Refugee & Immigrant Center

Asian Association of Utah

Refugee & Immigrant Center

Asian Association of Utah

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Take Action

Human trafficking is an overwhelming topic, and it’s easy to feel like there is nothing you can do to combat this injustice. However, you can be part of the solution in so many ways.

BE THE ONE in Utah’s fight against human trafficking by getting involved as an individual, and/or group. 

Below are ways to get involved:

  • Be a conscientious and informed consumer. Find out more about who may have picked your tomatoes or made your clothes at ResponsibleSourcingTool.org, or check out the Department of Labor’s List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor. Encourage companies to take steps to prevent human trafficking in their supply chains and publish the information, including supplier or factory lists, for consumer awareness.
  • Meet with and/or write to your local, state, and federal elected officials to let them know you care about combating human trafficking and ask what they are doing to address it.
  • Be well-informed. Set up a web alert to receive current human trafficking news.
  • Post awareness campaign posters around your neighborhood, school, or workplace. Download the poster for free here.
  • Host an awareness-raising event to watch and discuss films about human trafficking. For example, learn how modern slavery exists today; watch an investigative documentary about sex trafficking; or discover how forced labor can affect global food supply chains. Alternatively, contact your local library and ask for assistance identifying an appropriate book and ask them to host the event. Visit unicefusa.org/endtrafficking to learn how you can get a copy of the Not My Life film along with a discussion guide.
  • Organize a fundraiser and donate the proceeds to an anti-trafficking organization.
  • Encourage your local schools or school district to include human trafficking in their curricula and to develop protocols for identifying and reporting a suspected case of human trafficking or responding to a potential victim.
  • Use your social media platforms to raise awareness about human trafficking, using the following hashtags: #endtraffickingutah and/or #betheoneutah Follow local, state, and national social media accounts. To follow AAU’s TIP Program, go here.
  • Write an article about human trafficking for your local or school newspaper or community blog. Don’t feel comfortable writing it yourself? Write to the editors of the paper and ask them to do a piece on it.
  • Change the conversation by working within your social circles. A “pimp” is not a cool guy, but someone who abuses and exploits women. A “prostitute” is often a victim of sexual exploitation. Help your friends rethink their choice of language.
  • Think about whether your workplace is trauma-informed and reach out to management or the Human Resources team to urge implementation of trauma-informed business practices.
  • Become a mentor to a young person or someone in need. Traffickers often target people who are going through a difficult time or who lack strong support systems. As a mentor, you can be involved in new and positive experiences in that person’s life during a formative time.
  • Purchase products made by or directly supporting survivors of human trafficking. From jewelry and handbags to lotion and soccer balls-purchasing survivor-made products helps to support sustainable employment and rehabilitation programs for survivors. Start shopping.
  • Walk/run for freedom. Join or organize a walk/5K in your city to raise awareness about human trafficking.
  • Dedicate a sporting event to raising awareness about human trafficking. Get the team involved, have proceeds from the game go to a local anti-trafficking organization. Feature an info session at halftime and show a short video clip, have a guest speaker, or read a survivor’s story.

Industry/Group Specific:

  • Parents and Caregivers: Learn how human traffickers often target and recruit youth and who to turn to for help in potentially dangerous situations. Host community conversations with parent teacher associations, law enforcement, schools, and community members regarding safeguarding children in your community.
  • Youth: Learn how to recognize traffickers’ recruitment tactics, how to safely navigate out of a suspicious or uncomfortable situations, and how to reach out for help at any time.
  • Young Men: Join a Men of Strength Club in your community to raise awareness about the crucial role men can play in preventing gender-based violence and promoting positive versions of masculinity.
  • Faith-Based Communities: Host awareness events and community forums with anti-trafficking leaders or collectively support a local victim service provider.
  • Businesses: Provide jobs, internships, skills training, and other opportunities to trafficking survivors. Take steps to investigate and prevent trafficking in your supply chains by consulting the Responsible Sourcing Tool and Comply Chain to develop effective management systems to detect, prevent, and combat human trafficking.
  • Incorporate an Employer Pledge. Here is a sample template to get businesses started in the development of internal human trafficking policy.
  • College Students: Take action on your campus. Check out this student toolkit. Join or establish a university club to raise awareness about human trafficking and initiate action throughout your local community. Consider doing one of your research papers on a topic concerning human trafficking. Request that human trafficking be included in university curricula.
  • Transportation: Check out the DHS Blue Campaign toolkit. Create programs providing free/low cost options for survivors of human trafficking.
  • Landlords: Housing is frequently the most requested need by survivors of human trafficking. Rent your property to survivors of trafficking. Request a human trafficking housing presentation. Contact our Housing Coordinator to discuss ways to provide housing options for survivors.
  • Schools/School Personnel: New Utah law. Teach your students about human trafficking. Check out some K-12 educator resources for lesson plans and activities for your students at teachunicef.org.
  • Hospitality: Check out the Blue Campaign’s Hospitality toolkit to see how human trafficking intersects with your industry. Provide free/low cost hotel vouchers for trafficking victims in need of emergency housing.
  • Journalists: The media plays an enormous role in shaping perceptions and guiding the public conversation about human trafficking. Seek out some media best practices on how to effectively and responsibly report stories on human trafficking.
  • Attorneys: Offer human trafficking victims legal services, including support for those seeking benefits or special immigration status. Resources are available for attorneys representing victims of human trafficking.
  • For more ways to take action, visit: Intercommunity Peace & Justice Center at www.ipjc.org
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