On December 31, 2021, the White House issued a proclamation declaring January 2022 as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The proclamation highlights the importance of the federal government approach in the fight against human trafficking, and refers to the recently released National Plan to Combat Human Trafficking. The proclamation acknowledges how human trafficking disproportionately impacts communities that have been historically underserved and excluded, including 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, communities of color, women and girls, and individuals migrating to the United States. The Administration also states that anti-trafficking efforts must always be connected to our broader efforts to advance equity and justice across our society. Here is the link to the proclamation.

 Read full proclamation

Related Resources:

PowerfuL Partnerships: Collaborative efforts to address human trafficking affecting AAPI communities, 2022

PowerfuL Partnerships: Collaborative efforts to address human trafficking affecting AAPI communities, 2022

Alia El-Sawi, a Victim Assistance Specialist at the Department of Homeland Security, joins API-GBV for our first “fireside chat” hosted by our Executive Director Monica Khant. Drawing also from her previous role as the Anti-Human Trafficking Coordinator at a community-based organization that provides culturally-responsive services for survivors of human trafficking, Alia will discuss what can be done to increase coordination and communication between DHS agents and community-based advocates in responding to trafficking situations and minimizing trauma for survivors. The conversation will also illuminate challenges to current anti-trafficking efforts, including fear of reporting, human-trafficking’s concurrence with other forms of gender-based violence, and the abundant stereotypes around the trafficking of AAPI individuals.

Trafficking: Trauma & Trauma-Informed Collaboration & Advocacy, 2018

Building from what trafficking survivors have taught us, this webinar discusses how to identify survivors, how past experience of help-seeking can influence current attempts, and the importance of trauma-informed care at different points of contact with survivors such as raids, arrest, and at shelters.

Considerations and Recommendations on Trauma-Informed Advocacy for Trafficking Survivors, 2017

This TA Brief addresses the complexity of advocacy for adult and minor survivors of trafficking. Topics include: Definitions, Analysis/Root Causes, Trauma-Informed Advocacy, Endangerment & Confidentiality, and Considerations & Recommendations at Points of Contact — raids, arrest, custody and release, legal processes, shelters, and health and mental health systems.