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Polaris is a leader in the global fight to eradicate modern slavery. Named after the North Star that guided slaves to freedom in the U.S., Polaris systemically disrupts the human trafficking networks that rob human beings of their lives and their freedom. Polaris’ comprehensive model puts victims at the center of what they do – helping survivors restore their freedom, preventing more victims and leveraging data and technology to pursue traffickers wherever they operate.

The United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking (UN.GIFT) formed as a global alliance for policy, knowledge, international cooperation and awareness on human trafficking. UN.GIFT aims to mobilize state and non-state actors to eradicate human trafficking by: reducing both the vulnerability of potential victims and the demand for exploitation in all its forms; ensuring adequate protection and support to those who fall victim; and supporting the prosecution of criminals involved, while respecting the fundamental human rights of all persons. In carrying out its mission UN.GIFT aims to: increase knowledge on human trafficking; increase awareness on human trafficking; foster partnerships for joint action against human trafficking; and build capacity of state and non-state actors through effective rights-based responses.

Operating within the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigates more than 400 violations of criminal law, ranging from child exploitation to transnational gangs. Human trafficking is one of the most heinous crimes that ICE investigates. Victims pay to be illegally transported into the United States only to find themselves in the thrall of traffickers. They are forced into prostitution, involuntary labor and other forms of servitude to repay debts – often incurred during entry into the United States. In certain cases, the victims are mere children. They find themselves surrounded by an unfamiliar culture and language without identification documents, fearing for their lives and the lives of their families. ICE relies on tips from the public to dismantle these organizations. ICE encourages you to keep your eyes and ears open to suspicious activity. Trafficking victims are often hidden in plain sight, voiceless and scared.

The Blue Campaign is the unified voice for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) efforts to combat human trafficking. Working in collaboration with law enforcement, government, non-governmental and private organizations, the Blue Campaign strives to protect the basic right of freedom and to bring those who exploit human lives to justice. The Blue Campaign seeks to raise public awareness about human trafficking. It leverages partnerships to educate the public to recognize human trafficking and report suspected instances. The Blue Campaign also offers training to law enforcement and others to increase detection and investigation of human trafficking, and to protect victims and bring suspected traffickers to justice.

DHS is responsible for investigating human trafficking, arresting traffickers, and protecting victims. DHS also provides immigration relief to non-U.S. citizen victims of human trafficking. DHS utilizes a victim-centered approach to combat human trafficking, which places equal value on identifying and stabilizing victims and on investigating and prosecuting traffickers. Victims are crucial to investigations and prosecutions; each case and every conviction changes lives. DHS understands how difficult it can be for victims to come forward and work with law enforcement due to their trauma. DHS is committed to helping victims feel stable, safe and secure.

Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) paves the way for permanent eradication of child sex trafficking through coordinated rescue and recovery planning. O.U.R. has gathered the world’s experts in extraction operations and in anti-child trafficking efforts to bring an end to child slavery. O.U.R.’s Underground Jump Team consists of former CIA, Navy SEALs and Special Ops operatives that lead coordinated identification and extraction efforts. These operations are always in conjunction with law enforcement throughout the world. Once victims are rescued, a comprehensive process involving justice for the perpetrators and recovery and rehabilitation for the survivors begins.

A21 exists to abolish injustice in the 21st century through a comprehensive system achieving preventative measures to help potential victims evade trafficking, victim protection through shelters and aftercare programs, prosecution of violators and strategic partnerships. They are a non-profit organization who believes an end to human trafficking can be achieved through prevention, protection, prosecution and partnership.

Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) is a 501(c)3 that exists to educate, equip, empower and mobilize members of the trucking and travel plaza industry to combat domestic sex trafficking. They aim to saturate trucking and related industries with TAT materials, partner with law enforcement and government agencies to facilitate the investigation of human trafficking and marshal the resources of their partners to combat this crime.

Shared Hope International’s early efforts targeted the international sex trafficking industry. As they became established leaders in the international movement to end slavery, their eyes were opened to the scourge of sex trafficking in the U.S. They expanded their impact to bring hope to American women and children victimized in the commercial sex industry. Today, they lead prevention strategies, restoration programs and justice initiatives to combat trafficking in the U.S. and abroad. Shared Hope International’s vision is to coordinate a national U.S. network of protection to improve the response to victims of trafficking. They believe they can create a world where every survivor is surrounded by trained professionals, an alert community, just law and policy, knowledgeable service providers and appropriate shelter options.

AFRJ believes the answer, and the greatest challenge, to eradicating the evil of trafficking – in the life of one individual, in a single community, or throughout an entire nation – is collaborative, strategic partnership engagement. They developed an approach to mobilize every sector of society and engage all who are presently working to combat human trafficking together in a comprehensive and collaborative strategy. AFRJ strives to create an exponential impact through this plan by supporting, developing and mobilizing a global collaborative network to engage together on behalf of those in need.

Hope for Justice is committed to creating a collaborative community of abolitionists determined to end slavery in their lifetime. In the USA, Hope for Justice focuses on a partnership working to deliver prevention sessions, best practices for restorative care and training for professionals. They are developing a model of investigation and rescue that complements the work of law enforcement and other agencies and supports the prosecution of perpetrators. Hope for Justice has a Professional Providers Network (PPN) to help connect service providers with educational resources, tools to help increase quality of care, opportunities to increase visibility, improve services and connect with other professionals in the field. While the primary purpose of the network is to connect people to people and encourage ongoing education, the network also serves as a referral mechanism when open sites need additional placement options for victims they are serving or recommendations on available services.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) was founded in 1919, in the wake of a destructive war, to pursue a vision based on the premise that universal, lasting peace can be established only if it is based on social justice. The ILO became the first specialized agency of the UN in 1946. The main aims of the ILO are to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen dialogue on work-related issues.

International Justice Mission (IJM) is a global organization that protects the poor from violence throughout the developing world. IJM partners with local authorities to rescue victims of violence, bring criminals to justice, restore survivors and strengthen justice systems. They combat slavery, sex trafficking, property grabbing, police abuse of power and sexual violence in nearly 20 communities throughout Africa, Latin America and South and Southeast Asia. Their vision is to rescue thousands, protect millions and prove that justice for the poor is possible.

The Thorn organization is a group of digital defenders of children. Its aim is to disrupt and deflate the predatory behavior of those who abuse and traffic children, solicit sex with children or create and share child pornography. Thorn partners with nonprofits and academic institutions to gather new insights into the role technology plays in child sex trafficking, the creation and proliferation of child pornography and the normalization of child sexual exploitation. Thorn creates and supports tech initiatives that disrupt predatory behavior and works to make the internet a more hostile environment for those who seek to exploit children, recruiting the brightest minds in technology to solve specific problems.

The Exchange Initiative empowers people and organizations with resources, knowledge and networks to help fight sex trafficking. Their mission is to promote global awareness of sex trafficking while sparking real action at the local level. TraffickCam, a phone app created by Exchange Initiative, allows anyone with a smartphone to fight sex trafficking when they travel by uploading photos of hotel rooms to a law enforcement database.

Find, Restore, Embrace and Empower (FREE) International is a 501c3 nonprofit working to abolish sex and labor trafficking, primarily in the U.S., with innovative collaborations through public and private partnerships. They pledge to work until everyone is free.

NightLight is an international organization that builds support networks to intervene and assist women, men and children whose lives are negatively impacted by the sex industry. They foster relationships with those seeking freedom from commercial sexual exploitation and those who are at risk by providing hope, intervention, rescue and assistance through alternative vocational opportunities, life-skills training and physical, emotional and spiritual development.

UNICEF works to improve the policies and services that protect all children. They aim to make the world a safe and inclusive place for children to grow and are committed to protecting children from the immediate and long-term effects of natural disasters and armed conflicts, which expose children to heightened risks of violence, abuse and exploitation.

Rescue: Freedom International is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) that works to rescue victims of human trafficking, provide holistic aftercare services and prevent the growing travesty of exploitation. Created to empower local efforts with international support and expertise, we support a growing network of service providers in eight countries who are familiar with and sensitive to the culture and community within which victims live. By mobilizing resources, knowledge and funding, we work together to restore lives broken by sexual slavery through programs such as night shelters, safe houses, medical clinics and vocational training.

The Global Center for Women & Justice (GCWJ) at Vanguard University is a faith-based organization that creates an environment for education, advocacy and collaboration. GCWJ prepares young women and men to understand the impact of gender issues. They are a voice for those with no voice, breaking through walls of oppression and fear, attacking ignorance and apathy. GCWJ offers online anti-human trafficking professional courses with the opportunity to achieve certification.

ECPAT-USA (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) seeks to protect every child’s basic human right to grow up free from the threat of sexual exploitation and trafficking. ECPAT advocates for federal and state legislation that prevents exploitation and protects children, promotes corporate responsibility, educates first responders and ordinary citizens about this issue and empowers youth to take the lead against human trafficking. ECPAT-USA belongs to an international network of organization in 80 countries, all working to end the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

The mission of the Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) program is to provide a rapid, proactive and comprehensive capacity to counter all threats of abuse and exploitation of children when those crimes fall under the jurisdiction and authority of the FBI. This program helps identify and rescue child victims, reduce the vulnerability of children to in-person and online sexual exploitation and abuse and more. The FBI offers training, intelligence sharing, technical support and investigative assistance to local, national and international partners through VCAC.

Project Rescue, a faith-based organization working in the global community, exists to rescue and restore victims of sexual slavery. They accomplish this mission through holistic programs of physical, emotional and spiritual intervention, prevention and restoration for women and children. Project Rescue works to end sexual exploitation in India, Nepal, Moldova, Tajikistan, Bangladesh, Spain and France.