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 National Trafficking Hotlines |
"It ought to concern every person, because it is a debasement of our common humanity. It ought to concern every community, because it tears at our social fabric. It ought to concern every business, because it distorts markets. It ought to concern every nation, because it endangers public health and fuels violence and organized crime. I’m talking about the injustice, the outrage, of human trafficking, which must be called by its true name -- modern slavery."
– President Barack Obama
May 17: Secretary Kerry chaired the annual meeting of the President's Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (PITF) at the White House. The annual cabinet-level meeting serves as an opportunity to coordinate government-wide efforts and discuss new initiatives in the struggle to end modern slavery. This was the first meeting of the PITF under Secretary Kerry's tenure as Chair and the fourth of the Obama Administration. Full Text» |
On April 9, the White House brought together advocates, service providers, researchers and academics, business leaders, faith leaders, leaders in the technology community, law enforcement, and local, state and federal government leaders in a Forum to Combat Human Trafficking to discuss strategies and highlight the significant progress this Administration has made to combat human trafficking, including developments since President Obama delivered his seminal speech on the fight to end trafficking in persons at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) in September 2012. Secretary Kerry “honor[ed] those who have played an extraordinary role in advancing our common cause” with the inaugural presentation of the Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons. During the Forum, the Administration also released for public comment the first-ever federal strategic action plan to coordinate and strengthen services for trafficking victims in the United States. This comprehensive, 5-year plan is action-oriented and time-specific and embraces a collaborative approach that promises to improve services for victims of trafficking throughout the federal government. More» DipNote Blog» White House Blog» |
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Journey to Freedom tells the true stories of two men, 21st Century Cambodian Vannak Prum and 19th Century American Solomon Northup, who were sold into slavery more than 150 years apart. Transcript» Fact Sheets» More» |
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President Obama (Sept. 25): "Of course, no government, no nation, can meet this challenge alone. Everybody has a responsibility. Every nation can take action. Modern anti-trafficking laws must be passed and enforced and justice systems must be strengthened. Victims must be cared for." Full Text» |
The United States' commitment to fighting modern slavery did not simply materialize 12 years ago with the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act or the adoption the same year of the U.N. Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. This country's tragic history is not forgotten, nor are the bloodshed and lives lost in the fight to end state-sanctioned slavery. Launch» More» Report» Fact Sheets»
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The Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, directed by Ambassador Luis CdeBaca, leads the United States' global engagement against human trafficking, an umbrella term used to describe the activities involved when someone obtains or holds a person in compelled service. At the heart of this phenomenon are the myriad forms of enslavement as outlined in the United States' Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Major forms of human trafficking include: forced labor, sex trafficking, bonded labor, debt bondage, involuntary domestic servitude, forced child labor, child soldiers, and child sex trafficking. The Office has responsibility for bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, targeted foreign assistance, and public engagement on this issue of modern slavery and partners with foreign governments and civil society to develop and implement effective counter-trafficking strategies. |
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