Staff wore blue shirts and other blue apparel on Jan. 11 to show support for the DHS Blue Campaign against human trafficking
National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is recognized annually in the United States on January 11 to raise awareness among Americans that human trafficking does not just happen in other countries, but in states and communities across the United States.
The Houston Airport System and its airline partners teamed up with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security in wearing blue to raise awareness on National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
Staff at both George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport wore blue shirts and other blue apparel on Jan. 11 to show support for the DHS Blue Campaign against human trafficking.
DHS estimates that human trafficking is a $32 billion per year industry, second only to drug trafficking as the most profitable form of transnational crime.
The Blue Campaign is the unified voice for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s efforts to combat human trafficking. Working in collaboration with law enforcement, government, non-governmental and private organizations, the Blue Campaign strives to protect the basic right of freedom and to bring those who exploit human lives to justice.
Through the Blue Campaign, DHS raises public awareness about human trafficking, leveraging partnerships to educate the public to recognize human trafficking and report suspected instances. The Blue Campaign also offers training to law enforcement, airline and airport staff and others to increase detection and investigation of human trafficking, and to protect victims and bring suspected traffickers to justice.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Houston AViation Director Mario Diaz signed a memorandum of understanding Oct. 8, with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Transportation, forging a public outreach campaign to combat human trafficking through a program called Blue Lightning Initiative.
To view all available Blue Campaign resources, please the DHS resources page at this link.
To report suspected human trafficking to Federal law enforcement:
To get help from the National Human Trafficking Hotline:
1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733).