Human trafficking thrives in times of crisis and uncertainty, when the needs of the most vulnerable among us are often overlooked. Congress recently passed the $2 trillion coronavirus relief legislation, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), H.R. 748. Lawmakers are already at work on a fourth major legislative package (“Phase Four”) to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. The CARES Act provided significant new resources for education, early care, housing, nutrition, and services; however, it fell short in some significant ways. Due to underlying vulnerabilities, those most at risk of, and victim to, human trafficking and labor exploitation will experience disproportionate impacts as a result of COVID-19 in the short, medium, and long-term. As a result, the current funds allocated for human trafficking services and prevention are insufficient to protect the marginalized from sexual abuse and severe labor exploitation. Low-wage workers, including documented and undocumented immigrants; runaway and homeless youth; those fleeing domestic violence. and sexual assault; and previously identified victims of human trafficking who need ongoing support and access to additional resources are being left behind. Notably, the legislation to date has failed to provide support to immigrant workers, including undocumented workers, many of whom are providing essential services but are at greater risk for forced labor and other forms of human trafficking during this pandemic.

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Children’s experiences of online sexual exploitation and abuse in 12 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa and Southeast Asia
Guidance

For more than two decades, we have used the internet to connect with family and friends worldwide. Internet usage was already increasing year-over-year, and the tools we use to connect have been rapidly evolving – but then we were hit by...Read More

Getting to Good Human Trafficking Data: Everyday Guidelines for Frontline Practitioners in Southeast Asia
Guidance

By Jessie Brunner Executive Summary These practical guidelines aim to be a resource to support that effort to combat human trafficking, motivated by the passionate belief that good data are essential to achieving our shared goal. There are many yet...Read More

TAGS: Asia
Ripped at the Seams: RMG Sector Workers during a Global Pandemic
COVID-19 resources

This policy brief presents findings from a rapid assessment conducted to assess the multi-faceted impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on RMG sector workers in India and Bangladesh. The research has an emphasis on the increased risk of forced labor amon...Read More

Lessons from the Survivor Inclusion Initiative (SII) in the UK, US, and Canada
GuidanceGood PracticesPublications

To find out more about how the SII has been experienced, the Expert Review gathered information from two surveys and 10 interviews with key stakeholders. There were 14 SSO (all US-based) and 10 FI survey respondents (seven US, two Canada, and on...Read More