The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation observed World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on Tuesday.
Human trafficking is the exploitation of men, women, and children for labor or sex using force, fraud or coercion. Although trafficking victims may interact regularly with the public, language barriers, emotional manipulation and intensive monitoring can make it difficult for them to reach out for help.
Each year, millions of people across the globe participate in activities designed to draw attention to the issue of human trafficking. This year’s event, Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking, calls for accelerated action by governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and others to end child trafficking.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, children across the world are increasingly vulnerable to trafficking, and the exploding growth of online platforms exploits children who are connecting to these sites without adequate safeguards or supervision.
Children are subjected to various forms of trafficking, including exploitation in forced labor, criminality or begging, trafficked for illegal adoption, recruitment into armed forces, and online exploitation and sexual abuse.
Although TDLR employees have not encountered any children who were suspected human trafficking victims in their inspections and investigations of illicit massage businesses or in industries regulated by the agency, the department recognizes that such an occurrence is possible.
To observe the World Day Against Trafficking, TDLR employees will have the opportunity to attend a training provided on global child trafficking issues and will participate in a social media campaign to raise awareness.
TLDR has provided a variety of training sessions to employees and law enforcement officers and NGOs: Child sex trafficking awareness training Cultural competency training to provide understanding of the challenges that potential trafficking victims may face in self-identifying as a trafficking victim and getting help Targeted investigative training, including services that may be available for foreign trafficking victims Anyone interested in receiving training from TDLR staff in any area of human trafficking identification or awareness, should submit a request to the TDLR Anti-Trafficking Team.
To report suspected human trafficking, contact the National Hotline for Human Trafficking at 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733).
If the situation is an emergency or believe someone is in immediate danger, call 911 and alert law enforcement authorities.
Individuals should also file a complaint on a TDLR-licensed business that is suspect and may be participating in human trafficking.