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4 min read • Homepage Featured

DAF Day 2026: How to Turn Your Donor-Advised Fund into Freedom for Human Trafficking Survivors 

Every year, billions of dollars sit inside Donor-Advised Funds, or DAF, money that’s already been set aside for good, just waiting to be put to work. DAF Day is October 8, 2026, and is the one day the nonprofit sector comes together to ask: what if that money moved…
3 min read • Homepage Featured • Mission Stories • Training and Prevention • 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 – a place where one can seek refuge.
4 min read • Homepage Featured • News Media • Sex Trafficking

Our Rescue Announces New Matching Gift from McGlothlin Family Foundation in Final Days of Rise Up Campaign; Spotlights World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  SALT LAKE CITY – July 24, 2026 – Our Rescue, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to ending human trafficking and child exploitation, today announced a new matching gift campaign of $64,000 that will help boost engagement in the final days of this month’s Rise Up campaign. This is the second matching gift contribution Our Rescue has received this month, a…
10 min read • Child Exploitation • Homepage Featured • Human Trafficking • Prevention & Awareness • Prevention & Awareness • 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,…
4 min read • Europe • Field Operations • Homepage Featured • Mission Stories

Turning Training into Action: How OSINT Partnerships Are Strengthening the Fight to Protect Children in Romania 

Behind every major enforcement operation is a quieter story—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…
4 min read • Homepage Featured • Prevention & Awareness

Where Real Change Begins: When Saying “Yes” 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 – people who decide…
9 min read • Field Operations • Homepage Featured • Mission Stories • U.S./Canada

A Tale of Two Labs: How ESD K9s Bandit and Layla Promote Safety and Healing  

From a Small Town in Central Florida to the Mountains of Washoe County, Nevada – 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…
2 min read • Homepage Featured • News Media

Our Rescue Announces $250,000 July Gift Match to Fight Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SALT LAKE CITY – July 1, 2026 – Our Rescue, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to ending human trafficking and child exploitation, today announced a $250,000 matching gift campaign to support its mission throughout the month of July. Thanks to the generosity of the…
4 min read • Homepage Featured • Training and Prevention • U.S./Canada

From Nebraska to the Navajo Nation: Our Rescue Connects with Rural Communities Facing Increased Occurrences of Human Trafficking 

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…
4 min read • Field Operations • Homepage Featured • Latin America • Mission Stories

Four Operations in One Week: Our Rescue Helps Police  Expand Rescues and Arrests in Ecuador and Chile  

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 “surges” expanded rescue efforts and arrests across Ecuador and Chile. Authorities arrested…
1 min read • Europe • Field Operations • Homepage Featured • Mission Stories

Operation Success in Spain Leads to 7 Arrests and Helps Free 8 Survivors, Transnational Human Trafficking Network Shut Down  

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, police officers executed multiple search and…
5 min read • Grants • Homepage Featured • News Media

Our Rescue Announces 8 Recipients of the 2026 Survivor Care Impact Grant 

Our Rescue’s Survivor Care program provides Impact Grant for United States based non-profit organizations whose mission aligns with Our Rescue’s commitment to end human trafficking and child exploitation while empowering survivors to reclaim their lives and thrive on their healing journeys.  In support of this mission, Our Rescue’s Survivor Care program works in partnership…
3 min read • Homepage Featured • Mission Stories

“Paws” for Celebration: Meet Our Rescue’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 – or “Paws” in this case – for celebration as Our Rescue announces its newest Graduating Class…
5 min read • Child Exploitation • Homepage Featured • Online Exploitation • Policy & Legal Advocacy

“Renewed Hope” Victim Identification Legislation Takes Historic Leap Forward in the Fight Against Online Child Exploitation

Our Rescue lauds the passage and signing of the Renewed Hope Act, a significant milestone in the fight against online child sexual exploitation. WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 16, 2026 – Spearheaded by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) and supported by child protection experts including Tim Tebow Foundation, this new…
6 min read • Homepage Featured • Human Trafficking • News Media • Operations • Organization • Prevention & Awareness • Sex Trafficking

How Our Rescue Is Supporting Human Trafficking and Child Protection 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…
4 min read • Child Exploitation • Homepage Featured • Online Exploitation • Policy & Legal Advocacy

New Victim Identification Legislation called “Renewed Hope” Takes Historic Leap Forward in the Fight Against Online Child Exploitation 

The passage and signing of the Renewed Hope Act marks a significant milestone in the fight against online child sexual exploitation.  Spearheaded by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) and supported by child protection experts including Tim Tebow Foundation, this new legislation makes an historic investment into Victim Identification, a critical step in the fight against child sexual exploitation and human trafficking.   President Trump…
6 min read • Homepage Featured • Training and Prevention • U.S./Canada

Communities Prepare for FIFA World Cup: Our Rescue Helps Host Cities Recognize and Respond to Potential Uptick in Human Trafficking  

As the State of New Jersey prepares to host one of the world’s largest sporting events, partnerships like the one between Our Rescue and the New Jersey Children’s Alliance offer a best practice in proactive prevention and preparedness.   New Jersey is about to welcome one of the world’s most preeminent events:…
4 min read • Homepage Featured • Training and Prevention • U.S./Canada

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

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…
2 min read • Asia • Homepage Featured • Mission Stories • Training and Prevention

Our Rescue Thailand and Royal Thai Police Join Forces: Teaching Students About the Real Dangers of Online Exploitation 

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 “digital ocean” – searching for their next victim. In Thailand specifically, children are not as likely to report their experiences of online exploitation. …
3 min read • Field Operations • Homepage Featured • Mission Stories • U.S./Canada

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

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…
8 min read • Field Operations • Homepage Featured • U.S./Canada

A Year in Review: Highlights from the Field with the Our Rescue ESD K9 Team  

Exactly one year ago, Our Rescue’s Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9 program hit a milestone: a record 11 dogs graduated, embarking on a life with a very important mission – 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…
2 min read • Homepage Featured • News Media

Our Rescue Appoints Shawn Henry to Global Nonprofit Board of Directors 

Executive Advisor to the CrowdStrike CEO and Former FBI Executive Assistant Director Brings Extensive Cybersecurity and Investigative Expertise to the Fight Against Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation   MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – June 10, 2026 – Our Rescue, a global nonprofit dedicated to combating human trafficking and child exploitation, today announced the appointment of Shawn Henry, executive advisor to the…
1 min read • Europe • Field Operations • Homepage Featured • Mission Stories • News Media • Survivor Care • Training and Prevention

Our Rescue Announces New Partnership with Moldovan National Police 

Our Rescue announces new partnership with Moldovan National Police to combat child exploitation and human trafficking. On May 20, 2026, Our Rescue signed a new formal partnership agreement with Moldovan National Police which will focus on strengthening efforts to fight child exploitation and human trafficking in Moldova.   As part…
14 min read • 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…
11 min read • Child Exploitation • Homepage Featured • Online Exploitation

When it Happens to You: Avenues for Support if Your Child is a Victim of Online Sexual Exploitation 

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 today’s digital…
14 min read • Child Exploitation • Homepage Featured • Online Exploitation

To Trust or Not to Trust: Online Safety Begins Offline  

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 – most of all – how to prevent it in the first place.   For many kids, summer marks the start of freedom: less structure, more time with friends, and…
19 min read • 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…
3 min read • Field Operations • Homepage Featured • Mission Stories • U.S./Canada

Vigo County Sheriff’s Office Welcomes First ESD K9: Our Rescue and kNot Today Partnership at Work 

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 a quick Google search online for “ESD K9 Paddy Indiana” and you’ll see why Vigo County’s newest member of the Sheriff’s Department has…
12 min read • Child Exploitation • Homepage Featured • Online Exploitation

Social Media Addiction and Online Exploitation: How Today’s Digital Environment Is Increasing Risk for Kids 

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, separate juries in California and New Mexico found two popular social media companies liable for contributing to the mental health crisis among children. The landmark verdicts confirmed what…
12 min read • 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…
1 min read • 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…
2 min read • 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…
3 min read • Homepage Featured • How To Stop Human Trafficking • Prevention & Awareness • Sex Trafficking

 What Is Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Human trafficking prevention month takes place every January and focuses on raising awareness, educating the public, and calling communities to action in preventing human trafficking in all its forms. In 2010, the President of the United States formally dedicated January as a national awareness month, calling on individuals, communities,…
7 min read • CSAM • Homepage Featured

 AI CSAM: The Growing Digital Threat to Children and How We’re Fighting Back

The Alarming Rise of AI-Generated Child Abuse Material Artificial intelligence has transformed countless industries, but criminals now exploit AI technology to create devastating new forms of child sexual abuse. In comparison to traditional CSAM, AI CSAM are sexually explicit images of children, created all or in part by…
7 min read • Homepage Featured • Human Trafficking Statistics

How Many Human Trafficking Cases Started Online: The Digital Crisis Our Rescue Is Fighting Worldwide

While many traffickers may have historically relied on in-person recruitment at places like bus stations, malls, and vulnerable neighborhoods, the digital age has radically expanded their toolkit with alarming statistics revealing that more and more  human trafficking cases started online. Recent data shows…
9 min read • Homepage Featured • Online Exploitation

The Disturbing Psychology of Online Predators: What Every Parent Must Understand

When most parents picture online predators, they imagine shadowy figures lurking in chat rooms, deceiving children about their age and identity. This perception, while understandable, is dangerously inaccurate. The reality is far more sophisticated and psychologically complex than the “stranger danger” narrative suggests. Understanding the true psychology behind online…
1 min read • Asia • Field Operations • Homepage Featured • Mission Stories • Survivor Care

OGI Update: 2 Children Rescued During Operation Step in Thailand 

BREAKING: A 32-year-old man in Thailand was suspected of sexually exploiting two children, ages 9 and 12 years old. The man was allegedly recording child sexual abuse material (CSAM) on his mobile phone. On the morning of October 8, law enforcement and the Our Rescue team set plans in…
2 min read • Homepage Featured • Mission Stories • Sex Trafficking

A New Way to Show Up: Introducing Surge Operations

Traffickers don’t stay in one place, and neither can we. – Derek Benner, CEO  At Our Rescue, we’re evolving our global presence to become more impactful, and mission aligned – meeting the needs of our partners. We’re always asking ourselves how we…
2 min read • Field Operations • Homepage Featured • Operations

From Coast to Coast: Our Rescue Supports Nationwide Stand Against Human Trafficking 

Across the United States, human trafficking doesn’t always happen in the shadows. Often, it’s woven into the fabric of everyday life.  In neighborhoods, in businesses that seem ordinary, in places people pass by every day without a second thought. Illicit massage businesses (IMBs) are one of the most common…
2 min read • Field Operations • Homepage Featured

Our Rescue Partners with Police in Greece to Bust Human Trafficking Ring 

Thirteen women from Latin America and Eastern Europe arrived in Greece with dreams of a better future. They believed they had secured stable jobs, only to have their passports ripped from their hands and their identities stripped away. Trapped in a nightmare, their captors forced them into sex work…
Our Rescue female team members
11 min read • Homepage Featured

International Women’s Day 2025: Women Leading the Fight Against Human Trafficking

International Women’s Day is a global movement fueled by collective action, celebrating women’s achievements since its start in 1911, while confronting the work still needed to achieve true gender equality.  At Our Rescue, we are proud to be a women-led organization empowering female leaders. This…
2 min read • Europe • Homepage Featured • Mission Stories • Prevention & Awareness • Training and Prevention

Our Rescue Helps Strengthen Malta’s Fight Against Human Trafficking 

In February, Our Rescue’s Training & Prevention, Survivor Care, and Rescue Operations teams traveled to Malta—a beautiful island country on the Mediterranean Sea–with a shared mission: empower those on the front lines of justice.   Malta is on the Tier 2 Watchlist of the U.S. Department of State’s Trafficking…
1 min read • Field Operations • Homepage Featured • Operations

Operation in Greece Dismantles Major Human Trafficking Network  

In a significant step against sex trafficking, Greek authorities, with support from Our Rescue and nonprofit A21, dismantled a criminal trafficking organization in December of 2024.   The Directorate for Combating Organized Crime led the investigation, uncovering a network that had been operating since 2019. The traffickers targeted vulnerable…

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