Human Trafficking

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DHS Partners With TravelCenters Of America To Combat Human Trafficking

By: Amanda Vicinanzo, Senior Editor

12/15/2014 ( 1:31pm)

In an effort to combat human trafficking—a modern-day form of slavery involving the illegal trade of people for exploitation or commercial gain—the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a new partnership between the DHS Blue Campaign and TravelCenters of America.

DHS’s Blue Campaign leverages partnerships with law enforcement, government agencies, and private organizations to increase detection and investigation of human trafficking, and to protect victims by bringing suspected traffickers to justice. The partnership with TravelCenters of America, the largest "full service" truck stop chain in North America, will eliminate instances of human trafficking that may occur along the interstate highway system.

“The Department is pleased to welcome TravelCenters of America as the DHS Blue Campaign’s newest partner in our work to fight human trafficking,” said Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas in a statement. “We continue to broaden our network of partners, working towards our common goal to identify and rescue victims of this heinous crime and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

DHS will use TravelCenters’ widespread network of 250 truck stops and 15,000 employees to identify and recognize indicators of human trafficking, as well as provide information on how to report suspected cases of human trafficking.

“Both of the groups we are working with recognized that our locations, just off highway exists nationwide, can be key vantage points from which to be on the lookout for and report suspicious activity,” said Tom O’Brien, president and CEO of TravelCenters.

Partnering with the Blue Campaign will allow the truck driver community and TravelCenters employees to have access to resources that the DHS provides for combating human trafficking. In June 2013, the DHS Blue Campaign unveiled new public awareness resources—including posters, tip sheets and public service announcements—to educate the public about trafficking.

DHS said TravelCenters of America is a critical partner in the fight against human trafficking because of its relationship with the trucking industry. Truck drivers trained to recognize indicators of human trafficking can become the eyes and ears of DHS’ Blue Campaign all around the country.

“Groups whose principal concern is putting an end to human trafficking in the US are becoming increasingly aware of the advantages of working with the key infrastructure elements like airports and travel centers to get their important message out,” said O’Brien.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act defines a human trafficking victim as “a person induced to perform labor or a commercial sex act through force, fraud, or coercion.” DHS estimates that human trafficking generates $32 billion dollars of profit per year, second only to drug trafficking as the most profitable form of transnational crime.

President Barack Obama proclaimed December 10 as Human Rights Day and the week beginning December 10 as Human Rights Week in recognition of the anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948.

“Today, during Human Rights Week, we recommit ourselves to ending this form of modern slavery,” said Mayorkas.

Source: http://www.hstoday.us/single-article/dhs-partners-with-travelcenters-of-america-to-combat-human-trafficking/019626fdea914499948eb6079386ba23.html