Human Trafficking Initiative

Working collaboratively with other Texas Districts (5870, 5840, 5930 and 5850), the Rotary Action Group Against Human Trafficking, and the Rotary END HT network currently engaged across several states and Canada to adapt an infrastructure to support the long term goal of ending human trafficking through increasing awareness, providing education to youth, establishing options for vulnerable individuals to prevent them from becoming victims, and reducing the demand.
 
 
Every year since 2010, January has been proclaimed as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.  Take time in January to learn more about human trafficking and action steps your Rotary Club and each Rotarian can take to prevent human trafficking.
 

Action Steps To Make An Impact

 

  1. Take Action: On January 11th, participate in the Department of Homeland Securities WEAR BLUE DAY to bring attention to the issue of human trafficking.  DHS’s Blue Campaign’s #WearBlueDay is on January 11th every year.   To raise awareness of human trafficking, we would love for every Rotary Club in District 5810 to gather on January 11th in Blue, take a picture and post it to your club’s social media page, newsletter, and website with the #WearBlueDay hashtag. Individual Rotarians can do the same. 

    ***Participate in WEAR BLUE DAY (See sidepanel) Post for #WearBlueDay graphic before Jan. 11 to encourage others to wear blue on Jan 11! Use hashtags - #RotaryFightsTrafficking and #WearBlueDay - On Jan. 11 take a picture and post it to your club’s social media page, newsletter, and website with the #WearBlueDay, #RotaryFightsTrafficking hashtag.

    Learn more about how you and your club can participate at https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign/wearblueday
     
  2. Raise Awareness: According to the United States Department of Education, raising awareness is one of the BEST ways to combat human trafficking. Individual Rotarians can increase their knowledge of the reality of human trafficking by attending on-line or in person comprehensive presentations.   

    ***Raise Awareness share graphics (see side panel) on your Club & personal Facebook, Instagram page to spread the message 

    Service Project Ideas: 

                 1. Have speakers at school, PTO/PTA, Universities and foster homes from victims or law enforcement (know that a parent permission slip must be signed).

                 2. Providing flyers for restroom stalls in bars, grills and clubs with information on how to recognize HT and who to call if you suspect it is occurring.

                 3. Providing education to employees of schools, bars, grills and clubs, and motels/hotels on  how to recognize HT. 
     

    Post this flyer in your business, workplace, bathrooms, anywhere vulnerable individuals may see it. Or concerned citizens want to report suspected human trafficking.
     
    PUT THIS NUMBER in YOUR PHONE!SEE Something SAY Something.
     
    The National Human Trafficking Hotline: 888-3737-888
     
  3. Empower Youth:  Providing youth with knowledge is an effective method to decrease their susceptibility to the manipulation and grooming techniques traffickers use; on-line and in person.   Rotary Clubs can become familiar with local organizations providing presentations and training for youth.   Support these organizations and provide opportunities for local youth to learn from these presentations and speakers.  EX: Ransomed Life’s and Bexar County Sheriff’s Office Lures and Lies.   https://www.ransomedlifetexas.org/ondemand
     
  4. Support Vulnerable Populations: According to the Polaris Project, 74% of Child Sex Trafficking Victims in the United States are under the care of Child Protective Services.   Most labor trafficking victims in the United States come from a situation of vulnerability due to lack of resources.  Combating human trafficking involves reducing vulnerability for those who are at high risk.
     
  5. Reduce Demand: Learn how your purchasing choices fuel human trafficking.  Take simple steps to decrease buying products known to be produced with slave labor, for example: Slave Chocolate.   The University of Chicago estimates that 1.56 MILLION Children are enslaved to harvest cacao beans as a source of cheap chocolate.  Make the choice to buy FAIR TRADE, ethically sourced products as much as possible.
    https://www.slavefreechocolate.org/
     
  6. Attend: Rotary Satellite Club of Greenville to End Human Trafficking.  Meetings are 1st and 3rd Tuesday at 5:30 pm at The Landmark on Lee 2920 Lee ST, Greenville, TX 75402. For more information, contact Katy Ridge.
 

​​​​​​District Chair, Human Trafficking Initiative - Shirley Hsia