Polaris

Polaris is a nonprofit organization that works to combat human trafficking and modern slavery. The organization was founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States. Polaris operates the National Human Trafficking Hotline 888-373-7888, a confidential and toll-free hotline for victims and survivors of human trafficking, as well as for individuals who want to report a tip or get more information about human trafficking. The hotline is available 24/7 and provides assistance in more than 200 languages.

In addition to operating the hotline, Polaris also works to raise awareness about human trafficking, advocate for stronger laws and policies to combat trafficking, and provide services and support to victims and survivors. The organization works with partners around the world to fight human trafficking and modern slavery and to help individuals rebuild their lives after experiencing exploitation.

Human trafficking fight gets big boost from America's truckers – Fox News
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Human trafficking fight gets big boost from America's truckers – Fox News

Veteran trucker Bob Bramwell recalls his initial thoughts after being trained through a program provided by his company to spot the warning signs of human trafficking while on the road. “When I was receiving the training for the first time, being a regional driver, right in small town America, I thought, this is something I’ll…

Human trafficking: Survivors of sex trafficking counsel, advocate for others | VPM
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Human trafficking: Survivors of sex trafficking counsel, advocate for others | VPM

The U.S. State Department considers human trafficking a form of “modern slavery.” It happens when a person is forced to work or perform sex acts under threat of violence, often through coercion and fraud. Worldwide, over 27 million people are trafficked every day — and 90% of female victims are sexually exploited. In Virginia, the…

Part 2: How sex trafficking victims are lured in – Spectrum News
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Part 2: How sex trafficking victims are lured in – Spectrum News

Editor’s note: Second in a five-part series on human trafficking in Wisconsin: How are sex trafficking victims lured in? FOND DU LAC, Wis. — It was a diaper run – something young mothers across the country do every day. McKenzie Zahradnik was with her two children – ages 2 and 4 months – and pregnant with…

Virginia explores ways to prevent human trafficking – WTOP News
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Virginia explores ways to prevent human trafficking – WTOP News

Experts on human trafficking say the problem is all around us, and a yearlong study in Virginia has sparked several recommendations to combat sex and labor human trafficking. The Virginia Commission on Human Trafficking Prevention and Survivor Support, formed last year by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, submitted its final report in January urging tougher penalties, as…

Overcoming Our Blind Spots: Pharmacists Can Help Address Human Trafficking
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Overcoming Our Blind Spots: Pharmacists Can Help Address Human Trafficking

My mind still wanders to her. I remember her broken and hollow smile, tattered jeans, deep frown lines, gaunt frame, and overall appearance and manner that were weary and aged well beyond those of a 28-year-old. She sat under the facility’s fluorescent lights, wringing her dry, cracked hands and trying to carefully, almost apologetically, explain…

Keicher Bill Supporting Trafficking Victims Receives Unanimous Support | Algonquin, IL Patch
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Keicher Bill Supporting Trafficking Victims Receives Unanimous Support | Algonquin, IL Patch

This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author’s own. Last week, the Illinois House of Representatives gave unanimous approval to legislation filed by State Representative Jeff Keicher (R-Sycamore). House Bill 2418 creates a pathway to expunge criminal records for victims of human trafficking as they seek to recover…

Virginia Prosecutor’s Human Trafficking Toolkit
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Virginia Prosecutor’s Human Trafficking Toolkit

Download Toolkit PDF here Since 2007, over 3,500 trafficking victims have been identified in the Commonwealth of Virginia, resulting in 1,689 cases of human trafficking. Victims in these cases ranged from minors to adults, males to females, and victims of both labor and sex trafficking. This toolkit is intended to be a resource to help…

Human Trafficking in Kenya: A Nonprofit Takes Aim
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Human Trafficking in Kenya: A Nonprofit Takes Aim

Imagine a seven-year-old girl, spending her days not in school, but cooking and cleaning for a family in a wealthy suburb. Or a young mother struggling to make ends meet, lured away from her children by an employment agency and forced into sex work abroad. For millions of people, this is a reality. Human trafficking…

The Stark Reality of Child Trafficking – UNICEF at the University of Michigan
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The Stark Reality of Child Trafficking – UNICEF at the University of Michigan

By Paighton Gimotty Human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and forced labor take place all across the globe– even here in Michigan. Guided by UNICEF’s principles on child protection, UNICEF UM led an internal education initiative to educate its members about this stark reality. Paighton Gimotty, Ross ‘24, is a UNICEF UM Student Representative and a member…