Is not free to leave or come at will. Is unpaid, paid very little, or only through tips. Works excessively long or unusual hours. Under 18 and providing commercial sex acts. These are some of the signs of human trafficking.
On National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. addressed human trafficking and sexual assault, posting on Twitter their I-S.H.I.E.L.D. (Iota’s Saving, Healing, Improving, Empowering, Lives, Daily) initiative, supporting President Barack Obama’s 2011 Presidential Proclamation to end the evil of human trafficking. The historically black fraternity’s 5 Point program also aims to address issues of domestic violence, elder abuse and bullying.
From Iota Phi Theta:
National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is observed every year on January 11th. This observance was started in 2011 by the Presidential Proclamation of National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
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In 2011 President Barack Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation, designating each January to be National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The anniversary of this proclamation became known as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
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Slavery was officially abolished in the USA by the Thirteenth Amendment in December 1865. Sadly, however, human trafficking is growing at an alarming rate. Despite the USA being a first world country, human trafficking has become a lucrative business for some members of our society.
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The victims affected and forced into modern-day slavery can be of foreign nationalities or the citizens of the USA, but they are all subjected to the horrific injustices of human trafficking-sex trafficking, forced labor, involuntary servitude, forced marriage and debt bondage.
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Many anti-trafficking organizations arrange awareness-raising campaigns year-round, but January is when this awareness day is recognized and publicity is at its peak. It is important to know the signs of human trafficking and who you can contact should you have suspicions. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline, a resource that anyone can call to submit a tip about potential incidents of trafficking, received 28,335 calls and had 10,949 cases of trafficking reported in 2018 alone, with figures increasing every year. Help raise awareness and potentially save people’s lives by educating yourself more about the despicable act of human trafficking and what you can do if you suspect anyone of being a victim or organizer of this terrifying act.
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I-SHIELD (Iota’s Saving, Healing, Improving, Empowering, Lives, Daily) is a 5 Point program within Iota Phi Theta that not only addresses sexual assault and human trafficking but also issues of domestic violence, elder abuse, and bullying. These are issues deemed significantly important for not only the African American and Hispanic community but more importantly the world. This forum is to give members of the community an opportunity to discuss these issues and provide resources from experts in the areas of human trafficking, sexual assault/abuse, domestic abuse, elder abuse and child abuse in the communities we serve.
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As an organization, we have an opportunity and obligation to deal with what continues to be a national crisis of confidence and conflict in the communities we serve! We believe the I-SHIELD Initiative serves parts of that ambition.
This process is designed to facilitate systemic changes in the communities we serve. We recognize there are galaxies of issues that need to be addressed, and we believe this is one way Iota can meaningfully impact our communities. For more information please contact Victor Peoples, I-SHIELD Coordinator at ishield@iotaphitheta.org
Iota Phi Theta was founded in 1963 during an era of radical change. Today, the historically black fraternity is the fifth-largest predominantly black social service fraternity and headquarters in Maryland.
