Join the movement by engaging policymakers and the law.
Petitions:
The Body Shop: Stop Sex Trafficking of Children & Young People:
http://www.thebodyshop-usa.com/stop-sex-trafficking.aspx
Change.org:Tell Village Voice Media to Stop Child Sex Trafficking on Backpage.com:
http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-village-voice-media-to-stop-child-s...
Urge Hawaii's Governor to Sign Hawaii's 1st Anti-Human Trafficking Laws:
http://www.change.org/petitions/urge-hawaiis-governor-to-sign-hawaiis-1s...
Campaigns:
LOCAL
New York City: Let’s End Human Trafficking
Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City is leading the way with a city-wide awareness campaign called Let’s End Human Trafficking. The campaign includes facts about trafficking, resources for victims, and ways to get involved.
To lean more, visit http://www.nyc.gov/html/endht/html/trafficking/trafficking.shtml.
NATIONAL
The CNN Freedom Project & Somaly Mam
CNN joins the fight against modern day slavery by emphasizing coverage of trafficking and giving voice to its victims. Click here for a report featuring the work of SMF founder, Somaly Mam:
http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/04/slavery-then-and-now/
United States DHS Blue Campaign
The DHS Blue Campaign unites federal agencies in the fight against human trafficking, while working closely with domestic and international partners to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute traffickers.
http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/humantrafficking.shtm
GLOBAL
MTV EXIT
MTV Exit is an international campaign committed to preventing modern day slavery by generating awareness and inspiring young people around the world to get involved in the fight to end human trafficking.
Pick up the (digital) Pen:
1. Letter to the Editor
The way that human trafficking is presented in the media is crucial, because it is often a person’s first introduction to the issue. Write a letter to your favorite news source to thank them for a great story on trafficking, or to encourage them to devote more coverage to modern slavery.Write to your local paper if you see an article that correctly highlights and confronts the issue of trafficking.
The way that the media presents human trafficking is crucial, because it is often a person's first introduction to the issue. Write a letter to your favorite news source to thank them for a great story on trafficking, to correct misclassification of victims, or to encourage them to devote more coverage to modern day slavery. Conversely, write in if the article does not correctly address the issue.
Log in for tips and letter templates.
2. Forward to a Friend
Raising awareness is a crucial aspect of combatting human trafficking and sexual slavery. Send an email to your friends, family and colleagues giving them a 'heads-up' about the global crisis of trafficking and modern-day slavery, as well as ways to take action if they are as outraged as you were when you learned about it.
Sample email:
Dear [Friend],
A lot of people assume that slavery is a thing of the past, but modern-day slavery and human trafficking is still a global problem, with as many as 27 million people enslaved worldwide! I was shocked to learn this, and thought you would want to know about it, too. Clearly, it's a huge and complicated issue, but I really believe that it's an issue that can change in our lifetime if we all pitch in and try to make a difference. There are a lot of ways to fight this evil, and spreading the word is the first step.
To learn more about human trafficking and about how you can get involved, visit: projectfutures.somaly.org, and please spread the word!
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
3. Letter to Congresspersons
Join the movement by engaging policymakers to create a world without slavery. Support legislation on the federal and state level that supports victims and criminalizes traffickers. For more information on local and federal laws and pending legislation in your area, visit http://www.polarisproject.org/what-we-do/policy-advocacy.
If you live in the US, you can also visit Polaris' State Map to access in-depth local information on your state and arm yourself with the facts.
Sample letter:
Dear [Title and Name],
I am sending this email to urge you to make anti-human trafficking legislation a priority, both here in [State] and on a national level. This heinous crime affects both adults and children, citizens and immigrants, men and women. An estimated 17,500 people are trafficked into the US every year, and currently there are approximately 100,000 children being sexually exploited by traffickers. Legislation guaranteeing the prosecution of traffickers and the protection and support of its victims is absolutely crucial, now more than ever. Please take action on pending legislation on this issue, and speak out for new, more effective measures to be taken in order to eradicate this horrifying crime.
Sincerely,
[Name]
[Address]