Dear John,

Last year saw a significant jump in the number of victims and survivors reaching out directly, seeking help for themselves, on their terms, from the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline.

This is significant news - beyond just the Trafficking Hotline. Here’s why: Victims and survivors know better than anyone what they need to get out of a bad situation and begin to heal and move on. Friends, family members, well-meaning strangers, social workers, all can play a role in helping someone experience freedom, but ultimately, it is the people themselves who have to make the decision. That’s because really breaking free from trafficking is so much more than physical escape.

When a victim or survivor calls the Trafficking Hotline, they are in the best possible position to make a decision for themselves. It also places the Hotline Advocate in the best possible position to help.

As operators of the Trafficking Hotline, we are grateful that survivors feel comfortable and safe reaching out. But the importance of more survivors and victims contacting us directly goes beyond the Trafficking Hotline. It suggests that the anti-trafficking field is now reaching more survivors and victims directly with information they need.

In a year that has been more difficult than any of us could have imagined, that is an important outcome to celebrate. Thank you for supporting Polaris and enabling us to help drive such a positive impact of the Trafficking Hotline.

Click here to learn more about the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline 2019 statistics.

In Solidarity,

Megan Cutter
Acting Director of the National Human Trafficking Hotline