DHS plans to publish strategy on combatting human trafficking

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will publish a report in 180 days that includes timelines, specific deliverables, and metrics for measuring results to fight human trafficking.

The report, called Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, the Importation of Goods Produced with Forced Labor, and Child Sexual Exploitation, will outline priorities for the next five years. These include investigating and prosecuting perpetrators, protecting victims, preventing exploitative crimes, partnering with the homeland security enterprise, and enabling DHS to combat these illicit activities.

“This strategy is a framework to communicate the Department’s priorities, ensure resources are allocated, and to monitor progress so that we can save more lives and bring criminals to justice,” Chad Wolf, acting secretary of Homeland Securit,y said.

To develop their strategy, DHS assesses its initiatives and leveraged its authorities and resources comprehensively and cohesively to fight human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, and the importation of goods produced with forced labor.

The U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline reported 10,949 cases of human trafficking in 2018. The hotline was contacted 41,088 times.

That same year, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline received more than 18.4 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation and abuse.

The number of cases reported to these organizations increases annually.