The History Behind the Month & What We Can Do

Welcome - we are so glad you are here!

​January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force (CCHTTF) has dedicated this month to raise awareness about human trafficking and celebrate the efforts of our partners throughout the Chicagoland area. During this month, the CCHTTF website, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok will feature daily posts geared towards increasing education and awareness.


The History Behind the Month
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More than 20 years ago, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA)  enshrined the United States’ commitment to combating human trafficking domestically and internationally. In 2010, by presidential proclamation, President Obama declared January “National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month” and every year since, each president has followed this tradition.

​President Biden has proclaimed January 2023 as “National Human Trafficking Prevention Month,” reaffirming his Administration’s commitment to protect and empower survivors of all forms of human trafficking, to prosecute traffickers, and to bring an end to human trafficking in the United States and around the world. ​“Since human trafficking disproportionately impacts racial and ethnic minorities, women and girls, LGBTQI+ individuals, vulnerable migrants, and other historically marginalized and underserved communities, our mission to combat human trafficking must always be connected to our broader efforts to advance equity and justice across our society.”

The History Behind the Month, National Human Trafficking Prevention Month Factsheet, U.S. Department of State  


​Human Trafficking

Human trafficking includes both forced labor and sex trafficking. It can happen in any industry, and to persons of any gender, age, and nationality. The crime of labor trafficking occurs workers are trapped, through force, fraud, or coercion, to keep working for someone even if they do not want to. The crime of sex trafficking occurs when a minor is given anything of value (money, shelter, food, etc.) in exchange for sex acts OR when an adult is trapped, by force, fraud, or coercion, into commercial sex by someone else.

Human trafficking experiences are not monolithic and neither are survivors. While anyone can be a victim of trafficking, some groups are made disproportionally vulnerable by discrimination (especially against LGBTQIA+ youth), disability, immigration status, poverty, and prior abuse (including child abuse and sexual assault). This is why the CCHTTF is committed to combatting human trafficking through a comprehensive community based approach; known as the public health approach.  
 
What Can I Do?

Learn, share, and invest.

Learn: When communities are educated on the realities of human trafficking, barriers to engagement are reduced. As community members, voters, and potential jurors, we have the power to advocate for comprehensive and trauma informed services for all survivors of trafficking.

Throughout January, we will be sharing educational resources. Contributions to the CCHTTF website and/or social media outlets are vetted to insure compliance with our ethical messaging standards. Source material pertaining to human trafficking must come from a reputable agency or organization that has good standing in the local or national anti-trafficking community.

Share: In the next 31 days, we invite you to share our content with two people. Either by reposting on social media, or sending the link to a friend, family member, or colleague.

Invest: Start within your own community. Help combat trafficking by supporting initiatives that reduce risk and increase protections. Investing in your community is a great way to support human trafficking prevention efforts.

Factors like housing instability, food insecurity, substance dependence, and unlawful immigration status, can make individuals disproportionately vulnerable to trafficking. Investing in your local community housing programs, community health clinics, food banks, and advocating for worker protections, are all aspect of human trafficking prevention.

For more information: I Want To Do More Than Educate and Fundraise – I’m Ready To Save Victims and Kick Traffickers in the Face by Love146
 
Thank you for joining us for Day 1 of the 2024 National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.