Education & Insights on the Issue of Human Trafficking
Education is the first line of defense against human trafficking, including sex trafficking, and child exploitation. By providing expert insights, survivor stories, and research-backed resources, we help individuals and communities become difference makers, leading to lasting change.
The Latest
14 min read
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3 days ago
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Child Exploitation
Homepage Featured
Online Exploitation
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 quietly—with attention, encouragement, shared interests, or support—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
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3 days ago
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Asia
Mission Stories
Survivor Care
Choosing Her Own Future: May’s Story of Hope
*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
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5 days ago
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Field Operations
Mission Stories
U.S./Canada
Our Rescue-Sponsored ESD K9 Kaia Helps Police Arrest Multiple Suspects in Vermont Child Exploitation Cases
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…
Understanding Human Trafficking
5 min read
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3 months ago
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Human Trafficking
Human Trafficking Demographics
Sex Trafficking
Cutting Off the Demand: Who is Buying Sex?
When we think about human trafficking, we often picture traffickers, the recruiters and manipulators; or we focus on rescue and the moment someone reaches safety. Both of these pieces matter deeply. But there is another part of the story that is harder to talk about, a part that quietly sustains the entire system. The buyers. The…
3 min read
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3 months ago
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Human Trafficking
Human Trafficking Demographics
The Hidden Face: Why Modern Traffickers Are Harder to Catch
In order to successfully combat human trafficking today, we must understand that everything we thought we knew about who the traffickers are is incomplete. In the past, we were warned about “strange white vans” or being abducted while traveling in foreign countries while on vacation. The modern-day trafficker has become more concealed, while still hiding in plain sight. The reality…
6 min read
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4 months ago
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Where Does Human Trafficking Happen
Preventing Human Trafficking at the 2026 Super Bowl
While most of the world is focused on the game, law enforcement and organizations are focused on fighting human trafficking at the Super Bowl.
Featured Content
Internet Safety for Parents: Guiding Children Through the Digital Age
Internet safety has become every parent's critical responsibility as kids navigate social media and online games with increasing exposure to exploitation and predators. Learn practical strategies to protect children while encouraging safe digital engagement.
Understanding CSAM: Equipping Communities to Protect and Prevent
Child sexual abuse material (CSAM), commonly known as child pornography, is a crime plaguing lives on a global scale. To date, Google has reported 2.8 million instances of CSAM to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. Learn more about this growing issue here.
What Is Sextortion?
Sextortion is a growing problem for young people today. At Our Rescue, we want you to be empowered to keep predators out of your homes via the internet. This free guide helps individuals understand sextortion and how to address the topic with children and teens.
Our Rescue Perspectives
Candid discussions with Our Rescue experts about the challenges in combating human trafficking and child exploitation. Together, we can bring about change through action and advocacy.
13 min read
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1 week ago
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Homepage Featured
News Media
Our Perspectives
Euphoria and Human Trafficking: What the Show Gets Right and Where It Misses the Mark
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,…
12 min read
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1 month ago
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Homepage Featured
News Media
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, “How do you do it?” Not my law enforcement colleagues. They already know the answer, or they have their own version of it. The question…
9 min read
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1 month ago
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News Media
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…
Mission Stories
3 min read
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3 days ago
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Asia
Mission Stories
Survivor Care
Choosing Her Own Future: May’s Story of Hope
*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
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5 days ago
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Field Operations
Mission Stories
U.S./Canada
Our Rescue-Sponsored ESD K9 Kaia Helps Police Arrest Multiple Suspects in Vermont Child Exploitation Cases
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
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5 days ago
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Europe
Mission Stories
Survivor Care
Two Years Later: Cynthia’s Letter of Hope After Operation Mallorca
*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.
Our Rescue announcements
1 min read
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2 months ago
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Homepage Featured
News Media
Our Rescue Joins International Gathering at INTERPOL
Our Rescue is proud to support international efforts to combat online child exploitation through technology innovation and advancement. Thank you to John Trenary, Vice President of Cyber, and Jim Cole, Senior Advisor of Cyber Strategy and Child Protection, for representing Our Rescue. This week in Lyon, France, 78 participants, from…
2 min read
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3 months ago
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Homepage Featured
News Media
Organization
Our Rescue Welcomes Internationally Recognized Child Protection Expert Jim Cole
Our Rescue today announced that internationally recognized child exploitation expert Jim Cole has joined as the Senior Advisor, Cyber Strategy & Child Protection. In this role, Cole will focus on strengthening partnerships with law enforcement and accelerating the identification and protection of child victims worldwide. Cole brings nearly 37 years of experience in government and law enforcement,…
1 min read
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4 months ago
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News Media
Our Rescue Welcomes Sonny Von Cleveland as Director of Public Engagement and Content
Our Rescue is pleased to welcome Sonny Von Cleveland as Director of Public Engagement and Content, a role designed to support and amplify survivor centered engagement. A nationally recognized advocate, author, speaker, and storyteller, Sonny brings lived experience and a commitment to healing, connection, and dignity. His work focuses on encouraging…
OUR RESCUE MENTIONS IN THE NEWS
1 min read
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3 weeks ago
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Allegheny County police partner with nonprofit to raise awareness of human trafficking/child exploitation in Pittsburgh, 5/14/26.
1 min read
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3 weeks ago
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Psychologist, doctor, corporate execs arrested in California child sex abuse sting, 5/12/26.
1 min read
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3 weeks ago
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42 arrested in operation targeting child sex exploitation, Riverside County prosecutors say, 5/12/26.
