January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month

The Macomb County Anti-Trafficking Task Force (MCAT) recognizes January as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and January 11 as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. These observances are designed to educate the public about human trafficking, and the role they can play in preventing and responding to incidents of human trafficking.

Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States. It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. Traffickers might use the following methods to lure victims into trafficking situations:

• Violence
• Manipulation
• False promises of well-paying jobs
• Romantic relationships 

Often, language barriers, fear of their traffickers, and/or fear of law enforcement frequently keep victims from seeking help, making human trafficking a hidden crime.

Traffickers look for people who are easy targets for a variety of reasons, including:

• Psychological or emotional vulnerability
• Economic hardship
• Lack of a social safety net
• Natural disasters
• Political instability

The trauma caused by the traffickers can be so great that many may not identify themselves as victims or ask for help, even in highly public settings.

You can help play a role in ending human trafficking by learning key indicators of the crime, raising awareness of human trafficking within your community or industry, and reporting suspected trafficking incidents. Individuals working in particular industries or with specific audiences may be more likely to observe human trafficking by nature of their day-to-day job duties or surroundings.

In recognition of National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, the National Blue Campaign hosts #WearBlueDay on January 11. MCAT invites the public to participate in the Blue Campaign by taking photos of themselves, friends, family, and colleagues wearing blue clothing and share them on social media with the hashtag #WearBlueDay.