Human Trafficking: An Unnoticed Atrocity
As you may know, January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Modern slavery is a crime that shames us all, but sadly, it’s more common than you think. The Global Slavery Index estimates there were approximately 403,000 people in 2016 living in conditions of modern slavery in the US. They believe the number globally to be over 40.3 million.
Modern slavery is a broad category that covers involuntary servitude, slavery, debt bondage, forced labor, and other similar practices.
Slavery happens in many different environments and settings. In fact, one of the primary settings happens in hotels. In 2019, at least 6.5% of reported human trafficking cases in the U.S. were based in hotels or motels. Over the past decade, the hotel industry has intensified its efforts against human trafficking through various resources, training, and campaigns. Let’s talk about some of these resources.
Since hotels are a pretty anonymous place, they are sadly ideal for traffickers to house someone for a few days or to conduct secretive and potentially illegal activity.
Don’t Undercut The Importance of Awareness
As members of the hotel industry, it is important for you to know and spot the signs of human trafficking. After all, you and your employees are the first and last people guests see when entering and leaving your hotel. Here are 5 indicators to keep in mind:
- Does a guest seem to be malnourished, tired, under- or poorly dressed, have injuries that stand out, or is displaying unusual behavior? Are they skittish? Does the person with them insist on answering all your questions for them?
- Is the guest staying for an extended period of time, but barely has any luggage?
- Does the same person reserve multiple rooms, but isn’t there for a wedding, event, or with family?
- Is the room rented hourly, less than a day, or maybe is a long-term stay that doesn’t quite seem normal?
- At your dining area, are individuals waiting to be picked up by a trafficker or customer?
For some hotel brands, corporate has resources available to help train your staff to spot the signs. For example, Marriott International, Hyatt, and Hilton have each banded with Ending Child Prostitution and Trafficking (ECPAT), a global network working to end the exploitation of children, in training employees to recognize the signs of human trafficking.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association has also launched the No Room for Trafficking initiative to facilitate education and awareness campaigns. The website provides free online training, a member resource guide, toolkits, and other information.
Posters: A Tool Helpful to the Fight
Signs and posters can help encourage guests and employees to report suspected cases of human trafficking, and also encourage victims to call for help. Here at HOTELSIGNS.com, we even have polished signs and notices you can use.
For example, HOTELSIGNS.com‘s Trafficking Hotline Notice provides the number to the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888). This hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and serves victims and survivors of human trafficking. Display this poster in common areas to encourage guests to call for help upon noticing suspicious activity.
Some other states, like Tennessee, Georgia, and California, may also require specific human trafficking signage. At HOTELSIGNS.com, many of our notices are available in Spanish and Chinese as well.
Your hotel is key to the fight. Will you step up to stop human trafficking?
Sources:
- https://www.ahla.com/issues/human-trafficking
- https://dod.defense.gov/News/Special-Reports/0118_National-Slavery-Human-Trafficking-Prevention-Month/
- https://www.ecpatusa.org/
- https://www.nbcwashington.com/local/marriott-training-all-employees-to-recognize-human-trafficking/171152/
- https://www.state.gov/what-is-modern-slavery/
Watch our video detailing our commitment to fighting human trafficking below: