Human trafficking is an urgent humanitarian issue, and TSA is tackling the problem head-on by collaborating with DHS and stakeholders.
In January, DHS released a strategy to combat human trafficking, and TSA Acting Deputy Administrator Patricia Cogswell moderated a panel discussion on the issue at TSA headquarters to bring more awareness to the issue.
Defined as the use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of goods or services, such as forced labor or commercial sex, human trafficking is a global epidemic. Every year, millions of men, women and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the U.S.
The U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline reported 10,949 cases of human trafficking in 2018 and received over 41,000 phone calls. These numbers continue to grow each year.
In keeping with the White House National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking, which will be released later this year, Cogswell said, “The DHS Strategy is modeled after the four Ps – prevention, protection, prosecution and partnerships.” Read more.