Category
Prevention & Awareness
As 2024 draws to a close, OUR Rescue is deeply grateful for your contribution in the fight to end sex trafficking and child exploitation. Every milestone reflects the dedication of our team, partners, donors, and supporters worldwide. Together, we’ve made strides to protect the vulnerable, support survivors, and bring justice…
Child trafficking is a complex and deeply concerning issue that affects millions of children worldwide. The International Labour Organization (ILO) says trafficking is among “forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery.” Trafficking happens when someone forces a child to do involuntary labor—such as sex exploitation or servitude—and someone else…
Most people can’t imagine trafficking their family members. Familial trafficking happens when a family member forces another family member to do involuntary labor—such as sex exploitation or servitude—and someone else in the family controls the proceeds. There’s a heightened risk of familial trafficking for children, teens, people with disabilities, and…
Black, indigenous, and migrant populations are disproportionately affected by human trafficking. As a result, addressing human trafficking requires acknowledging racial disparities and addressing systemic issues that contribute to vulnerable people. Trafficking is often a story of poverty and systemic inequalities Poverty or economic vulnerability can lead people to trafficking. According…
Most of us take a safe and stable home for granted. People with housing insecurity risk of becoming victims of both sex and/or labor trafficking. The odds that an unhoused person will be trafficked are considerably higher than a person with a secure place to live. The overlap between homelessness…
Up to 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ+ which can lead to increased vulnerability to traffickers. The Polaris Project found that LGBTQ+ people are at higher risk of trafficking and exploitation.1 LGBTQ+ youth have distinct challenges that lead to increased vulnerability to traffickers. An estimated…
In a remote Roma neighborhood in Bulgaria, a mobile education center is bringing hope and knowledge to children who once lived in the shadow of exploitation. This innovative project is the result of a unique collaboration between OUR Rescue and Foundation for Hope, a local NGO that has been tirelessly…
From left to right: Ophelia Holiday (Sexual Assault Prevention Specialist for UNHS), June Haskell (OUR Rescue Director of Survivor Engagement), Allison Smith (OUR Rescue Senior Director of Education), and Thomasina Holly (Sexual Assault Response Coordinator for UNHS).
We need your help to provide school supplies and basic needs to survivors and individuals at risk of human trafficking! By contributing in-kind donations of these items, you can make a direct impact and provide much-needed support.
A crime involving the exploitation of someone for the purpose of compelled labor or a commercial sex act through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. (DHS) Where a person younger than age 18 is induced to perform a commercial sex act, it is a crime…
There are many potential signs of human trafficking. Signs can be physical or emotional. Suspicious activities and concerning situations are also possible indicators that something may be wrong.
Human trafficking impacts millions of people around the world each day. However, there is hope in the fight against this pandemic. Here are 10 ways to stop human trafficking, starting with five actions you can take immediately. Raise Awareness – Protect Your Children This is the first line of defense.
If you have any reason to believe that someone is in immediate danger, please contact law enforcement immediately by calling 911. A crime involving the exploitation of someone for the purpose of compelled labor or a commercial sex act through the use of force, fraud, or coercion. (…
With your newfound awareness gained from the film, knowing accurate information about child exploitation and human trafficking is the next step to effectively fight this unimaginable crime.
Defining Forced Labor “Forced labor occurs when individuals are compelled against their will to provide work or service through the use of force, fraud, or coercion.” (U.S. Department of Homeland Security) Specifically, forced labor refers to individuals 18 and older. Child labor, a subsection of forced…
Human traffickers sometimes mark their victims with physical markings. These are often tattoos but can appear in various ways on the bodies of victims.
While most of the world is focused on the game, law enforcement and organizations are focused on fighting human trafficking at the Super Bowl.
"Sound of Freedom" is an award-winning film that depicts both real-life and dramatized rescue missions to help save children who are being sex trafficked across the globe. Some of these stories are based on the actual work of O.U.R.’s partnership with law enforcement to bring criminal traffickers to justice.
How big of a problem is human trafficking? To answer this question, we don’t want to just tell you that human trafficking (most commonly labor and sex trafficking) is a huge problem, but also provide numbers that can be readily understood.
You can take charge of you and your family’s online safety by taking simple measures online. We have collected some simple steps to secure your accounts - learn more today.
When people think about human trafficking, they often imagine the scenario in the major feature film Taken, where a young girl is abducted on a trip to Europe and subsequently exploited for sexual situations with paying customers. While there are certainly real elements of human trafficking present in the film,…
Knowing how to spot a fake profile can go far in protecting you and your loved ones against online exploitation.
While human trafficking affects every demographic, studies show that LGBTQ+ youth are at an elevated risk for being trafficked. This risk comes from higher rates of discrimination, less social and economic support, and higher rates of homelessness than the average youth (Polaris Project.) This combination of vulnerabilities culminates in an…
There is a common misconception that human trafficking victims are kept in cages and chains. While this is not outside the realm of possibilities in the most egregious cases, human trafficking is so pervasive, in part, due to how easily it can be kept under the radar.