Raising awareness is an important step to addressing human trafficking and modern-day slavery. The resources in the Research the Facts and Spread the Word sections, below, will help you get started. Explore ArtWorks for Freedom’s 30 Actions | 30 Days toolkit for additional ideas.
Raise Awareness
Learning about human trafficking and modern-day slavery is a critical first step. To be a strong advocate you must first learn the facts.
Visit our Learn page and toolkits, and explore the Global Resource Database and Film Database to learn more about the topics that matter most to you.
Read the U.S. State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report. Each country narrative provides a snapshot of the efforts the government of that country is taking to combat human trafficking.
Become familiar with the work and research of key anti-trafficking organizations, such as Anti-Slavery International, ECPAT, Free the Slaves, Solidarity Center, Freedom Fund and Polaris Project.
Learn about what the United Nations is doing to combat trafficking and read relevant reports:
- The International Labor Organization works with governments, trade unions, and business to combat human trafficking
- The Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council are independent human rights experts with mandates to report and advise on human rights from a particular perspective. Learn about and read the reports of the Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children and the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences.
Once you’ve learned about human trafficking, it’s time to start spreading the word. Raising awareness starts with those around you: your friends, your family, your community.
Engage in conversations. Share resources and information that you have found interesting with those in your network. Are you on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media sites? Like and/or follow anti-trafficking organizations and share resources that interest you or pertain to your community.
With the permission of bar owners, hotel and apartment managers, school officials, concert venues, and managers of other public properties, distribute the number for the National Human Trafficking Hotline, pamphlets that define human trafficking and its warning signs, or other materials about where to get help if needed. Contact a local organization that may already be doing outreach and see how you can support them.
Parents and teachers can speak with their children and students about human trafficking with age-appropriate discussions that convey the seriousness of the topic and provide kids and adolescents with the tools to recognize risks and seek help if needed.
For more ways to raise awareness visit ArtWorks for Freedom’s 30 Actions | 30 Days toolkit.
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forms of human trafficking, all over the world.