WDSU: Human trafficking task force unveils new plan to help victims

Reporter Aubrey Killion of WDSU highlights the GNOHTTF’s “All Work, No Pay?” outreach and awareness campaign. Read the full article and view the news clip here. You can access the free outreach and awareness materials here.

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Aubrey Killion, April 23, 2019

NEW ORLEANS — The Greater New Orleans Human Trafficking Task Force unveiled a new approach to fight the critical problem.

They have put together flyers and pamphlets for the public free of charge. They are available in seven languages.

Since 2016, the task force has helped more than 340 human trafficking victims.

The task force wants trafficking victims to know it's not just sexual abuse, victims can be exploited in other ways.

The pamphlets have a list of questions and resources for victims.

The task force encourages people to put the flyers and pamphlets up in churches, youth centers and businesses.

"We do have survivors who experienced familial trafficking. They were trafficked by a family member or a partner like a husband, boyfriend girlfriend, so those are some of the cases that we see quite regularly that I think the general public would be shocked to know is that a somewhat common place in the survivor experiences," task force coordinator Leanne McCallum said.

The National Human Trafficking hotline is 1-888-3737-888.

To access the free pamphlets, click here.

COVENANT HOUSE NEW ORLEANS: What You Can Do To Combat Trafficking

Human Trafficking Awareness Month Blog:

What You Can Do To Combat Trafficking

Read the blog directly on the Covenant House New Orleans website at https://www.covenanthousenola.org/843-2/ 

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By: Leanne McCallum, Task Force Coordinator, Greater New Orleans Human Trafficking Task Force

At the end of nearly every training event, an audience member will ask me, “So what can I do to combat human trafficking?” Though this global crime can seem daunting to address, everyone has a role to play. No matter who you are, how old you are, where you work, or where you live: anyone can ‘EASE’ into supporting this movement.

Here are examples of what you can do today to combat human trafficking.

E: Educate

The first step to addressing the human trafficking epidemic is to understand what human trafficking is, and what it looks like in your community.

Learn what human trafficking is (and isn’t).  Human trafficking is when a person is compelled by a trafficker through force, fraud, or coercion for the purposes of commercial sexual activities or labor. Human trafficking is an international crime, but it’s also happening right here in the Greater New Orleans region. Once you know the signs, share the information with your friends, family, and children so they’re aware too!

Seek out information to identify the signs of trafficking, and get informed about how the crime may be occurring in your community. Polaris, DHS Blue Campaign, and the Task Force website have resources that explain the who, what, and why about human trafficking in the United States.

Attend or request a training for your business, community organization, or other associations to learn more about human trafficking risks, indicators, and resources in your local community. Get notifications and updates from news sources such as the CNN Freedom Project.

A: Advocate

Every citizen has the power to advocate for change- whether its in your workplace, community, or country.

Call your state senator or representatives about legislation that supports trafficking victims and survivors. There is national legislation such as the TVPA Reauthorization, along with a long list of other proposed bills that address human trafficking.

See how the places that you work, worship, and/or volunteer address human trafficking internally. Advocate for your organization to create a human trafficking response protocol. Inquire whether work practices ensure that people are fairly, safely, and legally employed. Check into your company’s employee volunteer program, and see how your business can engage with local organizations who serve trafficking victims and survivors.

Request information about the supply chain of products that your organization uses to ensure it employs responsible sourcing, and advocate for your company to use a slavery-free products and suppliers. Encourage the organization to provide employment opportunities to survivors of trafficking.

S: Scrutinize

Be a conscious community member who scrutinizes where you live, the places you patronize, and the items that you purchase.

There are many smartphone applications such as Slavery footprint, Free2Work, and the Slave-Free Shopping Guide that can help you check the trafficking impact of products you buy. This can help you be a conscious consumer to avoid purchasing products made using slave labor. In addition, you can purchase products that have verified ethical labor certifications such as ‘fair trade’.

As a consumer you are able to control where you go for food, drinks, and entertainment. Human trafficking happens within the hospitality industry, especially in cities like New Orleans where tourism is an integral part of the economy. Check into whether your favorite establishments have fair wages and ethical employment standards, or whether the establishment has a history of criminal activity.

Finally, be aware of your neighborhood and surroundings. If you see something that looks suspicious, say something. Contact the Polaris Hotline or the national law enforcement tip line if you see something that may be trafficking. You can also connect to local resources through the Task Force to notify local agencies about a potential trafficking situation.

E: Engage

Engage in the Greater New Orleans community’s anti-trafficking efforts.

Become a task force member and engage in task force activities. Take part in the community’s response to trafficking by participating on a task force committee, or attending a task force sponsored events.

Host awareness-raising events or fundraisers in your community to help others ‘ease’ into the fight to combat human trafficking. For example, you can show a human trafficking documentary or film and host a discussion. Or you can host a fundraising event and donate the proceeds to an anti-trafficking organization.

Subscribe to the Task Force newsletter to get monthly updates on events, training opportunities, and human trafficking news. Follow anti-trafficking organizations like the Task Force on social mediaplatforms like Twitter and Facebook.

And of course, you can always Donate.

Contributing in-kind goods to organizations fighting trafficking is critical to serve victims and survivors of trafficking. Clothing, baby supplies, and gift cards are examples of items that can assist survivors as they rebuild their lives.

You can donate your time and expertise by volunteering for local organizations who do anti-trafficking work.

And of course, you can donate money to organizations who are the boots on the ground serving trafficking victims and survivors.

These are just a few ways that you can take steps to contribute to the fight against human trafficking. Now that you have some tools to ‘EASE’’ into this, I have a question for you: What will you be doing to combat trafficking in your community?

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Start to advocate and engage by sharing this post on social media with the hashtag  #HumanTraffickingAwarenessDay

PRESS RELEASE: National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month Raises Awareness of Hidden Crime in Louisiana

Contact Information:                                                           Release Date: For immediate release

Contact: Leanne McCallum, Task Force Coordinator

Tel: 504- 584- 1170

Email: info@nolatrafficking.org

Website: www.nolatrafficking.org

PRESS RELEASE: National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month Raises Awareness of Hidden Crime in Louisiana

The Greater New Orleans Human Trafficking Task Force will honor the 7th annual National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month by hosting and supporting awareness raising activities throughout the month of January.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – January 11, 2018

The Greater New Orleans Human Trafficking Task Force will honor the National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month with community awareness announcements and events throughout the month of January. The Task Force will join the national conversation about human trafficking by educating the community and raising awareness about how it affects the Greater New Orleans region.

In December 2010, the President of the United States designated January to be National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Each year since, organizations and agencies across the country have hosted activities and awareness campaigns in observation of the event. For January 2018, the Task Force will mark the national month of awareness by sharing content and media from partner agencies, advertising upcoming awareness and training events, and providing educational information about human trafficking. These events and activities will be posted on the Task Force’s calendar. 

“Human trafficking isn’t just an international crime or something that only happens in other parts of the country: it’s happening here in our own backyard,” says Leanne McCallum, the Task Force Coordinator. “Human trafficking is a hidden crime. Not only is it an illicit trade that can be difficult to detect, but also victims often don’t come forward to report their experiences. The more we can engage the public and raise awareness, the more we will be able to prevent trafficking from happening and identify victims and perpetrators.”

Human trafficking is when a trafficker uses force, fraud, or coercion to compel a victim for the purposes of forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation. Louisiana is a hub for the crime, and agencies and organizations across the state are working together to combat it:

●      In 2016 Polaris reported 334 calls to their hotline from Louisiana with 108 cases of trafficking;

●      A Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) report found that there were 447 human trafficking cases statewide in 2016;

●      Shared Hope, a national anti-sex trafficking advocacy organization, gave Louisiana an “A” report card for its legislation and efforts to combat juvenile sex trafficking.

The Greater New Orleans Human Trafficking Task Force continues to be a regional resource for collaboration in the fight against human trafficking. Since receiving a United States Department of Justice Enhanced Collaborative Model to Combat Human Trafficking grant in 2015, the Task Force has been a leader within the Greater New Orleans anti-trafficking community:

●      Task Force funded social service providers have aided more than 185 victims and survivors of trafficking in the Greater New Orleans community, providing more than 12,450 units of services including: case management, housing, medical services, transportation, legal services and advocacy;

●      Funded law enforcement partners have conducted more than 140 human trafficking investigations and identified more than 50 confirmed human trafficking victims;

●      Task Force members have conducted more than 65 outreach activities, hosted 20 educational events, and trained more than 680 people.

The Greater New Orleans Human Trafficking Task Force is a coalition of more than 80 state, civil society, and citizen organizers, the Task Force is committed to the prevention of human trafficking in the Greater New Orleans area through education, outreach, and collaboration. The Task Force’s primary goal is to collaborate in sharing and disseminating information, contacts, and protocols related to the existence, prevention, and response to human trafficking in New Orleans.

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For more information on future plans and events sponsored by the Greater New Orleans Human Trafficking Task Force visit www.nolatrafficking.org/calendar or contact the Task Force Coordinator, Leanne McCallum, at info@nolatrafficking.org.

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The production of this content was supported by grant number 2015-VT-BX-K004, awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this content are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.