January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and every year since 2010, the President has dedicated the month to raise awareness about human trafficking and to educate the public about how to identify and prevent this crime.

Working in the transit industry, you are often the eyes and ears on the road that could help prevent someone from being trafficked or help save someone who has been trafficked. Below is information about the types of trafficking, resources, training materials, and how to report trafficking.

What is it?

Human Trafficking: The unlawful act of transporting or coercing people in order to benefit from their work or service, typically in the form of forced labor or sexual exploitation.

Sex Trafficking: The action or practice of illegally transporting people from one country or area to another for the purpose of sexual exploitation.

2019 United States Human Trafficking Heat Map

Trafficking in Nebraska

Where can you learn more?

• U.S. Department of State – history behind the month, including information about the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000
• Transit on the Lookout to Combat Human Trafficking: A Toolkit for Public Transit Agencies in the United States and Canada
• Busing on the Lookout: Transit and Motorcoach Resources – training toolkit, training video, wallet card, app, dash sticker, posters, and more
• National Human Trafficking Hotline – Nebraska statistics from the Hotline
• safety4transit.org – videos, trainings, toolkits, social media guide, flyers, posters, and more
• U.S. Department of Transportation – posters, pledge, reports, and more
• U.S. Department of State – reports from the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons

What can you do?

• Have all transit agency employees complete the National RTAP Training – Transit and Human Trafficking (Busing on the Lookout).
• Create an internal reporting process using this template.
• Report a Tip:
• Emergency: call 911
• Nebraska Human Trafficking Hotline: 833-PLS-LOOK (833-757-5665)
• Nebraska Adult & Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline: 800-652-1999
• National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-3737-888 or text INFO or HELP to BeFree (233733)
• Homeland Security Investigations Tip Line: 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423)