The U.S. Department of Transportation hosted its second annual “Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation” meeting on Dec. 8. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao kicked off the virtual webinar saying that, “The transportation sector is uniquely positioned to help fight human trafficking, and the department has launched numerous initiatives to help train transportation workers to detect and prevent it.”
The webinar was designed to highlight counter-trafficking initiatives across the transportation sector through leadership, funding, partnerships, policies and protocols, training and awareness, data and information-sharing, and victim and survivor support. Three panels comprised of multimodal Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking stakeholders spotlighted efforts by State and local entities, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations.
The Department of Transportation recognized the NATSO Foundation for its commitment to combating human trafficking during its Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation meeting in 2019.
The NATSO Foundation was one of the first transportation organizations to join the Department of Transportation’s stakeholder group, “Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking” when it was formed in 2012. The NATSO Foundation in 2012 pledged to join with other transportation organizations to fight human trafficking that takes place across the transportation sector. The NATSO Foundation also served as Vice Chair of a subcommittee of DOT’s Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking last year.
[NATSO Foundation Recognized for Commitment to Human Trafficking]
The Advisory Committee issued a report titled, “The Department of Transportation Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking Final Report: Combating Human Trafficking in the Transportation Sector,” that offers a systematic assessment of data, strategies, policies, protocols, training and awareness needs regarding the intersection of the transportation sector and human trafficking. Recommendations and best practices were outlined for the U.S. Department of Transportation, the U.S. Congress, states, private industry, NGOs and local transportation authorities with regard to funding, partnerships, policies and protocols, training and awareness, data and information-sharing and survivor support.
To see Secretary Chao’s opening remarks from Dec. 8, 2020, click here.
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