Although many can conjure an image of human trafficking in other countries far from our own homes, the reality is that human trafficking is occurring in every single U.S. state and the large majority of victims are females.
According to the U.S. Department of State, Trafficking in Persons Report: 2007, 80% percent of transnational victims are women and girls. Research on U.S. victims is limited, but the percentages are likely similar to those globally.
Polaris Project works both locally, nationally and internationally on the issue of modern-day slavery. Polaris Project DC operates the Greater DC Trafficking Intervention Program (DC TIP) to combat human trafficking in the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, and Southern Maryland.
Launched in 2002 to create an effective community-based response to curb local human trafficking network activity, DC TIP provides comprehensive case management services to victims in the Washington metropolitan area and works to prevent human trafficking. In the last year, DC TIP conducted direct outreach to 1,115 at-risk and in-risk victims of trafficking; made over 25 emergency responses to victims in crisis; provided emergency case management to over 40 women and girls; and, received 2,758 crisis hotline calls.
This issue has been in the spotlight this week and our president was called on by Fox news to provide more information on how it is effecting our community.
See the Fox coverage on YouTube.
More about the multi-state FBI raids resulting in the rescue of 21 child victims.
Tayler Wilhelm is development officer at the Polaris Project in Washington, D.C., a Grantee Partner of The Women’s Foundation. For more information or to support the work of Polaris Project, visit PolarisProject.org or email Tayler at twilhelm@polarisproject.org.
