We believe human trafficking is the greatest injustice of our lifetime. It will take a collective effort to tackle this systemic issue, and it starts with everyday decisions and actions. Read below for 6 everyday steps you can take to help eradicate human trafficking.
1. Know the Indicators
It is important to understand the indicators associated with human trafficking to stop it. Knowing the signs enables each of us to recognize suspicious or dangerous activity. Learn the symptoms of human trafficking, like someone appearing malnourished, having no financial records or bank account, or showing a lack of knowledge of their whereabouts. 
Once you know the indicators you can play your part in stopping the activity. Polaris is an incredible resource and has taken steps to outline the signs for recognizing when someone is being trafficked, check out more at PolarisProject.org.
2. Report Suspicious Activity
Once you know the signs, report on them to the responsible authorities. To request help or report suspected human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. Or text HELP to: BeFree 
(233733). Once you have reported suspicious activity to responsible authorities they can take prompt action to stop instances of human trafficking.
3. Be a Conscious Consumer
Do you pay attention to how your food got to your plate and whether the clothes you are wearing were produced under safe working conditions? Every time you spend money you vote with your wallet, this means you can empower brands to change or champion virtuous supply chains with your own voting dollars. Organizations like Not My Style and Baptist World Aid Australia and their Behind the Barcode program help consumers navigate brands they can trust with ethical fashion guides.
4. Spread Awareness
Spread awareness about the indicators of human trafficking and safe consumerism to maximize the number of people who are working against human trafficking in your community. Bring this up when you are talking about your favorite brands, where you shop, and how you make buying decisions. Encourage your local schools to partner with students and include modern slavery in their courses. As a parent, brother, sister, or educator, be aware of how traffickers target school-aged children. The more we recognize how much power we have in our communities, the more we are able to combat trafficking together.
5. Stay Updated
Human trafficking is an especially sophisticated crime, set up web alerts to receive up to date human trafficking news. Keep yourself informed on current events and instances of human trafficking, it will help you pick up on indicators if something similar happens in your community and stay up to date on proactive initiatives across the country.
6. Provide Opportunities
Consider ways your community can provide jobs, internships, skills training, and other opportunities to trafficking survivors. You don’t necessarily need to own a business to help in the rehabilitation of survivors, but you can volunteer with organizations working to prevent human trafficking or provide mental and physical care or wraparound services. Organizations like Safe Horizon and Wellspring Living are providing services and skill training needed for survivors to move from living in crisis to finding stability and show a model for how communities can help.
About The Author
Rachel Stinson has always had a knack for writing, food, fashion, and places. Blogging has combined all four for her with an added bonus of enthusiastic audiences. She expertly analyzes real estates, restaurants and online fashion stores with respect to pricing and people involved and can express her opinions in an unhesitant, engaging manner for all matters.