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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 …

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. …

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. …

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 over 1,300…

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 CEO at…

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 of the…

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…

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 environment is no easy feat.  In addition…

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 greater independence…

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,…

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 been in…

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 many families…

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…

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…

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,…

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, businesses,…

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 Artificial Intelligence.

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 that…

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 predators…

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 motion…

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 covers…

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 under…

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 day is…

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 in Persons…

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 women abroad,…