Join Us For #WearBlueDay in Support of Human Trafficking Prevention Month

January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the Sullivan County. It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. Traffickers might use violence, manipulation, or false promises of well-paying jobs or romantic relationships to lure victims into trafficking situations.

Language barriers, fear of their traffickers, and/or fear of law enforcement frequently keep victims from seeking help, making human trafficking a hidden crime. Traffickers look for people who are susceptible for a variety of reasons, including psychological or emotional vulnerability, economic hardship, lack of a social safety net, natural disasters, or political instability. The trauma caused by the traffickers can be so great that many may not identify themselves as victims or ask for help, even in highly public settings.

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is recognized each year on January 11^th. In recognition of this important day, and throughout the month of January, Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign hosts several special events and educational activities. Blue Campaign’s largest initiative is #WearBlueDay, which is this coming Monday (January 11^th) . Join us by posting a photo of yourself wearing blue with the #WearBlueDay. Don’t forget to tag Branch House in your post so that we can see your blue!  For more information about the Blue Campaign visit: https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign#

Raising heightened awareness is key to ending the cycle of Human Trafficking, and the safety of the public as well as the victim is paramount. Do not attempt to confront a suspected trafficker directly or alert a victim to any suspicions. It is up to law enforcement to investigate suspected cases of human trafficking. To report suspected human trafficking, please contact local law enforcement or call the toll-free (24/7) National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-3737-888.