Human trafficking is a prevalent safety concern that makes headlines in communities around the world. What many of us don’t realize is that this happens right here at home. Creating a community that is more resistant to human trafficking can start with tough conversations, including those in my very own classroom as a professor and program coordinator in Trent Durham’s Policing and Community Well-Being program. Here are three essential elements in our ongoing fight against human trafficking.  

Work together. In my experience as a professor specializing in community well-being, partnerships between organizations and individuals are foundational to creating safety and an escape for survivors. My students are always amazed at the willingness of those on the frontlines of the human trafficking epidemic to work alongside them as they learn and participate in practical, grassroots work. They quickly learn that to be effective in this fight, we need to stand and work together to make sure our efforts are effective and built around the needs of individual communities. This truly is a collective effort. 

Gather the right resources and information. Perpetrators of human trafficking adapt to enforcement and attention, so it’s key that enforcement strategies be informed by accurate and up-to-date information. Trent Durham’s Policing & Community Well-Being students have supported this by working on projects to improve crime mapping data, developing screening tools to identify human trafficking victimization, designing officer training tailored to supporting Indigenous victims and survivors of human trafficking, and improving emergency shelter options for survivors exiting trafficking. Each of these projects improve the ability of the police and community agencies to support survivors, while also working on proactive strategies to investigate human trafficking incidents. 

Mobilize knowledge. Educating our communities about the state of the problem of human trafficking is a critical step. Public awareness creates a community that is aware of the warning signs, prevention strategies, and a supportive system to help protect our most vulnerable community members. Trent students have created educational materials for community organizations, including training modules for hotel/motels, and social media awareness campaigns. 

Join Us! On May 27, Trent’s PLCW students will host StuckInTraffick – a fundraising and educational walk at Trent Durham GTA. This walk brings students and community leaders together to share current information and educate community members about the realities of human trafficking. We can all contribute by striding together, learning what we can, and speaking up to keep our communities safe. A future without human trafficking starts with us raising awareness and working together to reduce the risk – and I’m proud that our students are playing a key role. 

This article, penned by Dr. Amy Spendik, coordinator of the Policing and Community Well-Being Program at Trent University Durham GTA, originally appeared in Durham Metroland.