National Capital Human Trafficking Awareness Month

September is Washington D.C.’s Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the event which was established thanks to the efforts of the DC Task Force on Human Trafficking. The Task Force was established in 2004 with the DC police department and the DC US Attorney’s office. Since the establishment of the Task Force, membership has grown to over 30 diverse government and non-government organizations, which meet on a weekly and monthly basis. Thanks to the efforts of the DC Task Force, there have been more than 35 traffickers prosecuted, over 70 victims of trafficking have been rescued, and successfully advocated for the DC City Council to make September Human Trafficking awareness month.

This month as the city’s activists and abolitionists unite to bring the face of modern slavery and human trafficking to the forefront, the National Human Trafficking Hotline has taken top priority. The hotline was established by the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) is a service funded by the Department of Health and Human Services to provide information and resources to victims of human trafficking, other individuals or organizations seeking information about this phenomenon, and accept tips from individuals wishing to provide information about possible victims. The hotline is administered and by DC-based Polaris Project.

If you are a victim of trafficking, know a victim of trafficking, or suspect a case of trafficking please contact the Resource Center, call 1-888-373-7888, or email nhtrc@polarisproject.org.  The toll-free hotline operates year round, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

DC Trafficking Facts:

• The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) considers Washington, DC one of the top 14 sites in the country for sex trafficking of American children. (FBI, 2005)
• The Department of Justice (DOJ) Task Force members maintain that hundreds of sex and labor trafficking cases in the Washington, DC area remain undiscovered each year.

Anyone can become a victim; there isn’t one face to human trafficking and modern slavery. How do you know if you have come across a victim? Trafficking can take place in any environment and any location. Some Red Flags to look for include:

• Restricted freedom of movement
• Is under 18 and is providing commercial sex acts
• Signs of physical abuse
• Fear or depression
• Not speaking on own behalf
• No passport or other forms of identification

While our nation’s capital is taking a great step in the fight against modern slavery, there is still much that needs to be done to end the trade of human flesh. Take the first step today and open your eyes…“See it, Report it!”


Links and Resources:
Fact Sheets – in Multiple Languages for Download
Order Free Posters and Materials to distribute and post
DC Stop Modern Slavery – DC Based Citizen Activist Group