January is designated by the White House as National Human Trafficking and Slavery Prevention Month. Millions of women, men and children around the world are subjected to forced labor, domestic servitude or commercial sex at the hands of human traffickers, according to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website where one victim shares her story.
In a presidential proclamation, President Donald Trump called human trafficking a modern form of slavery.
“It is not enough merely to denounce this horrific assault on human dignity; we must actively work to prevent and end this barbaric exploitation of innocent victims. During National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, we pledge to continue the battle to abolish modern slavery and restore the lives of those affected by human trafficking,” he wrote.
Forms of the crime include forced labor, sex trafficking, bonded labor, debt bondage, involuntary domestic servitude, forced child labor, child soldiering and child sex trafficking, according a Defense Department website that offers training and other resources on preventing human trafficking. Human traffickers may use social media sites like Facebook and Instagram, dating sites and Craigslist to lure unsuspecting victims.
The Defense Logistics Agency complies with DoD policy that requires all military and civilian employees to complete awareness training annually, wrote DLA Installation Management Director Gordon Hackett in a recent blog post.
“As DLA employees, it is important to remember that combating trafficking in persons is not just a Learning Management System training requirement, but a mindset that should be applied in your day-to-day work,” he wrote.
To report human trafficking, contact the local police, the National Trafficking in Persons Hotline at 1-888-373-7888, or the DoD Hotline at 1-800-424-9098.