Traffick911

In celebration of #InternationalWomensDay this weekend, meet our 2025 Women of Hope Honorees! ? Women of Hope Honorees are fierce advocates for freedom. They are catalysts for change in their own communities and inspire others to take action in the fight against human trafficking. These women will play an integral role in our upcoming Morning of Hope prayer breakfast—you don’t want to miss it! Read more and get your tickets to this year’s prayer breakfast here: https://lnkd.in/g3eBsnHs

As the end of Human Trafficking Awareness & Prevention Month is here, there is no more important of a topic to highlight than this report by Rights4Girls. Grateful for their insights into the issue of demand.

Thorn closely studies the evolving experiences, challenges, and risks that young people face in online spaces—and while the internet offers incredible opportunities for connection and exploration, it also presents significant risks. ?? What we’re seeing: ?? 59% of minors report encountering potentially harmful online experiences—a number that has steadily risen since 2020. ?? 1 in 3 minors report experiencing an online sexual interaction. ?? Yet, 1 in 6 of those minors do not disclose their experience to anyone. Why? One reason is that many young people view these harmful encounters as "not a big deal," underscoring a troubling trend—the increasing normalization of these interactions. Platforms play a critical role in helping young people avoid and respond to these threats. Together, we can build safer digital spaces and empower young people to recognize, report, and resist harmful behavior. Explore our research to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eBZv_-De

I can’t stop thinking about it. In the first episode of a popular show I recently started watching, the main character—high and drunk—parties poolside with two female “friends” in the dead of night. A few episodes later, one of those female “friends” makes a surprise appearance at a gathering hosted by the main character. Upon being asked how she knew the host, she casually replies, “Oh, I used to be a sex worker.” “Used to be…a sex worker?” I paused the show. I just couldn’t get over how plainly she said it—“I used to be a sex worker,” as if she’d given her two-week notice and left. As if, exploitation is an occupation. It felt tone-deaf. The reality is, leaving the commercial sex industry, or ‘the life’ is not easy. In fact, in her memoir, Girls Like Us, Rachel Lloyd, CMG, anti-trafficking advocate, author, lived experience expert, says, “…leaving the life takes practice. The girls need to try multiple times without having someone give up on them.” Two questions we can count on being asked anytime we do any speaking engagement, info booth, or really just any time we talk about what we do here at Traffick911 are,??“Why do they stay or go back?” Why do people—in our case, children—who are recovered from trafficking situations so often return to their trafficker? And the classic, “How many times does it take before they stop going back?” Well, to quote Ms. Lloyd—simply put, it takes “multiple times,” and the reasons why are profoundly complex. Read our latest blog post, here https://lnkd.in/gyccfKYZ

We’re excited to welcome two incredible new members to our Board of Directors! Welcome, Cara Pierce and Mari Carmen Zamora. ?? Swipe to learn more?about these amazing women, and feel free to leave them a message of encouragement in the comments!

This week, Council Member Gay Donnell Willis honored us at her Human Trafficking Awareness Month Reception and the Dallas City Council's Public Safety Committee meeting for being named the 2024 Champion of Freedom Award recipient. We are so thankful for the city of Dallas' continued commitment to this fight.

January is Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Month. Here are some simple, powerful ways to take your place in the fight. ?? For more ways to get involved and resources visit https://lnkd.in/gqWqwFFc

Tuesday was a great day! ?? On Tuesday, January 7th, at the Dallas County Commissioners Court, Commissioner Dr. Elba Garcia presented a?resolution?recognizing Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and the?North Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking named Traffick911 as the 2024 Champion of Freedom Award recipient. We are so honored to receive this award from our peers and stand alongside past award recipients including Gov. Greg Abbott, Dallas Police Department, Fort Worth Police Department, and Retired Sgt. Byron Fassett.

Reposting this gem from last year's #HumanTrffickingAwarenessMonth because it's just so powerful! Throughout the years, many men have asked us what their role in the fight against trafficking might be. The truth is, the majority of s-x buyers are men, so the issue of demand largely begins and ends with them. We asked the men in our community to stand with us and declare “I’m not buying it!” when it comes to human tr-fficking. We are beyond grateful for our community of men who join us in this important work. Sign the Freedom Pledge and declare “I’m not buying it!” today. ?? https://lnkd.in/gEcQK8aX

January is Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Month. This year, we are continuing our focus on the issue of "demand." The reality is—trafficking is a supply-and-demand issue. If our society didn’t condone buying people for sex, then there would be no incentive for traffickers to sell people for sex. Here are some simple, powerful opportunities for you to take your place in this fight and say "I'm not buying it," with us this month. ?? https://lnkd.in/g5s3jf22