Human Trafficking Awareness
First Identifiers
Individual Citizens
§ Neighbors
§ Customers
§ Religious Leaders
§ Teachers
Service Providers
§ Social Service Agencies
§ Code enforcers
§ Medical professionals
Engage the Community
§ Work with the media to get coverage of the crime
§ Distribute HHS posters, brochures, laminated card
§ Print your own business cards with signs of trafficking
§ Make presentations to community groups, churches, service clubs
§ Enlist the aid of service or faith-based groups to work with you
Expose people to the hidden nature of the problem
§ Use analogies of things we don’t notice until they are called to our attention
Explain their role as First Identifiers
§ Cite examples of citizens reporting cases
§ Explain that citizens do not have to fear “getting people in trouble” if they report a suspicion that turns out not to be human trafficking.
Educate community members – offer more than one program or one speaker.
§ People tend to only remember 3 things from any “learning event”.
§ Provide an Elevator Speech: 3 minute speech on human trafficking that can be said during any brief encounter
Train community groups to train others
§ Have “speakers-in-training” attend presentations to learn from experienced speakers and encourage them to interact with the audience before and after the presentation.
§ Train bi-lingual speakers to train in other languages.
Give feedback
§ Ask to return to the group in a few months for an update.
§ Suggest they enter their names on an automatic e-mail update service so they can see how widespread the problem is.
Think globally, act locally
§ Bring the issue home, but connect to the bigger picture.
§ Discuss the U.S. State Department report
Add a personal touch
§ Give people something they can do personally.
§ Pass out brochures.
§ Talk to neighbors or become a speaker.
§ Initiate drives to help service providers.
§ Advocate for tougher State law.
Recognize, support and reward those who take action
§ Partnership of Local and Federal Agencies ensures the best long-term treatment for victims and most severe penalties for traffickers.
§ Victims must not be treated as criminals, but as victims and witnesses. There is no case without a victim.
§ The initial rescue and interview will dramatically facilitate or hinder the rest of the case.
§ Partnership with service providers will ensure the best treatment of victims which will provide you with the best witness and a successful prosecution.
§ Dedicate a unit of trained officers to the issue, but train all staff.