Human trafficking is a crime that often involves travel – traffickers move victims by many methods including cars, planes, trains, and buses and between countries, states, or cities. This summer, take a few moments to view the following list of information and resources that will help you become a more vigilant and perceptive traveler – in your own community and wherever you travel in the world.
Here are a few ways to familiarize yourself with the indicators of human trafficking and be equipped to know what to do if you encounter a potential trafficking situation:
- Save the National Human Trafficking Hotline number (1-888-373-7888) in your phone so that you can report a suspected tip.
- Enroll in the free 1-hour Human Trafficking Awareness course from Justice U to build your knowledge and skills.
- If you are a business traveler, review the Occupational Profile: Business Traveler video and one sheet found on the Engage Together: My Role
- Read our previous blog posts on air travel and tourism: Eyes In the Air and On the Ground and How to be a Vigilant Traveler & Ways the Travel Industry is Leading the Way
- Find ways to introduce these resources to your local community or business.
Even if you aren’t traveling this summer, you can use your staycation to make an impact. June is Online Safety Month, and with youth being out of school, at home, and online more often, we urge you to become aware of the very real dangers facing kids and teens online as well as how you can address the topic of online safety as a parent or caregiver. Take some time to explore a few of these resources this summer, either on your own or as a family, to better protect and empower the youth in your life to stay safe as they use online spaces.
- The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) created the CyberTipline, an online mechanism where incidents of suspected child sexual exploitation can be reported.
- NCMEC also created the Take It Down tool, a free service that helps individuals remove or stop the sharing of sexually explicit images or photos that were taken when the individual was under the age of 18.
- Netsmartz is NCMEC’S online safety education program that features age-appropriate resources for kids and teens. For parents, caregivers, and educators, downloadable PowerPoint presentations, tip sheets, and classroom activities are also available.
- Engage Together and Justice U’s Online Safety Toolkit contains resources for gaming and popular social media platforms that will help you empower your kids and protect them while they’re online. Download this free resource today!
- The AFRJ Student Council‘s Monthly Action Kit for Internet Safety Month highlights for students the importance of online safety when browsing, gaming, and using social media. Consider viewing this toolkit with your student and picking a few actionable tasks to focus on. Download this free resource today!
- Read our previous blog posts with more information and resources for parents, caregivers, youth, teens, and families regarding online safety: Internet Safety Month: New Reports, New Resources, and Actions You Can Take, You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know, and Internet Safety | The Unknown Dangers
We encourage you to be vigilant this summer, whether you are traveling or at home, and create opportunities for discussion of these topics with your families, kids, and teens. There is much being accomplished in these spaces, and much more to be done. But you can help. Get educated, keep your eyes open, and be ready to take action when you see someone in need.