The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has announced new bilingual counter-trafficking materials in observance of the UN World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. The announcement is part of ongoing efforts to ensure that public awareness and outreach materials for the transportation sector are trauma-informed, survivor-centered, and culturally responsive.

“Everyone — whether you’re a frontline transportation worker or a member of the general public—has a role to play in detecting and preventing human trafficking,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “As we recognize UN World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, we have an opportunity to further educate the traveling public on how to recognize and report suspected human trafficking and combat these sinister crimes.”

Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain labor or commercial sex acts. According to the 2021 National Outreach Survey on Transportation, 81% of 107 survivors used transportation during their recruitment, 76% during their exploitation, and 52% stated that transportation facilitated their exit or escape from trafficking situations.

USDOT administers an annual $50,000 Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation Impact Awards to promote innovative solutions within the sector. Secretary Buttigieg announced the winners for 2024:

- First Place: TAT (formerly Truckers Against Trafficking) for their “Youth on Transportation Initiative” proposal.

- Second Place: Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority for their “Project S.O.A.R.” proposal.

- Third Place: The Oklahoma Transit Association for expanding their “Rolling Oklahoma Classroom” initiative.

Since 2012, USDOT has partnered with various stakeholders through its Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking (TLAHT) initiative. Today’s launch includes:

- NEW TLAHT Awareness Campaign materials including Spanish language versions.

- UPDATED TLAHT Compendium of Human Trafficking Awareness State and Territory Laws.

- An expanded Blue Lightning Initiative (BLI) video addressing misconceptions about reporting human trafficking suspicions.

Additionally, USDOT’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is holding a press conference today to highlight its efforts along with roadway safety partners under the #PutTheBrakesOnHumanTrafficking campaign.

On July 31, USDOT will co-host a webinar with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services focusing on best practices for trauma-informed and culturally responsive public awareness efforts in the transportation sector.

Recommendations from industry representatives and experts on the Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking (ACHT) will continue to guide USDOT's counter-trafficking initiatives. Final ACHT public meetings are scheduled virtually for August 14 and September 6.

For more information on USDOT's counter-trafficking efforts, visit https://www.transportation.gov/stophumantrafficking.