Put the Brakes on Human Trafficking

 

America’s transportation systems—including roads, rails, airways, and waterways—are often exploited to facilitate human trafficking, a modern form of slavery. Human trafficking is the unlawful act of transporting or coercing individuals to exploit their labor or services, often through forced labor or sexual exploitation. A specific form of this crime, sex trafficking, involves illegally moving people from one country or area to another for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

 

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), almost every form of human trafficking intersects with public transportation at some point. Unfortunately, traffickers often utilize public transit buses and trains to move or relocate victims from one place to another to avoid detection or prosecution. This is primarily because public buses and trains are seen as more difficult to trace than personal vehicles and are low cost to the trafficker. The transportation sector plays a unique and vital role in recognizing and stopping this crime by helping victims and supporting law enforcement efforts.

 

Resources & Training

 

All transit agency employees should complete the National RTAP Training, Transit and Human Trafficking (Busing on the Lookout), to recognize and respond to trafficking indicators. Agencies are encouraged to establish an internal reporting process using available templates to ensure timely and consistent action.

 

Every January, since 2020, the President of the United States has dedicated the month to raise awareness about human trafficking and provide education on the topic, building upon the framework of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. 

 

 

   

 

If you suspect human trafficking in Nebraska, call: 

 

1-833-PLS-LOOK

(1-833-757-5665)  

 

If you are a victim, call the Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text INFO or HELP to BeFree (233733).

 

In the case of an emergency, call 911 immediately.