10 Ways Ordinary Families Can Fight Child Trafficking

Human trafficking has been an issue that has been near and dear to my heart for many years. Over 1.2 million children are trafficked every single year, and this doesn’t take into account adults. You don’t have to be a part of a business or even have a ton of money to be able to fight against child trafficking. Here are 10 ways that ordinary families can fight child trafficking.

Talk with your children about trafficking

Have age appropriate conversations with your children about what trafficking is. It’s important that they understand that it’s not just about sexual abuse, but can also be when someone forces you to work against your will.

Make care packages

There are plenty of shelters out there who help victims in recovery. Making a care package with resource contact cards, handwritten notes, and pictures can be a huge blessing.

Look into apps that help fight human trafficking

Your smartphone can help fight human trafficking. There are four great apps that are free and can help educate and even report trafficking.

• Redlight Traffic
• The STOP APP
• Lifeboat ACT Game
• TraffickCam

Join a local action group

There are a ton of national, global, and even local groups that you can join to help fight against human trafficking. If you don’t have one in your area, consider starting one!

Test your trafficking footprint

Are you curious what your trafficking footprint is? The website Slavery Footprint can help you find out what goods and services you use that may be tied to human trafficking.

Evaluate your purchasing habits

By evaluating your purchasing habits, you can help make a difference! By changing where you shop, or by avoiding certain stores, you can help fight against human trafficking. You can find more information to help guide your purchasing habits here:

• How Your Buying Habits Can Help Stop Human Trafficking
• Brands to Buy From to Help Fight Against Human Trafficking
• 10 Fashion Brands with a Cause that You Need to Know About

Educate your family through books

Books are a great way to not only educate yourself but also your family about child trafficking. Here are some books I recommend:

• So Sexy So Soon
• I Said No
• The Right Touch
• Your Body Belongs to You

Avoid companies who sexualize youth

Through the media, young girls and boys are being sexualized at a younger age than ever before. Not only does this set a bad example for our children, but can send the wrong message! Avoid companies who sexualize youth in advertisements or in messages.

Use films to educate your community

There are a lot of great films out there that can not only help educate your family but your community as well. Encourage those you know to watch these films, or host a private viewing at your home. Films like these can start a conversation and get people to think before they buy! While some of these movies aren’t documentaries, they share important messages:

• Taken
• Redlight
• Trade
• Not for Sale
• Born Into Brothels: Calcutta’s Red Light Kids

Talk to your children

While this may be a difficult subject to talk about, it’s important to sit down and talk with your kids about it. Teach your children about self-worth, the proper terms for body parts, and explain to them what it means to give consent. Your children need to know what things are considered inappropriate for adults or other children to ask of them, and what to do if they find themselves in this situation. Here are talking points to help you talk with your child:

• No one should touch or ask them to touch any part of their body that is covered by a swimsuit
• No one should film or photograph them or show them to others
• Perpetrators are not always adults, sometimes they could be other children

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There are so many ways that people can get involved to help fight child and human trafficking. I hope that these ten ways have inspired you to take action and fight against child trafficking.