What Can I do?

Educate yourself. 
Read books on the subject.  Watch a Film or Documentary about it.  Be familiar with the organizations available in your state. Join their mailing list to stay informed.
 

Educate your child.

This is a scary topic, but your kids need to be aware.  Teach them Internet Safety and runaway statistics (1 in 3 runaways approached within 48 hours)

Support

Choose to support an organization fighting against human trafficking by donating or volunteering.

Speak Out to Those in Power

• Sign the Petition sponsored by The Polaris Project for Safe Harbor Laws to be passed.  Safe Harbor laws define sexually exploited children as victims of abuse and help them find protection and support.  These children are not able to consent legally to sex, yet without safe harbor laws they are prosecuted as a criminal rather than a victim.

 

• Contact your state senators and and ask them to support the reintroduction and immediate passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). Visit here for a Sample Letter.  Visit here for a Sample Phone Call The TVPRA is the centerpiece of all U.S. laws against human trafficking and created the first comprehensive federal law to address human trafficking and modern-day slavery.  It was first introduced in 2000 and subsequently renewed in 2003, 2005 and 2008.  The current TVPRA of 2008 expired on September 30, 2011

Illinois Senator information:

Richard Durbin  Phone: (202) 224-2152 and District Phone: (312) 353-4952

Mark Kirk Phone: (202) 224-2854 and District Phone: (312) 886-3506

Or visit their websites for an online contact form.  Click

For the larger effort, you can call, write, or email

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (http://www.state.gov/secretary/) or

US Attorney General Eric Holder (http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/)

to declare your support for strongly enforcing anti-trafficking laws and upholding human rights globally.

 

Pray

We serve a mighty God

 

Tell Others

We need to educate others that slavery still exists

If you see something, say something

• Cook County Human Trafficking Response Team Hotline: (312) 718-4449 

·        National Human Trafficking

Resource Center Hotline

1-888-3737-888