Human Trafficking Awareness Month in DC

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, membership is now open to open to any D.C. metropolitan area law enforcement agency or non-governmental organization involved in anti-trafficking activities.

The Four Main Task Force Goals:
1) To facilitate a more coordinated anti-trafficking effort in the D.C. area through protocol development, extensive community outreach, proactive investigations, law enforcement training, intelligence sharing, and more formalized partnerships between law enforcement organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
2) To identify citizen, resident and transnational victims of both sex and labor trafficking.
3) To provide comprehensive services to trafficking victims.
4) To increase the prosecution of traffickers.

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 run 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.

Anti-Trafficking Events in DC this Month:

1. Join the DC Human Trafficking Task Force, the official community partner for this game, as we raise awareness to stop human trafficking! Don’t just buy a ticket to the game, JOIN OUR TEAM and make a $12 donation to receive your “Stop Human Trafficking” t- shirt. With more than 300 people, we’ll be turning heads all over the stadium! To obtain your $7 discounted ticket to the baseball game, please call Bryan at 202.640.7694.
2. Capital City Ball Kick off Event
   When:
   Wednesday September 16, 2009
   8:00pm-11:00pm
   Where:
   The George Town Club
   1530 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007
   What:
   Business Attire, Open Bar, Assorted Hor’s D’ouvres
   $75 Admission.  Click here to purchase tickets.  Proceeds will benefit Innocents at Risk
3. Youth Rally – Courtney’s House with Good Success Church and The Empowerment Center
   When:
   September 19th, 1:00-5:00
   Where:
   900 block of 44th St. NE, Washington, DC
4. Walk Against Child Trafficking Join the entire anti-trafficking community for this ground breaking event, which will be the largest anti-trafficking event in DC history!
   When:
   Saturday, September 26, 2009.
   Time: Registration opens at 9:00 am and the Walk begins at 10:00 am
   Where:
   Walk Starts at: Meridian Hill Park
   15th St NW and Euclid St NW, Washington DC
   Join:
   To register for the walk click here!

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