January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

Since 2010, January has been dedicated to raising awareness about human trafficking and recognizing the ongoing efforts of anti-trafficking organizations, communities, and survivors. The International Rescue Committee in Washington State is proud to lead the Washington Anti-Trafficking Response Network (WARN). WARN is a coalition of non-governmental organizations that provide direct services to survivors of human trafficking in Washington State.

WARN has supported survivors of sex and/or labor trafficking to live their lives without revictimization since 2004 - and continues to work with survivors providing safe housing, immigration and legal assistance, criminal justice system and victim rights advocacy, medical and mental health treatment, education and job resources, and more. These services provided by WARN are made possible by collaborating - as WARN includes IRC and three other community-based agencies; API Chaya, Real Escape from the Sex Trade, and YouthCare. Each WARN partner agency brings different expertise and capacity to meet the needs of survivors, allowing for the provision of comprehensive services.. This allows WARN to share information about available services with these communities, to provide low-barrier access to services, and also to provide linguistically and culturally-informed services to victims and survivors of human trafficking.

This month and always, community members can support survivors of human trafficking by: 

• Using the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888) if you suspect or are aware of someone being trafficked.
• Supporting WARN directly by making a gift to the program
• Becoming an educated consumer: learn more about your favorite brands’ labor practices and give your business to companies that have taken steps to prevent labor trafficking within their own production and their supply chain.
• Volunteering and donating to local anti-trafficking organizations
• Being aware of the signs of human trafficking. Learn more about human trafficking and request trainings by experts in your communities from these reputable organizations: 
  • Washington Anti-Trafficking Response Network (WARN)
  • Polaris Project (organizers of the Natl. Human Trafficking Hotline)
  • FrameWork
  • Fair Labor Association
  • Verite