Spotlight: Polaris Project
The Polaris Project is a nonprofit organization that works to combat human trafficking and modern-day slavery.
They operate both domestically and internationally, and their efforts include preventing trafficking, protecting victims, and pursuing traffickers through a variety of means such as public awareness campaigns, policy advocacy, and direct services for victims.
The organization was founded in 2002, and is based in Washington, D.C. They are known for their National Human Trafficking Hotline which provides a 24-hour toll-free hotline for victims of human trafficking and the public to report tips and receive services.
Combat human trafficking and modern day slavery
The Polaris Project has accomplished a number of things in its efforts to combat human trafficking and modern-day slavery:
- Operating the National Human Trafficking Hotline, which has received over 500,000 calls and identified over 25,000 potential human trafficking cases since 2007.
- Developing and implementing the “BeFree” textline, which allows victims of human trafficking to reach out for help discreetly.
- Advocating for stronger state and federal laws to combat human trafficking, and assisting in the drafting and passage of several pieces of legislation.
- Providing direct services to victims of human trafficking through their U.S.-based trafficking shelters and community-based services.
- Creating and maintaining the Human Trafficking Knowledge Portal, an online resource center for anti-trafficking professionals and the general public.
Polaris Project has been recognized for their work on human trafficking and has received several awards and honors over the years, including the State Department’s Hero Acting to End Modern-Day Slavery award, and the Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Persons from the White House.
Donate to Polaris Project on Groundswell.
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