Written by Heidi Chance, SME Sex Trafficking Trainer
Heidi Chance, a 25-year veteran of the Phoenix Police Department, dedicated her career to combatting sex trafficking, notably serving 13 years in the H.E.A.T (Human Exploitation and Trafficking) Unit.
Human trafficking is one of the most pressing human rights issues in the world today, affecting millions of people globally. It is a crime that thrives in the shadows, but with greater awareness, collaboration, and proactive action, communities can make a significant difference in combating it. This article will break down how individuals, businesses, and communities can help solve the human trafficking crisis, using the acronym "SOLVE" as a framework. Each letter in SOLVE represents a key component in the fight against human trafficking.
S – Spot the signs
The first step in addressing human trafficking is understanding how to identify it. Human trafficking can occur in many forms, from forced labor and domestic servitude to sex trafficking, often hidden in plain sight. To effectively combat this crime, everyone–from community members to business leaders–must know how to spot the signs of trafficking.
Trafficking victims often display behavioral signs of fear, anxiety, and distrust. They may avoid eye contact, appear malnourished, or seem overly controlled by someone accompanying them. In work environments, they might not have access to their personal documents or be subject to restrictive schedules without personal freedom. Learning to recognize these red flags is crucial for anyone wanting to get involved in the prevention of human trafficking. Visit here to download the “Sex Trafficking Indicators List”.
Community education programs can make a substantial difference here. Public workshops, online courses, and outreach initiatives help people recognize these indicators. Parents and guardians can also be vigilant about their children’s online interactions, ensuring they understand the dangers of being groomed by traffickers posing as friends or trusted individuals online.
O – Organize community efforts
Preventing human trafficking requires collective action. No one individual or organization can address the full scope of this crime alone. Instead, communities need to come together and organize efforts to protect vulnerable populations and raise awareness about trafficking dangers.
One of the best ways to combat trafficking is through neighborhood watch programs, community forums, and awareness campaigns that include information about local resources. Schools, churches, businesses, and nonprofits can collaborate on community-wide events to discuss trafficking prevention. Initiating partnerships between local law enforcement, healthcare providers, educators, and social services ensures that all community stakeholders are informed and prepared to act.
For example, school educators and administrators are in a prime position to recognize children who might be at risk. By organizing training for teachers on how to detect the signs of trafficking and collaborating with local agencies, schools can become safe spaces where victims feel comfortable seeking help.
L – Learn and educate
Education is a cornerstone of human trafficking prevention. To engage effectively in the fight against trafficking, individuals need to learn about the complexities of the issue and share that knowledge with others. This includes understanding how traffickers operate, who they target, and what resources are available for those in need.
Many people still think of human trafficking as an issue that occurs elsewhere–far from their own communities. By educating people about how trafficking can and does happen locally, we can dispel myths and provide practical ways to intervene. Training programs for professionals in industries such as healthcare, hospitality, and transportation are also essential. These are often the sectors where traffickers move their victims, so educating workers in these fields could significantly increase the number of trafficking cases that are reported.
Parents must be educated on the dangers of the digital age. Traffickers often use online platforms to recruit and groom victims. Workshops like "Digital Literacy for Parents" help caregivers understand the threats their children may face online and how to monitor internet activity to protect them from traffickers.
V – Volunteer your time
Another important way to help prevent human trafficking is to volunteer. Many organizations work tirelessly to raise awareness, offer services to survivors, and support law enforcement in tracking and arresting traffickers. However, these organizations often lack sufficient manpower and resources.
By volunteering your time and skills, you can contribute significantly to their work. This could involve anything from helping organize awareness events to working directly with survivors of trafficking. Lawyers, counselors, and social workers can offer their expertise pro bono to help victims navigate the legal and emotional recovery process. If you are a business owner, offering employment opportunities or skills training for survivors is another way to provide support.
Volunteering with local anti-trafficking organizations, joining coalitions, or simply educating yourself so you can speak out in your community helps raise the profile of the issue and creates a more informed, engaged public.
A part of volunteering may also include gathering items needed to help support survivors and organizations who are housing survivors. Even gathering items that law enforcement could hand out during the moment of a rescue is a huge way to contribute to helping build rapport and support victims. Contact me at achanceforawareness.com and I will send you a list of needed items you could collect to donate to your local organization or police department.
E – Empower survivors
Finally, one of the most critical aspects of solving the human trafficking crisis is to empower survivors. Trafficking leaves victims with emotional, physical, and psychological scars that can take years to heal. Offering support, resources, and opportunities for survivors is essential for helping them rebuild their lives and preventing re-victimization.
Programs that offer housing, counseling, legal support, and job training are vital to empowering survivors. These services help survivors regain control of their lives and integrate back into society. Community members can support these initiatives by advocating for more funding for survivor support programs, donating to local shelters, and encouraging businesses to offer employment opportunities to survivors.
Empowerment also comes through creating an environment where survivors feel safe coming forward and sharing their experiences. When survivors speak out, it not only aids in the healing process for themselves, but it also helps educate the community and law enforcement about the tactics traffickers use, which can prevent future crimes.
The SOLVE approach
Spot the Signs, Organize Community Efforts, Learn and Educate, Volunteer Your Time, and Empower Survivors–provides a comprehensive roadmap for getting involved in the prevention of human trafficking. This crime may seem overwhelming, but every small effort contributes to the larger fight.
By educating ourselves, collaborating with others, and supporting those directly affected by trafficking, we can begin to dismantle the networks that perpetuate this crime and create safer communities for everyone. Human trafficking thrives in silence and secrecy; it is up to each of us to bring it into the light and work together toward a future where no person is bought, sold, or exploited. Take steps to learn more by taking the online on-demand at your own pace “Power of Awareness” online course about Human Trafficking – register here.
Heidi Chance, SME Sex Trafficking Trainer
Heidi Chance, a 25-year veteran of the Phoenix Police Department, dedicated her career to combatting sex trafficking, notably serving 13 years in the H.E.A.T (Human Exploitation and Trafficking) Unit. As an expert in forensic child interviews, abuse identification, online child protection, and undercover operations, she's a sought-after speaker, addressing law enforcement and many conferences. Heidi is featured in the PBS documentary "Sex Trafficking in America" and now uses her platform at Achanceforawareness.com to raise public awareness and provide training and consulting services to law enforcement, contributing to the fight against sex trafficking.
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