We’re unleashing a new series on the North Star Blog: Tip Tuesday. Each Tuesday for the next few months, we will write about different types of human trafficking in the United States. We hope that you’ll tune in to learn the signs of these types of trafficking. [Read more →]

February 14, 2002.  Nine years ago, today, a single sheet of paper filed with the Rhode Island State House gave birth to Polaris Project – an idea that ordinary community members need to come together to fight slavery once again.  While our work helps to bring freedom to anyone in any situation of human trafficking, we made a purposeful decision to make “VDay our BDay” to recognize our part in a broader movement to stop violence against women and girls. [Read more →]

This Thanksgiving I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for all that our advocates have done this year to support Polaris Project.  Many of you increased awareness about the issue of human trafficking, contacted your legislators to further an important policy initiative, signed a petition to increase resources for survivors, advertised the national human trafficking hotline number, and even made a personal donation to support our work.

Polaris Project was founded in the spirit of community members, just like our advocates, working together to build a movement to fight human trafficking and modern-day slavery.  I am grateful that we’ve been able to work together to make a huge impact within the anti-trafficking movement this year. [Read more →]

Click below to watch a clip from the Pennsylvania Lobby Day to end human trafficking!

Last week, I headed up the I-95 corridor to my hometown just outside of Philadelphia. One reason for my trip was to attend an annual fundraising gala organized by Lower Merion High School student group, S.U.A.V.E (Students United Against Violence Everywhere) who selected Polaris Project as this year’s beneficiary. The timing of this event was perfect because it corresponded with key legislative action in Pennsylvania: the passage of the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline bill and the resolution to establish a human trafficking advisory committee. [Read more →]

Click on the video above to preview the lobby day.

Human trafficking is prevalent in Maryland- easy access to the I-95 corridor, close proximity to the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, and several nearby international airports-create ideal conditions for the occurrence of human trafficking.   With the 2010 Maryland State Legislative session in high gear several bills are now under consideration to address this brutal crime.

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Today is Human Trafficking Awareness day in the United States.  Through a resolution passed by the US Senate last year, January 11 is dedicated to raising awareness of and opposition to human trafficking.  Indeed, elevating public consciousness of modern day slavery – not just acknowledging its existence, but deepening the understanding of its grim realities – is the one of Polaris Project’s key principles. [Read more →]

This week I authored a blog “Private Sector Leverages Comparative Advantage to Fight Slavery” for the Hudson Institute. Please see below for an excerpt: [Read more →]

In a blog several days ago, I highlighted how in some acute cases of mistreatment of domestic servants, diplomats are complicit in human trafficking.  Their diplomatic immunity has become diplomatic impunity.  Yet, diplomats are by no means the only enslavers of domestic servants in America. [Read more →]

The anti-human trafficking movement has been calling attention to how businesses can stop being enablers of the slavery of our time.  Polaris Project has shown recently this is not just true for labor trafficking and supply chains, but in the sex trade.  We’ve challenged craigslist to eliminate the Erotic Services section with ads of women and children for sale; and The Washington Post to drop ads for massage parlors, some of which have been shut down for sex trafficking.  The leaders of each have agreed to meetings with Polaris Project in the near future. [Read more →]