In honor of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the U.S. Department of Transportation takes a decisive stance, appointing a committee, awarding innovative initiative and launching training to combat human trafficking within the transportation sector.

"Transportation workers and the traveling public have a key role to play in the fight against human trafficking - which is why it’s so important for everyone to recognize the signs and be prepared to report it," U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a news release.

The DOT announced the appointment of 15 members to the DOT Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking, a diverse group of representatives from various industries and advocacy organizations tasked with formulating comprehensive recommendations to tackle this global crisis within transportation, according to the release.

Buttigieg used the release to emphasize the crucial role transportation workers and the traveling public play in the fight against human trafficking.

"Transportation workers and the traveling public have a key role to play in the fight against human trafficking - which is why it’s so important for everyone to recognize the signs and be prepared to report it," he continued in the release.

Highlighting innovative efforts to combat human trafficking, the DOT recognized the winners of the 2023 Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation Impact Award. According to the release, the top honor was awarded jointly to Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking and the American Association of Port Authorities for their groundbreaking proposal of a nationwide, multilingual counter-trafficking public awareness campaign within the maritime industry.

Securing the second-place position was Houston Airports for their comprehensive approach, involving community awareness expansion and support to local advocacy groups in their fight against trafficking, the release reported.

The third-place accolade was presented to two faculty members from Bowling Green State University for their invaluable contribution to a counter-trafficking awareness toolkit targeting higher education institutions and transportation sites, the release said.

In addition to these awards, the Department unveiled its latest initiative, the Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking training program. According to the release, the TLAHT training program focuses on equipping transportation employees and members of the traveling public with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify and report human trafficking incidents. 

Numbers indicate nearly 600 industry stakeholders have already joined the initiative, taking the pledge to participate in this crucial endeavor and accessing online counter-trafficking resources, according to the release.