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5 min read โ€ข Asia โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Mission Stories

Operation Shilling: A Predatorโ€™s Lastย Escape Route, Cut Off at the Gateย 

She thought she had one more chance to disappear and leave her trail of crimes behind.  For months, the woman known only as โ€œKhadijaโ€ had made evasion an art form. She sensed investigators were closing in, so she slipped between apartments across the sprawling city of Bangkok, never staying anywhere long enough to be found. Like many human traffickers, she found camouflage in her surroundings, in the…

9 min read โ€ข Child Exploitation โ€ข Online Exploitation โ€ข Statistics & Research

The 2026 Dirty Dozen Listย 

Each year, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE), a leading non-profit organization exposing the links between all forms of sexual abuse and exploitation, publishes the Dirty Dozen List. For the last thirteen years it has identified 12 โ€œmainstream contributorsโ€ who it finds to be facilitating, enabling, or profiting from sexual exploitation.  In that time, it has yielded many victories at top tech companies…

4 min read โ€ข Asia โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Mission Stories

Behind the Postcard: How One Teenโ€™s Rescue is Rewriting Pattayaโ€™s Storyย ย 

For more than 60 years, travelers have flocked to Thailandโ€™s western coast, drawn by its warm waters, golden sand, and the promise of paradise. Pattaya, once a sleepy fishing village, became one of the countryโ€™s most visited destinations. But somewhere along the way, the postcard image cracked. Behind the beach bars and neon signs, Pattaya built…

7 min read โ€ข Online Exploitation

11ย Dangerous Apps for Kids that Parents Should Knowย  ย 

In todayโ€™s world, most teens and children are always looking at a screenโ€”particularly online apps, games, or video-sharing platforms. But just because an app or platform is marketed to kids, it doesnโ€™t mean itโ€™s safe. Parents and guardians need to research apps, looking at factors such as: Data collection: Companies…

3 min read โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข Mission Stories โ€ข Training and Prevention โ€ข U.S./Canada

Equipping Utah’s Frontline Shelter Workers to Recognize Human Trafficking

For someone experiencing homelessness, an emergency shelter can provide a safe place to sleep, a hot meal, and connections to resources that can start them in a new direction. It can also offer hope, care, stability, and a sense of connection โ€“ a place where one can seek refuge. Shelters…

4 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Latin America โ€ข Mission Stories

They Burned Evidence. But They Couldnโ€™t Burn the Truth: Going behind the scenes on the frontlines of Latin America’s fight against child exploitation

Note: Because aspects of this multinational investigation remain active, certain operational details have been intentionally withheld to protect the integrity of ongoing law enforcement efforts and future enforcement actions. Somewhere Tonight, a Child Is Sleeping Safer Somewhere in Ecuador, a child is sleeping a little safer tonight. They may never…

2 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Mission Stories โ€ข U.S./Canada

A Well-Deservedย Honor: Detective Jeffrey Winiarski and ESD K9 Maui Recognized for Protecting Childrenย 

Behind every successful child exploitation investigation is a team willing to do difficult work that most people never see. Sometimes, that team includes four legs and an extraordinary nose.  For Detective Jeffrey Winiarski of the Janesville Police Department and his Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9, Maui, protecting children has become a shared…

2 min read

Celebrating Our Rescue Thailandโ€™s Commitment to Ending Human Traffickingย 

Every survivor’s story is different, but they share one thing in common: someone refused to give up on them. That’s the spirit Our Rescue brings to this fight, and it’s the same spirit that filled the room at Thailand’s National Anti-Human Trafficking Day 2026. At Our Rescue, we know that lasting change is built through strong…

7 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Latin America โ€ข Mission Stories

Two-Day Mega Operation โ€œLosย Trenesโ€ย –ย Peruvian Law Enforcement, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, andย Our Rescueย Target Transnational Criminal Organizations

Over the course of two days, April 29-30, 2026, Peruvian and U.S. law enforcement agencies came together to execute a concentrated โ€œMega Operationโ€ appropriately named โ€œLos Trenesโ€ after the Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) they aimed to bring down. With on-the-ground support from Our Rescue, this operation intended to disrupt and dismantle a criminal network that was suspected of leaving a trail of human…

3 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Latin America โ€ข Mission Stories

Update: Operation Cรณdigo Rescate XIII Breaks a Covert Human Trafficking Network South of Quito

The following is an update on a case that was first reported in 2025 after Operation Cรณdigo Rescate XIII, a coordinated anti-trafficking response that uncovered a hidden exploitation network operating out of a private residence south of Quito, Ecuador. Conviction Update: A Step Toward Justice On May…

10 min read โ€ข Child Exploitation โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข Human Trafficking โ€ข Prevention & Awareness โ€ข Prevention & Awareness โ€ข Sex Trafficking

Human Trafficking Is Hiding in Plain Sight. Together, We Can Rise Up.

Human trafficking does not always look the way we expect.  It does not only happen in distant countries, across borders, or through dramatic kidnappings. According to the US Department of Justice, it can happen in big cities, small towns, rural communities, and online. It can even begin with a message, a relationship, a promise…

6 min read โ€ข How To Stop Human Trafficking โ€ข Human Trafficking โ€ข Human Trafficking And Child Exploitation โ€ข News Media โ€ข Our Perspectives โ€ข Prevention & Awareness

Why Iย Rise Up: A Message fromย Our Rescue CEO Derek Bennerย 

Every July, we ask our community to Rise Up in the days leading to World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30 โ€“ a global day of awareness, action, and hope. We explain what it entails, how to become part of the movement, and who benefits because youโ€™ve chosen to join the fight against human trafficking and exploitation.  This year, I want to…

3 min read โ€ข Asia โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Mission Stories โ€ข Survivor Care

Bringingย a Vulnerable 9-Year-Old Girl to Safety:ย Our Rescueโ€™s Team in Asia Supports Field Operationsย in North Thailandย 

Human trafficking and child exploitation are some of the most prevalent crimes in the world today. Some experts speculate that yearly profits from these unspeakable crimes may one day surpass those of the international drug trade. โ€œThis is an epidemic of a scope and scale never seen before. We face a common threat that is rapidly growing, spreading, and constantly evolving,โ€ said Richard Morley, Regional Director for Our…

4 min read โ€ข Europe โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข Mission Stories

Turning Trainingย intoย Action: How OSINT Partnerships Are Strengthening the Fight to Protect Children in Romaniaย 

Behind every major enforcement operation is a quieter storyโ€”one that begins long before search warrants are executed, or arrests are made. It begins with training rooms, case simulations, and the steady building of skills that help investigators recognize what others might miss: the digital traces left behind when a child is being exploited. …

2 min read โ€ข Latin America โ€ข Mission Stories

Protecting Children Before Exploitation Happens: Strengthening Ecuadorโ€™s Fight Against Online Traffickingย 

For many parents, a social media friend request, an online conversation, or aย potentialย job opportunity shared through a messaging app may seem harmless.ย  Forย humanย traffickers, those same interactions can be the first step toward exploitation.ย  Today, human trafficking and child exploitation often begin long before a victim is ever physicallyย encountered. Increasingly, predators…

4 min read โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข Prevention & Awareness

Where Real Change Begins: When Saying โ€œYesโ€ to a Dress Supports Hope and Healing

A Local Business Joins the Fight Against Human Trafficking and Exploitation; Donates Percentage of Proceeds to Help Survivors The fight against human trafficking is powered by more than organizations, investigations, and field operations. Every day, it is strengthened by ordinary people making extraordinary choices โ€“ people who decide to use…

7 min read โ€ข Human Trafficking โ€ข News Media โ€ข Our Perspectives

Humanย Traffickingย Duringย Conflict:ย Aย Crisis forย Women, Peace, and Securityย ย 

Our Rescue Perspective: Renata Parrasย General Counsel, Our Rescueย  As of June 2026, the global landscape of conflict has reached a historic high, with more state-based armed conflicts active than at any point since the end of World War II. While major wars in the Middle East and the Ukraine have dominated international…

5 min read โ€ข Latin America โ€ข Mission Stories

The Power of Your Voice Returns to Manta: Join the 2nd Annual 1K, 5K & 10K Race Against Child Exploitationย 

Raising our voices, taking our steps, and standing together as we race for a safer future for every child in Ecuador  On September 20, 2026, hundreds of runners, families, advocates, and community members will gather in Manta, Ecuador, for the second annualย El Poder De Tu Voz, The Power of…

3 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Mission Stories โ€ข U.S./Canada

Tracking Hidden Evidence:ย How One ESD K9ย is Helping Fight Human Trafficking in Alaskaย ย 

When we think of police dogs, we may envision the intense stare of a German Shepherd or the explosive speed of a Belgian Malinois in pursuit of a fleeing suspect. Few imagine a calm and quiet Labrador Retriever methodically moving through a clutter-filled room, nose to the floor, searching every square inch for electronic devices that could hold the evidence needed to rescue a child and bring offenders to justice.  …

Operation FENIX 256, 2 boys walking in jungle
3 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Latin America โ€ข Mission Stories

When Every Second Counts: Operationย FENIXย 256 Rescues 17-Year-Old Ecuadorian Girl from Future of Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation

Atย the end of 2025, Our Rescue’s Latin America teamย came together withย the Ecuadorian National Police (ENP) Anti-Trafficking Unit (UNAT) and the Attorney Generalโ€™s Office (FGE)ย to executeย Operation FENIX 256, a joint effort that would span multiple regions and confront aย criminal network known for human trafficking and exploitation.ย  This is the story of…

6 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข U.S./Canada

Detectingย Child Exploitation: How ESD K9 Arwen Finds What Criminals Are Hidingย 

You’reย staringย at the mugshot of aย suspected childย predator.ย ย  They stareย backย fromย theirย bookingย photo;ย accused of crimes that can leave lifelong scars onย children,ย families, andย entireย communities.ย ย  Then,ย you look into theย warm brownย eyes of Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 Arwen.ย A highly trained yellow Labradorย trainedย bothย toย detect electronic devices during searchย warrants,ย andย alsoย toย provide therapeutic supportย for Survivorsย in one of the worst types of cases.ย  The contrast is…

9 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข Mission Stories โ€ข U.S./Canada

A Tale of Two Labs:ย How ESD K9sย Bandit and Laylaย Promote Safety and Healingย ย 

From a Small Town in Central Florida to the Mountains of Washoe County, Nevada โ€“ Bringing Predators to Justice and Vulnerable Children to Safety This is the tale of two highly trained Labradors who hunt the digital footprints of online predators who traffic and exploit vulnerable children in some of…

4 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Latin America

The Case of the Altar Server in Ecuador: Authorities Coordinate Raids, Arrest Three Including Church Altar Server

On April 16, 2026, Ecuadorian authorities came together to execute simultaneous, highly coordinated field operations across multiple provinces. The purpose? To confront individuals suspected of creating and distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Investigators with CiberPOL, a division of the Ecuadorian National Police (ENP), worked with prosecutors from the Fiscalรญa…

4 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Latin America

OPERATIONย COYOTEย 507

 2 Children and 7 Adults Found, Traffickers Targeting Vulnerable Migrants Along the Dariรฉn Route Stopped  The Dariรฉn is a province in Panama that shares its easternmost border with Colombia. It is home to the Dariรฉn Gap, a roadless, 100-mile-long stretch of rugged mountains, dense jungle, and deep swamps that stand like a wall between Central America and its South American neighbors. It is a lawless, extremely dangerous region,…

3 min read โ€ข Asia โ€ข Mission Stories โ€ข Training and Prevention

Building the Barrier Between Children and Online Exploitation:ย ย Our Rescueย Trains Teachersย at RBIS International School in Bangkokย ย 

Recently at RBIS International School in Bangkok, Thailand, Our Rescueโ€™s Training & Prevention team, in collaboration with the survivor care team conducted a special, in-depth training for teachers and staff. The topic? Helping teachers and staff members prevent, identify, and respond to online child exploitation.    UNICEFโ€™s 2022 Disrupting Harm report in Thailand showed that about 9 percent of children between the ages of 12 and 17…

6 min read โ€ข Child Exploitation โ€ข Human Trafficking โ€ข Survivor Care โ€ข U.S./Canada

The Intersection of Human Trafficking and Substance Addiction: A Road to Healing

The realities of human trafficking are often much more complex than they appear on the surface. While it is defined by force, fraud, or coercion, the pathways into exploitation and the ways control is maintained can take many forms. One of the devastating layers of control and coercion traffickers use…

4 min read โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข Training and Prevention โ€ข U.S./Canada

From Nebraska to the Navajo Nation: Our Rescueย Connects withย Rural Communitiesย Facing Increased Occurrences of Human Traffickingย 

During one impactful week in April 2026, the Our Rescue Training and Prevention team brought critical education and awareness programs to two different, rural communities hundreds of miles apart. While one training took place in a small Nebraska town along a major interstate corridor, another focused on preventing child exploitation and bolstering digital safety within Indigenous communities in…

4 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข Latin America โ€ข Mission Stories

Four Operations in One Week:ย Our Rescue Helps Policeย ย Expand Rescuesย and Arrests in Ecuador and Chileย ย 

Trafficking networks, online predators, and child sex offenders have no borders. Their criminal activity reaches across regions and countries without regard for geography. For law enforcement to respond successfully, they cannot be confined by borders, either.  Over the course of one week in October, Our Rescue teamed up with Latin American authorities on four closely coordinated operations. These concentrated โ€œsurgesโ€ expanded rescue efforts and arrests across Ecuador and Chile. Authorities arrested suspected offenders,…

1 min read โ€ข Europe โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข Mission Stories

Operationย Successย in Spain Leads toย 7ย Arrestsย and Helps Freeย 8ย Survivors, Transnational Human Trafficking Network Shut Downย ย 

In April 2026, Our Rescue supported Spanish law enforcement as they planned and prepared for an urgent operation with the goal of dismantling a criminal network that had been trafficking vulnerable women into the country. This was a joint effort involving the National Police of Spain, the National Police of Colombia, and INTERPOL, with Our Rescue teams providing on-the-ground support.  On April 21,ย policeย officers executed multipleย search and arrestย warrantsย at the…

1 min read โ€ข Asia โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Mission Stories โ€ข News Media โ€ข Organization โ€ข Survivor Care โ€ข Training and Prevention

On the Ground in Thailand:ย DoPAย Honors Our Rescueย ย forย Continuedย Anti-Trafficking Collaborationย ย 

On April 20, 2026, the Department of Provincial Administration (DoPA) in Bangkok, Thailand,ย heldย a ceremony to recognizeย the workย happeningย onย the ground toย fightย crimes ofย human trafficking andย childย exploitationย in Thailand.ย Underย the countryโ€™s Ministry of Interior,ย DoPAย is tasked withย maintainingย public safety and national securityย andย overseeingย civil registration, local governance, and community-level legal enforcement across theย countryโ€™sย 76 provinces.ย  At the ceremony,ย DoPAย presented commemorative pins and certificates…

3 min read โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข Mission Stories

โ€œPawsโ€ for Celebration: Meet Our Rescueโ€™s ESD K9 Class of June 2026!

The month of June is Internet Safety Month, dedicated to raising awareness intended to encourage safe, responsible use of the internet among children, teens, and young adults. This month is also cause โ€“ or โ€œPawsโ€ in this case โ€“ for celebration as Our Rescue announces its newest Graduating Class of…

6 min read โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข Human Trafficking โ€ข News Media โ€ข Operations โ€ข Organization โ€ข Prevention & Awareness โ€ข Sex Trafficking

How Our Rescue Is Supportingย Human Trafficking andย Child Protectionย Efforts During the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Large-scale events, like the 2026 FIFA World Cup, bring together communities, fans, businesses, and visitors from around the world. With matches taking place across 16 host markets, the World Cup requires extensive planning and coordination among public safety agencies, community organizations, and multidisciplinary partners long before the first match begins…

4 min read โ€ข Child Exploitation โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข Online Exploitation โ€ข Policy & Legal Advocacy

New Victim Identification Legislation called โ€œRenewed Hopeโ€ Takes Historic Leap Forward in the Fight Against Online Child Exploitationย 

The passage and signing of the Renewed Hope Act marks a significant milestone in the fight against online child sexual exploitation.  Spearheadedย byย Senatorย Josh Hawley (R-MO)ย andย supported byย child protection experts including Tim Tebow Foundation, this newย legislation makesย an historic investment into Victim Identification, a critical step in theโ€ฏfight against childโ€ฏsexualโ€ฏexploitation and human trafficking.ย ย  President Trump signed a legislative…

6 min read โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข Training and Prevention โ€ข U.S./Canada

Communitiesย Prepareย for FIFA World Cup:ย Our Rescue Helps Host Cities Recognize and Respond toย Potentialย Uptick in Human Traffickingย ย 

As the State of New Jersey prepares to host one of the worldโ€™s largest sporting events, partnerships like the one between Our Rescue and the New Jersey Childrenโ€™s Alliance offer a best practice in proactive prevention and preparedness.   New Jersey is about to welcome one of the worldโ€™s most preeminent events: the 2026…

4 min read โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข Training and Prevention โ€ข U.S./Canada

Building Safer Communities Through Education: Our Rescue Partners with Chicago Area Projectย 

Human trafficking and child exploitation are serious human rights challenges facing communities across the United States. Prevention begins with awareness, and meaningful change happens when communities come together to equip young people with the knowledge and tools they need to stay safe.  In February 2026, Our Rescue had the opportunity to partner with the …

2 min read โ€ข Asia โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข Mission Stories โ€ข Training and Prevention

Our Rescueย Thailandย and Royal Thai Police Join Forces: Teaching Students About the Real Dangers of Online Exploitationย 

Every day, children and young people spend more of their lives online, learning, connecting, and exploring the world around them. At the same time, they are exposed to increased risk from predators and trafficking networks lurking in that same โ€œdigital oceanโ€ – searching for their next victim. In Thailand specifically, children are not as likely to report their experiences of online exploitation. …

3 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข Mission Stories โ€ข U.S./Canada

Our Rescue-Sponsored ESD K9 Finds 50+ Hidden Devices; Evidence Leads to 100+ Arrests; Delivers Hope to 18 Children Survivorsย ย 

Every day, predators use small digital devices like SD cards, cell phones, USB drives, hard drives, and micro-storage devices to hide evidence of child sexual abuse from law enforcement. These devices are easily concealed almost anywhere – inside walls, clothing, furniture, behind electrical outlets, in vehicles, or buried beneath clutter, making them incredibly difficult for investigators to find during searches. …

8 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข U.S./Canada

A Year in Review:ย Highlights from the Fieldย withย theย Our Rescue ESD K9ย Teamย ย 

Exactly one year ago, Our Rescueโ€™s Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 program hit a milestone: a record 11 dogs graduated, embarking on a life with a very important mission โ€“ to help protect vulnerable children and bring criminals to justice.  Since June 2025, these K9s have joined over 130 other K9s in helping law enforcement arrest well over 1,300…

14 min read โ€ข Child Exploitation โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข Online Exploitation โ€ข Prevention & Awareness

Grooming: How Communities and Families Can Prevent, Recognize, and Reduce Harm

By Amy Bruins, Vice President of Community Impact at Our Rescue Grooming rarely announces itself. It often begins quietlyโ€”with attention, encouragement, shared interests, or supportโ€”long before boundaries are crossed or risks are recognized.   Because grooming is a deliberate, relationship-based process rather than a single event, it can unfold anywhere children and young people communicate or…

3 min read โ€ข Asia โ€ข Mission Stories โ€ข Survivor Care

Choosing Her Own Future: Mayโ€™s Story of Hopeย ย 

*Alias used to protect survivor identity.   In Southeast Asia, a young girl named *May was just 17 years old, living in economically vulnerable conditions with her mother and older sister. Her mother worked as a housekeeper earning just enough to meet their most basic needs. May carried a quiet hope for a different future. Like many people her age,…

5 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Mission Stories โ€ข U.S./Canada

Our Rescue-Sponsoredย ESD K9 Kaia Helps Police Arrest Multiple Suspectsย in Vermontย Child Exploitationย Casesย 

Behind closed doors and behind screens, unthinkable acts of child exploitation are committed by predators in ways that can easily be hidden and difficult to trace. Through child sexual abuse material (CSAM), a single upload, a simple message, or a hidden file can put a child in the crosshairs of a predator who is committing unimaginable crimes.  Fortunately, in the state of Vermont, law enforcement has an Electronic Storage Detection…

4 min read โ€ข Europe โ€ข Mission Stories โ€ข Survivor Care

Two Years Later:ย Cynthiaโ€™sย Letterย ofย Hopeย Afterย Operation Mallorcaย 

*Alias used to protect survivor identity.  In 2023, Our Rescue supported an operation in Spain to help law enforcement take down a criminal group that was suspected of forcing 24 women from four different countries into forced commercial sexual exploitation. Six days a week, the women worked morning and night and were moved across multiple locations on Mallorca, an island in the Mediterranean Sea.

2 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Latin America โ€ข Mission Stories

Our Rescueย Joins Peruvian National Police, Dignitaries, to Inaugurateย ย New Human Trafficking Intelligence Center in Limaย 

In August of 2025,ย Alberto de la Huerta, Regional Director ofย Our Rescue’sย Latin America Team,ย visitedย Lima, Peru, toย helpย theย Peruvian National Police (PNP)ย celebrate the inauguration ofย theย Human Trafficking Centerย (HTC)ย inย Lima’sย urban districtย ofย Lince.ย PNP senior leadershipย and local dignitariesย gathered to recognizeย this important milestone in the fight against human trafficking and child exploitation.ย  The Peruvian National Police Directorate Against Human Trafficking and…

1 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Latin America โ€ข Mission Stories

Our Rescue Supportย forย Ecuador Authorities in CSAM Investigationย Leadsย to Arrest in Quitoย 

In March of 2026, investigators with CiberPOL, part of the Ecuadorian National Police, followed a CyberTip submitted to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and traced it to a location south of the city. Someone was distributing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), meaning children were in need of help. Working quickly, with support from Our Rescue, investigators built a careful case in…

11 min read โ€ข Child Exploitation โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข Online Exploitation

When it Happensย toย You: Avenuesย forย Support if Your Child isย aย Victimย ofย Online Sexual Exploitationย 

By Jackie Block Goldstein, LSW, Vice President for Survivor Care at Our Rescue, and John Trenary Vice President of Cyber at Our Rescue  Disclaimer: This content is provided for educational purposes only.  If you believe a child is in immediate danger, contact 9-1-1 or your local authorities.  Raising kids in todayโ€™s digital environment is no easy feat.  In addition…

3 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Latin America โ€ข Mission Stories โ€ข Survivor Care

Multipleย โ€œOperationย Digitalsโ€ย Result inย 6ย Arrestsย Across Latin America: Our Rescue Supports Police CSAM Investigations Targeting Online Exploitationย 

In Latin America, law enforcement continues to confront the growing spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). These horrific cases often begin with a tip online and lead police to discover real sexual abuse involving children. A recent series of four โ€œOperation Guardianโ€ cases, supported by Our Rescue in Ecuador and Chile, highlight how coordinated investigations, digital intelligence, and in-country support are essential in helping…

1 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Latin America โ€ข Mission Stories โ€ข Survivor Care

Twoย Teenaged Girlsย Rescued from a Life of Sexual Exploitation:ย ย Our Rescueย Aids Law Enforcement in Ecuadorโ€™s Fight Against Transnational Criminalย Organizationsย 

In just two days, Ecuadorian National Police (ENP), their Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (UNAT), the Attorney Generalโ€™s Office (FGE), and members of Our Rescueโ€™s team in Latin America came together to rescue two teenaged girls, ages 14 and 17, from a life of sexual exploitation. Embroiled in extremely dangerous gang activity, caught between a notorious Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO) and local rival gangs,…

1 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Latin America โ€ข Mission Stories โ€ข Survivor Care

Urgent CyberTip Triggers Police Operation in Ecuador: 2 Children Rescued, 2 Suspects Arrested

Every day, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) receives thousands of CyberTipline reports that require urgent review because they may involve children in immediate danger. In 2024 alone, staff identified and escalated more than 51,000 reports as urgent or involving imminent risk and…

14 min read โ€ข Child Exploitation โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข Online Exploitation

To Trust or Not to Trust:ย Online Safety Begins Offlineย ย 

By the end of this article, you will understand what online child sexual exploitation is, how it happens, how to recognize the warning signs, what to do if you suspect it, and โ€“ most of all โ€“ how to prevent it in the first place.   For many kids, summer marks the start of freedom: less structure, more time with friends, and greater independence…

19 min read โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข News Media โ€ข Our Perspectives

Euphoriaย and Human Trafficking: What the Show Gets Rightย and Where It Misses the Markย 

By Amy Bruins, Vice President of Community Impact, Our Rescue  Mature Content Warning: This article discusses mature themes portrayed in Euphoria, including addiction, sexual exploitation, coercion, assault, commercial sexual exploitation, forced criminality, and human trafficking.  Euphoria (HBO) has never been a show that shies away from difficult subjects. The series explores complex and often uncomfortable themes including addiction, coercion,…

3 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข Mission Stories โ€ข U.S./Canada

Vigo County Sheriffโ€™s Office Welcomes First ESD K9:ย Our Rescue andย kNotย Today Partnership at Workย 

Thanks to a collaborative partnership with Our Rescue and kNot Today, the Vigo County Sheriff’s Office welcomed its first Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 and the community of Terre Haute, Indiana will never be the same.  Do aย quick Google search online forย โ€œESDย K9 Paddyย Indianaโ€ย andย youโ€™llย see why Vigo Countyโ€™s newestย member of theย Sheriffโ€™s Departmentย has been in…

12 min read โ€ข Child Exploitation โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข Online Exploitation

Social Media Addiction and Online Exploitation: How Todayโ€™s Digital Environment Is Increasing Risk for Kidsย 

By Jackie Block Goldstein, LSW, Vice President for Survivor Care at Our Rescue, and John Trenary Vice President of Cyber at Our Rescue  In early 2026,ย separate juries in California and New Mexico foundย twoย popularย social mediaย companies liable for contributing to the mental health crisis amongย children. Theย landmark verdictsย confirmed what many families…

4 min read โ€ข Europe โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Mission Stories โ€ข Training and Prevention

Strengtheningย Child Exploitationย Investigations:ย ย Our Rescue Partners with OSINTย Industriesย 

For over a year, Our Rescue has partnered withโ€ฏOSINT Industriesโ€ฏto help law enforcement address human trafficking and child exploitation. This collaboration has now expanded through a formal agreement and ongoing joint efforts to equip investigators with advanced open-source intelligence (OSINT) tools and training that help rescue children and put predators behind bars.  Together, teams have supported law enforcement agencies across Europe, including Romania, Italy, Kosovo, Spain, and Malta. These efforts focus…

2 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Mission Stories โ€ข U.S./Canada

ESD K9 Boone in Action: 13 Successful Searches inย 2026ย So Farย 

Every day, children are sexually exploited by predators behind closed doors and evidence of that abuse is deliberately hidden. To fight these crimes, our four-legged heroes work alongside police to help rescue those children and bring them justice.  In 2022, Our Rescue-sponsored Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 Boone graduated from the Jordan Detection K9…

1 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Latin America โ€ข Mission Stories

Operationย Fenix 86:ย Twoย 7-Year-Oldย Sistersย Rescued from Fatherโ€™s Suspected Sexual Abuse and Exploitationย 

In Ecuador, two 7-year-old girls were allegedly being sexually exploited by their father.   In February of 2026, investigators from the Ecuadorian National Police (ENP) Anti-Trafficking Unit (UNAT) discovered child sexual abuse material (CSAM) featuring the two children in sexually explicit photographs that were being distributed to a social media group.   Working alongside the Attorney Generalโ€™s Office (FGE) and with the support of Our Rescue, ENP UNAT initiated a search and arrest warrant at…

12 min read โ€ข Homepage Featured โ€ข News Media โ€ข Our Perspectives

Law Enforcement and Mental Health: Addressing Trauma in Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) Investigations

By Jim Cole, Senior Advisor for Cyber Strategy and Child Protection, Our Rescue  Published in recognition of National Police Week, May 2026  People ask me, โ€œHow do you do it?โ€  Not my law enforcement colleagues. They already know the answer, or they have their own version of it. The question…

1 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Latin America โ€ข Mission Stories โ€ข Survivor Care

12-Year-Old Rescued in Ecuador, 1 Suspect Arrested

In Ecuador, a 12-year-old child was living under a lie facing sexual exploitation.  An adult had convinced the child that he was family and someone they could trust, someone who had authority in their life. He then used that false identity to gain control and sexually exploit, creating a reality that no child should ever have to navigate.  But investigators with…

9 min read โ€ข News Media โ€ข Our Perspectives

Denim Day: A Survivor’s Perspective on Healing

June Haskell brings over ten years of experience speaking as a survivor of sex trafficking, domestic violence, childhood trauma and drug endangerment. From policies and programs to events and media, June works as Director of Survivor Engagement at Our Rescue and is a valued and respected resource. April is…

1 min read โ€ข Field Operations โ€ข Latin America โ€ข Mission Stories

Advertised Online. Found in a Hotel: 17-Year-Old Rescued,ย 5 Suspectsย Arrested for Human Traffickingย 

She was only 17 years old, and she was being sold online for sex.  In September, the Peruvian National Police received a tip that someone was allegedly advertising the sexual services of minors, girls between the ages of 14 and 17, through a website and across social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp,…

3 min read โ€ข Organization

Give with Impact: How the 2026 Tax Law Could Benefit Your Charitable Tax Donationsย 

For many people, donating to a charity is about more than a tax deduction. It is about supporting the mission of an organization close to their heart and values. At Our Rescue, our donors help protect children and support survivors as they rebuild and move forward in the fight against human trafficking and exploitation. They…

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