8 Things You Didn’t Know about Human Trafficking Recognizing National Global Human Trafficking Awareness Day – January 11

January 11 is a day to remember a silent population: the victims of human trafficking. Since they can’t speak for themselves, we take a moment to speak out for them. Facts that may be new to you about the underworld of Human Trafficking:

1. It is estimated that upwards of 27 million men, women and children are victims of human trafficking – modern day slavery across the globe. That’s more people than the total populations of some countries, like Greece or Ghana. 
2. Every year, thousands of slaves are trafficked right here in the U.S. It’s a national and international crisis. 
3. Over 80% of those trans-nationally trafficked are women and children. 
4. Some 800,000 people against their will are trafficked across international borders each year – and 50% of them are children. 
5. A slave today costs an average of just $90. Compare that to a slave in 1850 in the southern U.S., with an equivalent cost today of $40,000. 
6. Slavery is masked by many names: debt-bonded, forced labor, indentured servitude. By any other name it is still slavery. 
7. Slaves can be found in a multitude of places, from fields to brothels to factories. They can be found in homes or restaurants near you. 
8. Slavery is not legal anywhere, and yet it happens everywhere. 

 Bridge to Freedom Foundation (BTFF) supports victims of modern slavery in their personal and professional development. BTFF works to improve opportunities available to survivors of modern day slavery. Out of the darkness of sex trafficking, child soldiers and forced labor, BTFF steps in to connect for-profit corporations, community and education groups and the general public to fight for this marginalized and underserved population. See you how can get involved at bridgetofreedomfoundation.org.

Lisa Kristine Donates Photo for National Global Human Trafficking Awareness Day Poster

We are delighted to announce that Lisa Kristine, world renowned humanitarian photographer, has donated the rights to use one of her human trafficking images on our 2014 National Global Human Trafficking Awareness Day Poster.

Awakening compassion and igniting action in a worldwide audience with powerful, broad-sweeping images of courage and tender, intimate portrayals, Lisa elevates significant social causes-such as the elimination of human slavery and the unification of humanity-to missions. Lisa has gained broad recognition for her collaboration with the NGO Free the Slaves. This breathtaking body of work, illuminating human enslavement, is brought together in Slavery, published in 2010. Lisa has received global attention for shining a light on contemporary slavery across media platforms, including CNN and Reuters, speaking at TED events, museums, NGO's, business conferences, colleges and universities.

 Last month, Lisa was honored with a Lucie Award for her work as a humanitarian photographer. Bridge to Freedom Foundation is privileged to be able to use one of her moving images of modern slavery, so please stay tuned as we will unveil the 2014 NGHTAD poster in the coming weeks. In the meantime, please visit -and share- Lisa's website to see some of her remarkable work.

Making everyday Human Trafficking Awareness Day

Yesterday was National Global Human Trafficking Awareness Day (NGHTAD) and the buzz against human trafficking was all about. E-mails and 24 hour campaigns were bustling around the Internet, while Facebook was exploding with chatter on what one could do on the day to promote the day.  People across the country were sharing resources and information on how to become more aware, and what one could do to be involved in the global fight to see an end to the enslavement of some 27 million men, women and children who are held by the chains of modern slavery.

However what I want to stress most about NGHTAD, is that this is not a day to be aware, but to get aware, stay aware and act! I hope that people took today, and this national awareness month to learn some of the facts, look into resources, but most of all take tomorrow and thereafter to use them. Sure having a nationally recognized awareness day is great, but it is useless if it just sits there on the books and the only ones shouting from the rooftops about human trafficking/modern slavery, are those who are already standing on the front lines. I can write, type, talk and shout till my fingers go numb and my lungs go dry, but it’s all useless if no one is on the other side listening and learning.

True, an awareness day and awareness month, is great but for those of us in the field every day, every month, every year, is a National and Global Human Trafficking Awareness day. Did I talk more about trafficking today than any other day, yes and no! Sure, I used the day as an opener to talk to people I came across at every corner; the metro, my martial arts studio, cafe, CVS, etc. and I posted flyers everywhere I could, blogged, twittered, and facebooked away every second I could. Therefore while it seems like I was non-stop, and I was publicly so to speak, as were so many others in the field, but the reality is that most of us are non-stop every day. I am famed for my 4am bedtimes, and all too often have had a colleague at another organization say, “You should have called me I was up”, while another is constantly yelling at me that I need to get my rest so we can win this fight as it will take all of us and we need our strength. Thus weather you hear the voices of activist on the front line or not, they are there and they are strong.  Nonetheless the harsh reality is there are far fewer of us than there are victims and survivors to assist. It is for this reason that it is so vital that the fight to combat modern slavery is not that of a day, nor that of a month, but a year long global fight by each and every local and global citizen, that will not end until each victim is rescued and every survivor is in a sustainable and thriving life. It is a long hard road, but it is a fight we can win if we unite to do so.  We all have a role to play…the end to modern slavery is a giant puzzle, and each one of us holds a piece to that puzzle…the puzzle of freedom!

What can you do?

• Learn more; watch films, read books and websites about Human Trafficking.
• Tell others about Human Trafficking…your voice is powerful…write, blog, talk!
• Start or join a student or community organization to raise awareness and learn more.
• Volunteer or organize a fundraiser with a local organization that works on Human Trafficking or a related cause.
• Post awareness flyers/posters in your office/school/gym.
• Buy Fair Trade and Slave Free products as often as you can.
• Don’t remain silent! Report it! Call the National Human Trafficking Hotline if you suspect any potential cases of human trafficking. (Put the number in your cell phone NOW!): 1-888-3737-888 

It takes all of us to build the bridge to freedom!

Good by Design 2011

Bridge to Freedom Foundation was selected as one of the non-profit beneficiaries of Good by Design 2011.  Each year The BOSS Group hosts a charity design day that benefits DC area non-profits.  Today members of the Bridge to Freedom staff met with area professional and student volunteers from The Art Institute of Washington to get a makeover of some of its creative assets.  One of the pieces created from the 10 hour digital arts make-over was the 2012 National Global Human Trafficking Awareness Day poster.  Check back here for a preview soon. BTFF will be making the poster available in PDF form for reprinting so you can get involved by raising awareness in your school or workplace.  Look for upcoming installments of our blog to get a look at our redesigned logo and our all new brochures.  The crew at BTFF would like to thank all of the designers who toiled relentlessly to make sure we had finished assets to take away from the workshop.