NEWSLETTER | January 2022 |
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New from the National Responsible
Fatherhood Clearinghouse!
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January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The significance of recognizing this during the month of January originates from the Emancipation Proclamation, which President Abraham Lincoln issued on January 1, 1863, declaring 3.1 million slaves free. The proclamation declared "that all persons held as slaves [within the rebellious states] are, and henceforward shall be, free." In 1865, Congress passed, and the states ratified, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, officially outlawing slavery and involuntary servitude throughout the United States.
Since 2010, each President has issued a January proclamation to raise awareness about the different forms of human trafficking, which is also known as modern slavery and can include sex trafficking and forced labor. The Department of State supports awareness-building efforts domestically and abroad through U.S. embassies and consulates. In addition to raising awareness, the focus is also on celebrating the efforts of anti-trafficking organizations, state and local law enforcement agencies, communities of faith, survivor advocates, businesses, and individuals around the world who are doing their part to end human trafficking.
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Human trafficking can happen to anyone but some people are more vulnerable than others. Significant risk factors include recent migration or relocation, substance use, mental health concerns, involvement with the child welfare system, and being a runaway or homeless youth. Available evidence suggests that people of color and LGBTQ+ people are more likely to be trafficked than other demographic groups. Generational trauma, poverty, and instability caused by natural disasters, conflict, or a pandemic can increase vulnerability. During the COVID-19 pandemic, traffickers have continued to find opportunities to exploit others.
By some estimates, as many as 24.9 million people—adults and children—are victims of some form of human trafficking in the United States and around the world.
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The Center for Countering Human Trafficking is a Department of Homeland Security effort comprised of 16 supporting offices, led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, to counter human trafficking and monitor the importation of goods produced with forced labor.
The Bureau of International Labor Affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor maintains a list of goods, and their source countries, which it has reason to believe are produced by child labor or forced labor in violation of international standards. The List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor comprises 156 goods from 77 countries, as of June 23, 2021.
Human trafficking is a crime. It involves a complex web of victims, traffickers and implicit conspirators. The fact that it generates huge profits while preying on the most vulnerable makes it challenging to address, but not impossible. We can all help fight human trafficking by recognizing the signs, intervening when necessary, and reducing the economic benefit by refusing to support businesses or buy products from those identified as violating human rights. Below are some specific tips for dads and practitioners on how to help.
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Trafficking predators are master manipulators, often luring victims with false promises or feigned romantic interest. For victims, the experience can be so gradual that they don’t realize what’s happening until it’s too late. Dads can play an active role in identifying and preventing human trafficking by recognizing warning signs and maintaining open communication with their children and other family members. Here are some tips from the Polaris Project:
- Educate yourself and your children on what human trafficking looks like.
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Learn about online safety and the risks of sharing personal information with strangers who may not be who they say they are online.
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Be aware that strangers aren’t the only danger. According to The Counter-Trafficking Data Collaborative, 41 percent of child trafficking cases began with a child being recruited by a family/relative.
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Establish open lines of communication early on with your child so they feel comfortable enough to talk to you about what is going on in their lives. Discuss how they can recognize and remove themselves from uncomfortable situations before they become urgent or dangerous.
- Support local organizations that are working to help prevent child sex trafficking and support survivors.
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Be vigilant in public places and when using public transportation. Everyone can help by learning the signs of human trafficking and paying attention to the people around us.
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Consider boycotting products and businesses that are known to use child or forced labor based on the Department of Labor list.
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Have you seen our most recent #Dadication video? It features WWE wrestler, Kofi Kingston who shares how he overcame his self-doubt regarding parenting through leading his children by example. Visit our #Dadication Page to view the video.
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We are available by phone.
If you need resources or support, give us a call on our
Parent Help Line at 1-877-4-DAD-411 (1-877-432-3411).
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Encourage staff and volunteers to take Human Trafficking 101, a free online course that explains what human trafficking really is, how it happens, and how they can be part of the solution.
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Use materials from the Office of Victims of Crime (OVC) to incorporate discussion of human trafficking into existing programming. The OVC has developed a series of videos, fact sheets, and posters that depict and explain the Faces of Human Trafficking. A discussion guide is provided to help practitioners reinforce the messages.
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Share relevant resources with the dads you work with. For example, check out How to Talk About Human Trafficking with Children and Adolescents, which was developed for educators and parents by Baylor University.
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Disclaimer: Reference to specific products, services, or companies does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the U.S. Government, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), or the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse. ACF is not responsible for the contents of “off-site” web page references or for any private, third-party, pop-up, or browser-integrated software or applications. |
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