Maddie Amos, Director of Grants and Programs
Welcome to Fear 2 Freedom’s new Be The Change Blog! Each month, our blog will feature an educational piece on an important topic within the world of sexual violence awareness and prevention.
As Human Trafficking Awareness Month concludes, it’s critical to continue talking about the millions of people that are trafficked every year. As a community of compassionate supporters, we can work to end human trafficking by making little changes in our daily lives.
Learn the signs
Learn and look out for the signs of human trafficking. Below are just some of the indicators of human trafficking situations. Not every situation is the same. Some indicators might be present, some might not, and some situations might show no red flags at all. The Polaris Project has several articles, for example “The Facts” and “Recognize the Signs” for recognizing human trafficking situations. If you recognize any of these signs, you can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
Talk about vulnerable populations
Any person can become a victim of human trafficking, but there are some statistics from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Polaris Project, and the Human Trafficking Hotline that show that there are particularly vulnerable populations.
Be a responsible consumer
Do some research to find out where your goods are assembled. Many people would be surprised to learn the 2018 List of Goods Produced by Forced and/or Child Labor includes everyday items we may not suspect. When you are able, shop locally to reduce the demand for goods made using forced and/or child labor. You can also contact the brands that you know and patronize, asking them to disclose the details of their supply chain. To join a movement known as the Fashion Revolution, follow the link and learn more. You can also learn more about Fair Trade goods by following the link.
Host an awareness event
Gather a group of friends and watch a documentary about human trafficking. Two award-winning options are The Long Night and Nefarious: Merchant of Souls. This is a great way to educate yourself and others about the truths of sex trafficking. View the trailers by following the links above.
Donate to or volunteer with local organizations that support survivors of human trafficking
F2F is just one of many great organizations in the Hampton Roads area that work to serve survivors of human trafficking. Organizations like Latisha’s House, the Norfolk Family Justice Center, Samaritan House and the Virginia Beach Justice Initiative and work to provide housing, security, and comfort to those who escape human trafficking. These are great community organizations to get involved with if you want to do more to support survivors!
Thank you for reading our first Be the Change Blog post. We look forward to presenting you with more opportunities to learn about different aspects of sexual and interpersonal violence. Let us know if you learned something new or send us a message.