Wear Blue for Human Trafficking Awareness January 11, 2024

Human trafficking affects millions across the globe. January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month (HTPM) and a time for everyone to come together to raise awareness of and help combat this heinous crime. The Interstate-95 corridor is an easily accessible thoroughfare for human traffickers. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) suggests that approximately 70 percent of human trafficking incidents occur in our Nation’s truck stops. Take steps to know what to do if you observe something of concern AND how to keep Maryland students from becoming victims. Under Maryland law, human trafficking is considered child abuse and must be reported. Maryland educators, police officers, and human service workers are mandatory reporters.

January 11 marks National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, also known as #WearBlueDay. On this day, Blue Campaign invites you to wear blue, the international color of human trafficking awareness, to state your commitment to help save lives. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has published the “How to Talk to Youth About Human Trafficking” guide as an easy reference tool for educators and coaches to use, in addition to a “Human Trafficking Response Guide” for School Resource Officers.

Other helpful resources from DHS include the “What is Human Trafficking?” infographic, the “What is Human Trafficking?” video, and available for download in 39 languages an “indicator card” that defines the difference between smuggling and trafficking, common indicators of human trafficking, and ways to report.