Polaris (formerly Polaris Project)

HOTLINE WIN: We are proud of the role the National Human Trafficking Hotline plays in bringing traffickers to justice. A Long Island man has admitted to forcing a teen into prostitution so she could “repay” him for food, shelter, and clean clothes. Javesh Persaud, 34, pleaded guilty to sex trafficking and related charges for luring an 18-year-old woman to Long Island and forcing her to engage in sexual acts. On Sept. 1, 2023, the victim was able to contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline to ask for help. Suffolk County police were notified and Persaud was arrested shortly thereafter. Persaud is expected to be sentenced to 12 years in prison followed by 20 years of post-release supervision. Learn more about this situation and others that the Trafficking Hotline has assisted with: https://lnkd.in/etU3FUP5

The National Human Trafficking Hotline is proud to have played a role in helping to identify two individuals alleged to have operated a human trafficking ring through massage parlors in California. After an individual sought a legitimate massage from a business in Tipton, CA, they recognized the business was not legitimate and notified the Trafficking Hotline. This led to the arrest of siblings Enrique Castro Reyes and Erika Castro Reyes, who have been charged with felony pandering and pimping. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ew5X2kTk

We’re excited to share that the Polaris-managed Global Modern Slavery Directory, a searchable database of organizations and agencies across the globe that address the issue of human trafficking, is now available in an additional six languages – Arabic, Russian, Malay, Hindi, Tagalog, and Ukrainian. This was possible through our long-standing partnership with Airbnb. Patrick McIntyre, Polaris’s Chief Development & External Affairs Officer, said: “The Global Modern Slavery Directory is a vital resource for victims and survivors of human trafficking to identify and contact agencies that are best suited to help them. By making the Directory available in six new languages, we make this resource accessible to more people than ever. Airbnb has been a vital partner in this effort, and we are grateful for their continued support in our pursuit of a world where no one is exploited and everyone has the freedom, power, and opportunity to choose how they live and work.” In addition to subsidizing this project, Airbnb will also be providing additional funding for Polaris to update our data capabilities to further enhance our ability to support survivors and organizations combating human trafficking. Thank you, Airbnb, for being an important partner in the fight to end human trafficking. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eHb7bPk4

The Trafficking Survivors Relief Act (TSRA) would provide the first-ever pathway for criminalized survivors of human trafficking to clear their federal criminal records. Having a criminal record – even an arrest record without a conviction – is a significant barrier to gainful employment, finding safe housing, continuing education, and child custody. Here’s what we learned from the National Survivor Study: 🔹 90% of survivors with a criminal record reported at least some or all was related to their trafficking experience. 🔹 69% reported that their criminal record prevented them from getting or keeping a job. 🔹 59% reported that their criminal record affected their ability to get good, safe housing. 🔹 63% reported that their criminal record affected their ability to receive education, training, or a professional license. 🔹 35% of those with a criminal record who also had children reported that their record affected their custody of their children. Passing this bill would make a historic step forward in protecting victims and survivors of trafficking at the federal level. The TSRA bill has been introduced in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, but we need your help to get it passed. Here are three ways YOU can encourage Congress to support victims and survivors of human trafficking: ⭐ In-person meetings: This is the most effective and persuasive way to get your members of Congress to hear your opinions. You can call or email their offices to schedule an appointment with them in your home state. Find their contact information here: https://lnkd.in/grup5-2 ⭐ Phone calls: Another great way to voice your support for the TSRA is by calling your members’ offices and asking them to pass the bill. Find a call script here: https://lnkd.in/ecqrF43M ⭐ Letter writing: Send an email to your Representatives and Senators! You can fill out our Take Action form to send an email to your members of Congress. The form automatically identifies your members and provides you with a pre-written letter that you can edit before sending. https://lnkd.in/eFeWcevH Visit our Information Center to learn more about the TSRA, watch videos from survivors, and find out how you can help advocate for this important bill: https://lnkd.in/gAQNJmFN #HumanTrafficking #CriminalRecord #TraffickingSurvivorsReliefAct

Thank you, Twilio, for supporting the National Human Trafficking Hotline!

Join tomorrow’s webinar, Federal Policy and How to become an Advocate, with Elesha Nightingale, J.D., Acting Director of Public Policy, and Megan Cutter, Managing Director of Human Trafficking Hotline. This session will discuss various strategies and share insights on how we can raise awareness about and combat sex trafficking. Register to learn more!

This World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, we’re highlighting our decade-long partnership with Palantir Technologies. Through a blend of shared values, mutual trust, and innovative technology, the Palantir-Polaris partnership exemplifies how technology can be harnessed to fight human trafficking, raise awareness, and provide support to victims and survivors. Learn about the platforms, dashboards, and models that have been developed to help Polaris analyze data: https://lnkd.in/eAzmtpwY

The route north has become a dangerous path for thousands of migrants who, in search of a better future, are exposed to various forms of trafficking and exploitation for profit. On World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the hotlines of Canada, the United States, and Mexico reaffirm their commitment to create a safe corridor in North America and provide a coordinated response to the needs of victims and survivors.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of State released the 2024 Trafficking in Persons Report, providing a comprehensive overview of the state of human trafficking around the world. The Report discusses how technology plays an important role in combating human trafficking and how it is being used to improve awareness and outreach efforts to support worker engagement and empowerment. We are proud to see Polaris’s Nonechka project mentioned in this section of the Report: “Through its Nonechka project, Polaris collaborated with technology partner Ulula on a platform that allows farmworkers in Mexico and now in the United States to share their experiences, including information on risky recruitment and employment processes. This information also helps Polaris formulate prevention strategies, as well as inform workers about their rights, wages, and working conditions and how to access general services locally including emergency, transitional, or long-term services.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/ehYbvfty

Did you know that Congress provides only 35% of the total resources needed to operate the National Human Trafficking Hotline? As more people learn about the Trafficking Hotline and the various ways it supports survivors on their journeys to freedom, call volume has skyrocketed. The Trafficking Hotline responds to an average of 250+ viable calls, text messages, and online chats every day from potential victims and those close to them. And the number of signals continues to climb – over the last four years alone, total signals have surged by 40% compared to the first 12 years of operation. Meanwhile, funding has not kept pace with this growth. Please visit our TAKE ACTION page to send a letter to your Members of Congress today to ask them to increase funding for the Hotline – so that more victims and survivors can get the help they need and take their next steps on their journeys to freedom. https://lnkd.in/eHQdTCft