in improving their practices to prevent trafficking.  

Nonprofit organizations like Polaris are active players, but the fight against trafficking cannot only be led by the nonprofit world. It also requires governments, lawmakers, the private sector, and social/civil organizations to lay the foundations for a system in which there is no chance of trafficking and exploitation. 

Stop human trafficking today

Help fix the broken systems that make trafficking possible so we can prevent it from happening in the first place.

Make a Gift

The post New Estimates of Human Trafficking in the World: Shocking but Not Surprising first appeared on Polaris.

While Polaris primarily works in North America, we also operate the Global Modern Slavery Directory — a searchable database of anti trafficking organizations that serve survivors across the globe. We have put together a resource guide for victims and survivors affected by conflict that are currently in Ukraine and Afghanistan or are refugees. 

For people in Ukraine: 

International Organization for Migration (IOM) – Ukraine

• Website: https://iom.org.ua/en
• Hotline Number: 527 (free using Ukrainian cell phones) and 0 800 505 501 (free if calling from Ukrainian landlines)
• Hotline Hours: 08:00 – 20:00 (M-Su)
• Online chat: https://www.527.org.ua/
• Email: iomkievcomm@iom.int

For refugees in Poland:

Stowarzyszenie PoMOC dla Kobiet i Dzieci im. Marii Niepokalanej

• Website: https://www.po-moc.pl/ 
• Telephone: +48 32 255 38 69
• E-mail:  biuro@po-moc.pl

Fundacja La Strada

• Website: http://www.strada.org.pl/ 
• Telephone: +48 22 628 99 99
• Email: strada@strada.org.pl

The National Consulting and Intervention Centre for Victims of Trafficking (KCIK)

• Website: http://www.kcik.pl/
• Hotline (24/7): +48 22 628 01 20

Additionally, here is information for refugees from the Polish government. 

For refugees in Hungary: 

Üdvhadsereg Salvation Army Hungary

• Website: http://www.udvhadsereg.hu/ 
• Telephone: +36 1 332 3324
• Email: kozponti@udvhadsereg.hu

Névtelen Utak Alapitvány

• Website: https://nevtelenutak.hu/ 
• Telephone: +36 706 649 497
• Email: anonymousways.ngo@gmail.com 

The OKIT 

• Website: https://okit.eu/ 
• Phone: 06 80 20 55 20

International Organization for Migration (IOM) – Slovakia

• Website: www.mic.iom.sk 
• Anti-trafficking Hotline (Phone and SMS): +421 907 787 374
• Migration Information Centre Hotline: 0850 211 478 (in Slovakia) or +421 2 5263 0023 (from abroad)
• Email: mic@iom.it 

Additionally, here is a Facebook page with tips and resources for those in-country.

For refugees in Romania: 

Agenția Națională Împotriva Traficului de Persoane (ANITP) (Government agency) 

• Website: http://www.anitp.mai.gov.ro/
• Hotline: 0800800678
• Hotline Hours: 08:00 – 16:00 (M-F)
• Hotline Languages: Romanian and English. 
• Phone: +40 756 514 940
• Email: anitp@mai.gov.ro

For people in Afghanistan: 

International Organization for Migration (IOM) – Afghanistan

• Website: https://afghanistan.iom.int/ 
• Email: iomkabul@iom.int 

UNHCR Afghanistan

• Website: https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/afghanistan.html 
• Phone: 41 22 739 7500
• Email: afgka@unhcr.org 

International Rescue Committee – Afghanistan

• Website: https://www.rescue.org/country/afghanistan 
• Phone: +93 77 368 3738

Please note that these are external resources compiled to help you better understand what help might be available. The Polaris-operated Global Modern Slavery Directory has taken reasonable steps to verify that each organization has met inclusion criteria; however, the Global Modern Slavery Directory is not responsible for the accuracy of information contained on this site. Polaris did not create any of these resources and cannot vouch for their accuracy.

The post Essential Resources for People Affected by Conflict in Ukraine and Afghanistan first appeared on Polaris.

Over the last seven years, the GMSD has undergone many changes. Over 2,100 organizations have been added, it’s been translated into Spanish and French, and a yearly vetting process has been instituted. Additionally, a partnership with the Freedom Collaborative and Eurasia Foundation was formed to share and include more information about international service providers. These improvements have enabled over 142,000 visitors to the site to connect to much needed resources and services. The GMSD also became the primary resource for international cases on the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline, which has been used in over 5,700 potential international trafficking cases since 2014.

As the GMSD has grown over the years, it became evident that it needed to be more than just a digital-age phone book. Thanks to a generous grant by the Carlson Foundation and members input about what they wanted to see in future iterations, Polaris has been able to give the GMSD a much needed update. The updated website has a more interactive, user-friendly interface, provides more information about the organizations listed, includes a mobile/tablet version, and provides a clearer visualization of the global anti-trafficking field. 

What’s changed?

Safety was at the forefront of our planning process. With feedback from GMSD users and survivors, we learned that ensuring a safe browsing experience was critical for the new site. To this end we have instituted two safe browsing tools: the safe browsing toggle, which can be turned on and off, and an effective quick exit button, both of which follow the user as they navigate throughout the site. 

We’ve made it easier to locate services quickly by adding a suggested provider on the home page based on the person’s location if the location services are turned on for their device. 

With its more user-friendly and interactive map, you can now visualize the anti-trafficking field through color variants on the map – the darker the shade, the more resources available in that country. The search filters have been updated to include more options and you can download a CSV of all the service providers listed based on filtered search results. 

Once search filters have been selected, you’ll see “first glance” information about the service providers underneath the map. By clicking the “see more” button, users will be brought to the main page of the organization, which provides more information, including publicly available phone numbers, hours/days of operation, hotline services, the organization’s mission statement, countries of operation, and services provided filtered by populations served. To learn more about how the map works and what information is included, please check out the FAQ section.

How can you help?

Organizations that wish to be verified for the GMSD can fill out an application at globalmodernslavery.org/apply or contact Polaris at global@polarisproject.org for more information. For more information and inclusion criteria, please review the Service Provider Guidelines and Expectations document. If you are already a member of the GMSD and would like to update your information, please click here. 

We also invite you to share your stories with us regarding your use of the GMSD through our Feedback Form. 

Everyone can help by spreading the word about the Global Modern Slavery Directory – by sharing the directory or any resources found within it, you’re helping to share this vital resource with those who may need it.

The post The New and Improved Global Modern Slavery Directory first appeared on Polaris.

In 2020, hits to the site leaped a record 67 percent over the year before as a record high number of survivors, potential victims, service providers and others sought resources around the world. 

As the global pandemic has so dramatically illustrated, no nation is an island unto itself. As the longtime operator of the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline, Polaris has known this for some time. The Trafficking Hotline routinely works on situations of human trafficking that require connecting victims and survivors to supports and services outside the United States. That’s a significant part of the reason why in 2014, Polaris launched the Global Modern Slavery Directory (GMSD). Since then, this unique resource has become more valuable than ever. In 2020, hits to the site leapt a record 67 percent over the year before as a record high number of survivors, potential victims, service providers and others sought resources around the world. 

The GMSD has changed and grown a great deal since it was originally conceived. In its first iteration, it was essentially a digital-age phone book, providing contact information for organizations working on human trafficking around the world. But it soon became apparent that there was so much more needed than simply a digital-age version of a phone book. Human trafficking is incredibly complex, and the more information available at the click of a mouse, the better help can be provided to those in need. 

Today, the GMSD offers information for about 2,682 organizations in 197 countries, including detailed services offered, the populations organizations are able to work with, languages spoken, any and all contact information, as well as any hotlines (phone, SMS, online chat) that they operate. This information is continuously updated to ensure accuracy, and as we learn more about what service providers and others need to know in order to make the best possible referrals. 

While the GMSD is focused internationally, the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline is its most frequent user. During 2020, the Trafficking Hotline received information about 971 cases involving an international location, made 588 referrals to international service providers, and sent 145 reports about potential trafficking situations to international contacts (service providers and law enforcement) – all thanks to the work of the Global Modern Slavery Directory.

With careful tracking and annual updates, the GMSD is a vital resource beyond individual situations of human trafficking and exploitation. It serves as an accurate map of the landscape and allows researchers and governments to identify gaps in services and other needs in most of the world. 

Through data extracted from the Trafficking Hotline situations, we at Polaris are also able to learn more about the top venues and industries for trafficking globally and the top needs identified by international potential victims of trafficking. 

2021 promises to be another great year for the Global Modern Slavery Directory. Thanks to a two-year grant from the Carlson Family Foundation, the GMSD will be getting a much needed facelift. That means rebuilding the website and the directory from the ground up, making it more user-friendly, and adding a mobile and tablet version, allowing for more accessibility.  We will also be conducting more research into the data we have collected to begin some analysis of service gaps internationally and share those findings with partners and GMSD members. We will also be reaching out to more member organizations to create and update country protocols the Trafficking Hotline uses to ensure we are able to send potential trafficking reports to the correct and survivor-centered agencies. 

If your organization would like to join the Global Modern Slavery Directory, or if you know of organizations that should join, please fill out the application. For more information and inclusion criteria, please review the GMSD – Service Provider Guidelines and Expectations document. If you are already a member of the GMSD and would like to update your information, please click here.

The post Impact of the Global Modern Slavery Directory in 2020 first appeared on Polaris.

Polaris capacitó al personal de los consulados en Washington, D.C. y Maryland de México, Guatemala, El Salvador y Honduras sobre cómo identificar víctimas potenciales de trata de personas. Aunque esta presentación muestra información específica para los países mencionados, las señales de trata de personas pueden aplicar a otras personas ya sea locales o extranjeras que puedan encontrarse en una situación de trata.  

The post How to Identify Potential Victims of Human Trafficking – Latin America first appeared on Polaris.

The post Fighting Human Trafficking Across the U.S.-Mexico Border first appeared on Polaris.

The CTDC is a new data portal initiated by IOM, the UN’s migration agency, in partnership with Polaris to host the world’s largest open access, multi-stakeholder repository of human trafficking data. 

The extent of family involvement in the trafficking of children is up to four times higher than in cases of adult trafficking, suggesting the need for more prevention efforts specifically targeting children and their families. In addition, boys are more likely to be recruited by a family member than girls. 

Children are most commonly trafficked into forced sexual exploitation, begging, and domestic work. The new data also show that children are most likely to be coerced into trafficking through physical, sexual and psychological abuse, while adults are more likely to be controlled having their documents confiscated, or having someone exploit their irregular status in a foreign country. 

“Our Organization is taking a leading role in increasing the access to this critical information in order to strengthen counter-trafficking interventions,” said IOM Director General, William Lacy Swing.

“Modern slavery is a clandestine crime operating in the shadows as efforts to fight it are often based on only partial information. That’s why comprehensive data is essential, so we can put more targeted pressure on trafficking and reach more survivors so they can leave their exploitative situations. The CTDC is a leap forward to better illuminate the reality of modern slavery and facilitate coordinated efforts to combat it across borders,” said Bradley Myles, CEO of Polaris.

The CTDC is continuing to build partnerships with other counter-trafficking actors, with the non-governmental organization, Liberty Asia, being the newest contributor, bringing the total number of records of human trafficking cases hosted by the site to nearly 80,000 victims of 180 nationalities exploited in 117 countries. Further data is to be contributed by counter-trafficking partner organizations around the world in the coming months. The availability of such data for the first time is expected to have a large counter-trafficking impact.

These statistics related to child trafficking cases with family involvement are based on nearly 12,000 survivors of trafficking for which the information related to the recruitment process is known.

In response to these concerning statistics, IOM is calling for governments and other development and humanitarian partners to step up counter-trafficking interventions aimed at children, by:

• Helping heads of household to make the best long-term plans for themselves and their family, which respect the agency and aspirations of their children. Where this includes the decision to migrate, it is important to tackle the root causes of unsafe migration as a survival strategy. Families should not feel compelled to send their children out into the world unsafe and unprepared. Children and their families should be equipped to identify and defend themselves against abusers and would be exploiters. 
• Enabling children to address their own vulnerabilities through helping them to identify potentially dangerous or exploitative situations, recognize unhealthy relationships that are not based on mutual respect, know where and how they may be able to receive support, and understand options available to them to pursue their aspirations. 
• Ensuring that protection and systems are accessible to all children, regardless of their migration status. Child protection systems should also act in the best interests of the child in all circumstances, including in the provision of solutions to bring sustainable resolutions of their cases.

More research is needed to better understand the specific risk and protective factors that make children vulnerable to human trafficking. The voices of children should be heard in the design, implementation and evaluation of services, policies and interventions and the legitimacy of their aspirations should be recognized. 

To access the CTDC please click here. Data on the site are regularly updated so charts and data visualizations may not exactly match statistics in written analysis.

More information on IOM can be found here.
More information on Polaris can be found here. 

CTDC is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Department of State. The contents are the responsibility of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of State or the United States Government. 

People can receive help or report a tip of suspected human trafficking in the United States by calling the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or by sending a text to Polaris at “BeFree” (233733).

###

The post Global Modern Slavery Data Hub Launches first appeared on Polaris.

You may have heard the story about the Alaska Airlines flight attendant who helped a teenage girl leave a human trafficking situation.

Noticing that the girl looked “disheveled and uncomfortable,” and was sitting next to a well-dressed and controlling older man, Shelia Frederick recognized signs of human trafficking.

Her action exemplifies one of the most important lessons of training — which has increasingly been given to U.S. flight staff like Shelia since 2009 — on recognizing and responding to this crime: “If you see something, say something.”

Everyone has a role to play in the fight against human trafficking. The better equipped people and organizations are to spot red flags and respond effectively, the better our chances of identifying victims and helping them restore their freedom.

In February, we wrote about ongoing collaboration between Polaris’s strategic initiative team focused on the sex trafficking of young women and girls from Mexico and the Polaris-operated National Human Trafficking Hotline to identify common challenges these victims face. As a result, Hotline Advocates are now more prepared to pinpoint victims’ unique needs, identify gaps in services, and offer tailored solutions for callers.

Polaris also recently began a collaboration with the Mexican consular network (which serves both Mexican citizens and the larger Latin American community in the United States) to exchange information and knowledge that will strengthen our respective efforts to support this population.

A Natural Partner

As Shelia’s story shows, family members, friends, and community members can and do play an important role in helping identify and support victims of human trafficking. However, it’s also critical for the anti-trafficking field to connect with different types of service providers that may encounter victims in their work with vulnerable groups.

National Hotline data tell us that many victims come in contact with health care providers, law enforcement, and other potential points of assistance during their trafficking situation. We know that around 30 percent of victims of sex trafficking from Mexico had access to friends or family or to law enforcement, and around 15 percent accessed social or health services. But too often, these interactions become missed opportunities to identify and help victims.

The Mexican consular network is one of the most prominent types of these potential points of assistance. In major cities across the U.S., these consulates help migrants with a variety of issues that may arise, such as replacing lost or stolen identification documents. Recent migrants are among those most vulnerable to human trafficking, but are also likely to visit a consulate for help with many different types of services they need while in the U.S. That’s why the Mexican consular network is a natural partner to engage in our work.

Picture this: A consular employee is approached by a woman who says she lost her passport and other personal documents. If the employee has been trained on human trafficking, she might recognize this situation as a potential red flag. Because many consular interviews are held in private, the right questions could give a potential victim the chance to speak up. A trained employee would inquire further as to how the woman’s documents were lost, and would ask her if she needs help.

This type of intervention can connect victims or survivors to assistance they didn’t know existed – or can simply empower them to make an informed decision about their own next steps.

With this goal in mind, Polaris and Hotline staff have begun engaging with the consular network to learn about the resources and services each offers victims of human trafficking from Mexico and Latin America. For example, the network shared information about its program focusing on integral care for women (VAIM, in Spanish), including a training they conducted for their staff on spotting the signs of crimes against women and assisting victims.

We also held a recent online training for all 50 consulates on bringing a human trafficking lens to their daily work serving communities. Our hope is that consular staff will not only recognize this crime when they see it, but will also know to connect victims to the most appropriate resources, including the National Hotline.

As we continue to engage consulates in the fight against sex trafficking of women and girls from Mexico, we plan to build on these first steps by working to ensure victims and survivors have access to more complete protections and services across the country. This effort will include briefing consulates on human trafficking trends in different regions, equipping the National Hotline to connect callers to relevant consular resources, and supporting consulates to be key allies of task forces addressing the issue locally.

If you need help or suspect a case of human trafficking in the U.S., call the confidential National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888) or send a text to BeFree (233733). If you’re calling from Mexico, contact the Línea Nacional Contra la Trata de Personas (01-800-5533-000), operated by Polaris’s Mexican partner organization, Consejo Ciudadano.

The post Engaging Consulates in the Fight Against Sex Trafficking from Mexico first appeared on Polaris.