Human Trafficking Awareness Month

For the last 20 years, ZOE International has been in the fight to end child trafficking by Reaching Every Person with God’s love and Rescuing Every Child from human trafficking. The slavery of our times, the unthinkable reality of sex and labor trafficking impacts thousands of children from as young as infancy and older across the world daily.

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. We’ve created an interactive calendar for you to download. Each day will guide you with practical resources and action steps to feel empowered and make an impact in the fight to end child trafficking.

ZOE is the Greek word for Life. John 10:10 says, “I have come that they may have life, and life abundantly.” He has come so that they may have ZOE. 

What is Human Trafficking?

Human Trafficking is a crime that involves exploiting a person for labor, services, or commercial sex. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and its subsequent reauthorizations define human trafficking as:

a) Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age.

b) The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. (22 U.S.C. § 7102(9)).

Learn more about Human Trafficking.

Know the Signs of Human Trafficking

Victims May:

• Be branded with words like ‘daddy’ or ‘cash’
• Show sudden changes in dress or behavior, overtired, withdrawn, depressed or distracted.
• Suddenly have possessions they usually cannot afford.
• Have unusually long work hours.
• Have a new boyfriend or girlfriend that is noticeably older.
• Have difficulty making eye contact with men.
• Have untreated medical problems.
• Miss school frequently, make frequent trips, and run away often.
• Not be able to speak independently, other people may insist on talking for them.
• Seem controlled by other people; some are not free to come and go where they choose.
• Be frightened by authorities, seeing them as “bad guys.”

Chatri’s Story

Chatri’s story communicates the desperation so many children feel around the world. *Viewer Discretion Advised

Pray for the Rescue of Children

Prayer is a powerful way we can fight against human trafficking. Please pray for God’s leading to find children who are waiting to be rescued.

View the ZOE Prayer Guide, click here.

National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1 (888) 373-7888

When you see something, Say Something! Add the National Human Trafficking Hotline number to your phone. When you suspect trafficking, call the hotline. Nothing is too little to report.

National Human Trafficking Hotline Call: 1 (888) 373-7888 SMS: 233733 (Text “HELP” or “INFO”) Hours: 24 hours, 7 days a week

US State Department 2022 Trafficking in Persons Report

Human trafficking is believed to be the world’s fastest-growing criminal enterprise and is an estimated $150 billion-a-year global industry. People who are trafficked are used for various reasons, including forced sexual exploitation and forced labor. (i.e., domestic work, construction, agriculture, etc.)

View this annual report issued by the U.S. State Department’s Office used to monitor and combat trafficking in persons.

Nuan’s Story

Nuan’s story shares the realities of how financial desperation can lead to the trafficking of children. *Viewer Discretion Advised

Learn About Global Trafficking

Human Trafficking is a global issue but it is also happening in the United States.
Roughly 40.3 people are trapped in trafficking today.
1 in 4 of these victims are children.

To learn more about Human Trafficking, click here.

Child Marriages are Now Considered a form of Trafficking

In a new report by the International Labour Organization, 49.6 million people are estimated to be living in slavery around the world, 27.6 million in labor or sex trafficking and 22 million in forced marriages. An estimated 12% of victims of labor or sex trafficking are children. ZOE will not stop until we end child trafficking!

To learn more about Human Trafficking, click here.

Human Trafficking Awareness Day! Wear Blue and Represent the Cause.

January 11th is the National Day of Human Trafficking Awareness. The color blue is internationally recognized as the color to represent human trafficking prevention. Wear Blue today and share with your friends and family why you have joined the fight in ending child trafficking.

Pray as We Partner with Law Enforcement and Government Entities

Prayer is a powerful way we can fight against human trafficking. Please pray for unity as we partner with and assist government entities, law enforcement, and other organizations, to fight against child trafficking.

Download this ZOE Prayer Guide.

Write a Letter to Government Representatives

There is a growing national, state, and local movement to decriminalize prostitution, including no penalties for those who buy and sell sex. While ZOE supports not criminalizing victims of trafficking and exploitation, we stand firm that those who are selling and buying sex must be held accountable with prosecution and penalties. This growing movement toward full decriminalization of prostitution also includes efforts to remove tools for law enforcement to intervene in suspected trafficking of adult and child victims.

Contact your local and state public officials urging them to uphold prosecution and penalties for buying and selling sex and maintaining tools for law enforcement to investigate suspected trafficking in prostitution.

Using your voice is an important part of the fight against child trafficking. Be a voice for the voiceless!

Understand the Tactics of Online Predators

Watch this video to learn about the tactics used by online predators. *Viewer Discretion Advised

States with the Highest Numbers of Trafficking

The states with the highest numbers of trafficking are 1. California 2. Texas 3. Florida. Looking for more information about your state? Check out this Human Trafficking Map of the United States.

Stay Informed as a Parent

Be intentional about having intentional conversations with the children and teens in your life about the online platforms they are using. It is important to stay informed as parents about the tactics traffickers use. Check out these resources to identify areas of potential digital risk in your home.

Protect Young Eyes – Home Internet Security Quiz

Internet Safety Guide

Talk with the Children and Teens in Your Life

Children and teens need safe people to talk to when they are in a situation or relationship that could risk their safety. Many children and adolescents do not have the discernment to walk away from bad situations they are in, or it becomes hard for them to receive feedback about disconnecting from a dangerous situation. This can cause a child to be secretive about bad situations they are in, giving more power to predators, and those who could harm them.

Therefore, it’s incredibly important to be a safe person for young people by showing empathy and asking questions that gather information without making the child feel judged. They need a safe person they can problem solve and process with to help them make healthy decisions.

Before giving your child a cell phone, begin on a solid footing of trust and accountabiloity with this valuable cell phone contract.

Cell Phone Contract 

Start a Club at Your School to Fight Against Human Trafficking

ZOE’s My Gen My Fight Program mobilizes this current generation of students and the community to raise awareness about and prevent human trafficking through events and clubs on school campuses across America. ZOE provides resources, training, and consultation for those who want to actively get involved in helping ZOE to end child trafficking.

Learn more at My Gen My Fight.

Pray for Complete Healing and Restoration for Those Youth in our Care

Prayer is a powerful way we can fight against human trafficking. Please pray for complete healing and restoration for those God has placed in our care.

Download this ZOE Prayer Guide.

Download the ECHO Prayer app and follow ZOE International.

Check out These Important Resources

Staying informed is an important step to prevention and spotting human trafficking. Take a look at some videos and resources with more information on human trafficking.

ZOE Resources 

Polaris Project

Trafficking in Los Angeles

Learn the Tactics of Traffickers in Los Angeles County

Children Can Make an Impact

ZOE’s Kids Helping Kids program was designed to help teach children the importance of being generous. No matter how young they are, they can make a difference in the lives of children around the world!

ZOE’s Kids Helping Kids Program

If You See Something, Say Something 

Education about human trafficking empowers us to prevent trafficking by protecting ourselves, those we love, and the communities we live in. If you see something, say something.

The following news articles serve as real-life examples of how community members saw something out of the ordinary and called the police.

• Riverside murders: VA man accused of catfishing teen daughter of 1 of victims before killing family – News Article
• 17-year-old escapes human trafficker at the Shops at Legacy – *Discretion Advised – News Article

Trafficking is A Business

Business of Human Trafficking

• Trafficking is a $150 Billion industry.
• Human trafficking is the 2nd most profitable criminal enterprise, after drug trafficking.
• 10-30 buyers per night per trafficked person.
• One person can bring in $500 – $1,500 per night.
• Low risk.
• Protection of gangs.

Pray for Protection and Strength

Prayer is a powerful way we can fight against human trafficking.
Please pray for protection and Strength for our staff, children and the entire ZOE family. 

View the ZOE Prayer Guide, click here.

FAQ About ZOE

Watch a video playlist about frequently asked questions about ZOE’s work to address the issue of child trafficking.

FAQ Video Playlist

ZOE is in the Fight to End Child Trafficking

Through the practices of prevention, rescue, and restoration ZOE is in the Fight to End Child Trafficking. The biggest and most important weapon in this fight is the power of prayer. Download our Devotional Prayer Guide and Download the Echo Prayer App (search ZOE International) to fight human trafficking on the spiritual battlefront.

Download the ZOE Prayer Guide.

ZOE is on Mission

ZOE is preventing children from Human Trafficking and Exploitation by:

• Educating every sector of society about human trafficking.
• Identifying vulnerable children and communities.
• Equipping advocates to protect children and communities.
• Praying, collaborating, and developing long-term solutions to end child trafficking.

Learn more about ZOE’s prevention efforts here.

ZOE is on Mission

ZOE rescues child victims of human trafficking and exploitation by:

• Identifying victims of human trafficking and orphans in danger.
• Collaborating and assisting in rescue alongside government and law enforcement.
• Protecting children that have been rescued.
• Assisting children with the prosecution process.

To Learn more about ZOE’s work in Prevention, click here 

ZOE is on Mission

ZOE helps to restore the lives of child trafficking survivors by:

• Creating safe and loving homes for survivors.
• Offering innovative, holistic restoration – spirit, soul and body.
• Providing education vocational, and transitional programs into adulthood.
  

To Learn more about ZOE’s work in Restoration, click here.

The Fight Isn’t Over!

Though Human Trafficking Awareness month is coming to a close, it doesn’t mean this fight is over. Stay involved, be aware and be a voice for the voiceless in the fight to end child trafficking.

Visit gozoe.org/social and follow our social media to stay updated and re-share our posts with others. Consider partnering with us in our efforts to serve the most vulnerable by donating to ZOE International.