A friend once ask, “Kim, how do I talk to someone I think might be at risk for human trafficking?”
My first response was, “thank you for caring”.
My friend is walking through life with her eyes open. She’s sensitive and receptive to the needs of those around her. She’s connecting with others in a real and personal way.
Awareness is key to fighting human trafficking.
If she had not known that human trafficking is one the most lucrative and prolific crimes of our generation and that it is plaguing our entire world, leaving no country untouched by its atrocities, she could not have asked that question. If she had not known the possible red flags of human trafficking, she could not have asked that question. But beyond all of the knowledge she has she understands that there are millions of lives at stake and in her case one specific life.
We want to encourage our generation to walk with their eyes open and connect in personal and tangible ways to the people around them.
The presence of the indicators below does not mean that a child is for sure a victim of trafficking. This information helps to give clues that should be assessed with the broader context of all information presented. In addition to red flags there are those that are more vulnerable than others like; sexually or physically abused, children in foster care, impoverished, homeless/runaway, or drug addiction. We hope the information we provide will help open your eyes to the issue of human trafficking. (This is not exhaustive list. It gives you a place to start.)
In the coming days we’ll talk more about how I answered my friend’s question, but until then if you have a personal need for the question to be answered please email me at [email protected]
If you have seen these issues in someone you know or perhaps you’re experiencing trafficking please consider contacting the following and saving the numbers in your cell:
US National Human Trafficking Hotline – 888-373-7888
Philippines Department of Justice (DOJ) Anti-Trafficking Task Force 63-(0) 2-526-2750/ 63-(0) 2-525-5386
For other countries: http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/30/how-to-help-global-hotlines/
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
Mother Teresa
