Human Trafficking & Modern-day Slavery

How to Give & Get Help

[Country-by-Country Reports | Resources for Teachers]

IF YOU NEED HELP

U.S.A. - If you are a victim, or believe you might be a victim, of human trafficking, seek help. The toll-free National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline is available to answer calls in over 170 languages from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year.

Call for help. Call with questions - Any time - Any language - 888-3737-888

Call 911 if you are experiencing an emergency

U.S.A. - To report a Trafficking or Involuntary Servitude case in the USA, call the "Rescue & Restore" Campaign Toll-Free Trafficking Information & Referral Hotline 1-888-3737-888

Alternatively, you may contact the U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services - Administration for Children & Families using their on-line form. A member of the Human Trafficking Information and Referral Hotline will respond to inquiries written in English within 2 hours, and within 48 hours for other languages.

In addition, you may report suspected cases of human trafficking to The United States Attorney's Office by phone 1-(877) 398-2842 or via the Department of Justice Web site: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/ian/HumanTrafficking/Report.html

European Union - The European Commission is set to launch a toll-free, six-digit telephone number – 116 000 – that will act as a single hotline number for reporting missing children through the 27 member states of the European Union.

India - CHILDLINE (call toll free 1098) reaches out to all children in need of care and protection such as: street children, child labourers, children who have been abused, child victims of flesh trade, differently-abled children, child addicts, children in conflict with the law, children in institutions, mentally challenged children, HIV/AIDs infected children, children affected by conflict and disaster, child political refugees, children whose families are in crises.

Israel - THE HOTLINE FOR MIGRANT WORKERS (HMW) (call 03-560-2530) established in 1998, is a non-partisan, not for profit organization, dedicated to (a) promoting the rights of undocumented migrant workers and refugees and (b) eliminating trafficking in women in Israel.

Peru - The Peruvian hotline, 0800-2-3232, is a free and confidential service that provides information to victims of human trafficking and channels complaints to the anti-trafficking arm of the National Police.

South Africa - IOM's national 24-hour toll-free telephone helpline 0800 555 999, which was set up in August 2004 to encourage members of the public to report known or suspected cases of sex-trafficking and to inform victims in South Africa that they can seek help.

Taiwan - The Garden of Hope - Working to end sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and domestic violence, Working to empower girls and women, Working to help the children of Taiwan. For emergency help in Taiwan call 113.

Ukraine - Customers of Ukrainian mobile phone service providers KyivStar, UMC and life:) can dial '527' from their handsets in order to receive information and advice from the IOM on migration and trafficking issues, and potential migrants will also get information on legal methods of migration.

How YOU can help others

To fight Human Trafficking and to help reduce the incidence of Modern-day Slavery, check out the following list of organizations that are working towards these goals and support their efforts either financially or through active participation. Always research an organization and solicit advice from friends or colleagues before sending money.

The Angel Coalition is Russia’s largest, most-respected anti-trafficking consortium. Coalition activities include the operation of the Trafficking Victim Assistance Center (TVAC) in Moscow and a network of nine regional safe houses providing assistance services to Russian trafficking victims.

Action to End Exploitation is a non-religious, non-partisan Canadian based organization working mainly in Vietnam & Cambodia in the field of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Its mission is to improve the lives of women and children who have been exploited, or who represent a high risk for exploitation by the commercial sex industry, focusing on empowering women, supporting development, and improving the lives of victims.

ATSEC (Action Against Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Children) works for prevention of human trafficking and their sexual exploitation and discrimination. ATSEC facilitates advocacy, creates awareness and social mobilization, provides technical support, initiates research and program support activities to resist inhuman and heinous offences like exploitative sexual crime and trafficking in women and children.

Anti-Slavery International is the world's oldest international human rights organization and the only charity in the United Kingdom to work exclusively against slavery and related abuses.

Break the Traffic is a new campaign being launched and supported by NCAP specifically to enable people to express their views against this £4billon trade.

Captive Daughters is the first anti-trafficking group established in California focusing solely on ending the sexual bondage of female adolescents and children.

Center for the Advancement of Human Rights (CAHR) facilitates the development of human rights related courses throughout Florida State University, establishes human rights field placements for FSU students, and supports NGOs throughout the world that engage in human rights work.

Childright Worldwide is an e-initiative of Nobel Laureates, dedicated to raise public awareness on issues concerning the plight and the future of the world's children, and to combat child abuse, child slavery and sexual exploitation of children.

CRIN - Child Rights Information Network is a global network that disseminates information about the Convention on the Rights of the Child and child rights amongst non-governmental organizations (NGOs), United Nations agencies, inter-governmental organization (IGOs), educational institutions, and other child rights experts. The Coordinating Unit is based in London, UK.

Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) is a non-governmental organization that promotes women's human rights. It works internationally to combat sexual exploitation in all its forms, especially prostitution and trafficking in women and children, in particular girls.

CAST - Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking is a multi-ethnic human rights organization whose mission is to assist persons trafficked for the purpose of forced labor and slavery-like practices and to work toward ending all instances of such human rights violations. CAST has provided training and technical assistance to thousands of NGO and government personnel and represented the United States at international events on human trafficking.

ECPAT is a network of organizations and individuals working together to eliminate the commercial sexual exploitation of children. It seeks to encourage the world community to ensure that children everywhere enjoy their fundamental rights free from all forms of commercial sexual exploitation.

ENACT - European Network Against Child Trafficking is financed by the European Commission (Stop II). Save the Children Italy coordinates the Project in partnership with other organizations.

Free the Slaves is a non-profit organization working to end slavery worldwide, believing that ending slavery worldwide is an ambitious–and realizable–goal that requires a solid commitment to specific guiding principles as well as multiple, holistic approaches.

Freedom House is a leading advocate of the world's young democracies, which are coping with the debilitating legacy of statism, dictatorship, and political repression. It conducts an array of U.S. and overseas research, advocacy, education, and training initiatives that promote human rights, democracy, free market economics, the rule of law, independent media, and U.S. engagement in international affairs.

GAATW - Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women is a network of non-governmental organizations and individuals from all regions of the world, who share a deep concern for the women, children and men whose human rights have been violated by the criminal practice of trafficking in persons. GAATW's mission is to ensure that the human rights of migrant women are respected and protected by authorities and agencies.

Global Rights is a human rights advocacy group that partners with local activists to challenge injustice and amplify new voices within the global discourse. With offices in countries around the world, Global Rights helps local activists create just societies through proven strategies for effecting change.

Human Rights Watch is dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world. We stand with victims and activists to prevent discrimination, to uphold political freedom, to protect people from inhumane conduct in wartime, and to bring offenders to justice. We investigate and expose human rights violations and hold abusers accountable. We challenge governments and those who hold power to end abusive practices and respect international human rights law. We enlist the public and the international community to support the cause of human rights for all.

HumanTrafficking.org is a web resource for combating human trafficking. The project is being implemented by the Academy for Educational Development with funding provided by the U.S. State Department. Its objective is to bring Government and NGOs in the East Asia and Pacific together to cooperate and learn from each other’s experiences in their efforts to combat human trafficking.

Human Trafficking is a new resource that is being developed to help co-ordinate the efforts of NGOs, police and government officials dealing with trafficking in human beings and its victims in Canada. Online workshop materials for interested professionals are planned for the Fall of 2006.

iAbolish! - The American Anti-Slavery Group works ceaselessly through every available means – building public awareness, leading advocacy campaigns, conducting research, bartering for the freedom of those in chains, empowering survivors to tell their stories and transform hearts and minds -- to liberate the millions of people trapped in the virtually indescribable and unimaginable degradation and horror of bondage.

International La Strada Association is a network of independent human rights NGOs that aims to prevent trafficking in human beings, with a focus on women in Central and Eastern Europe. The primary goal is to improve the position of women and to promote their universal rights, including the right to choose to emigrate and work abroad and to be protected from violence and abuse.

International Labor Organization - ILO formulates international labor standards in the form of Conventions and Recommendations setting minimum standards of basic labor rights: freedom of association, the right to organize, collective bargaining, abolition of forced labor, equality of opportunity and treatment, and other standards regulating conditions across the entire spectrum of work related issues.

IOM - International Organization for Migration has become the leading international organization working with migrants and governments to provide humane responses to migration challenges.

International Rescue Committee is a global leader in emergency relief, rehabilitation, protection of human rights, post-conflict development, resettlement services and advocacy for those uprooted or affected by conflict and oppression. At work in 25 countries, the IRC delivers lifesaving aid in emergencies, rebuilds shattered communities, cares for war-traumatized children, rehabilitates health care, water and sanitation systems, reunites separated families, restores lost livelihoods, establishes schools, trains teachers, strengthens the capacity of local organizations and supports civil society and good-governance initiatives.

MiraMed Institute - Ending the Sexual Trafficking of Girls from Russia was the first American NGO to conduct programs focusing on prevention of sexual trafficking of girls and women in the Russian Federation

Polaris Project is a multicultural grassroots organization combating human trafficking and modern-day slavery. Based in the United States and Japan, we bring together community members, survivors, and professionals to fight trafficking and slavery in the spirit of a modern-day Underground Railroad.

Protection Project promotes human rights values around the world. Its mission is to establish an international framework for the elimination of trafficking in persons, especially women and children. The goal of the Protection Project is to research and document the global scope of the problem of trafficking in persons and, through the dissemination of relevant and timely information, to influence policy and practice in the war against trafficking.

Refugees International generates lifesaving humanitarian assistance and protection for displaced people around the world and works to end the conditions that create displacement.

Rutherford Institute is a civil liberties organization that provides free legal services to people whose constitutional and human rights have been threatened or violated.

SaveASlave’s mission is to inform the world about the issues surrounding modern involuntary servitude – slavery, and to encourage former slaves by providing linkage to resources for training, financial and spiritual support.

The Terre des Hommes International Federation is a network of eleven national organisations working for the rights of children and to promote equitable development without racial, religious, political, cultural or gender-based discrimination.

Tiny Hands International began its anti-trafficking work in 2006. Its approach to fighting trafficking in Nepal begins at the border crossings where they identify and stop trafficking victims and, when possible, their traffickers before they reach India.

The Zero – Human Trafficking Resources - Andrew Vachss is an attorney who represents children and youth exclusively, with 30 years experience in child protective work. He has been a federal investigator in sexually transmitted diseases, a social services caseworker, and a labor organizer. He also directed a maximum security prison for "aggressive-violent" youth.

UNICEF is the world's leading organization working specifically for children. UNICEF works with local communities and governments in 157 countries, areas and territories, to provide emergency relief and run long-term development programs in areas such as health, education and child protection.

Youth Advocate Program International focuses on promoting and protecting the rights and well-being of the world’s youth, giving particular attention to children victimized by conflict, exploitation, and state and personal violence.