UNITED SIKHS Joins Human Trafficking Prevention Month Awareness Campaign and Pledges to Combat Trafficking

UNITED SIKHS International Civil and Human Rights Advocacy (ICHRA) expresses our enthusiasm in joining organizations nationwide to raise awareness throughout the month of January as the dedicated month to combat the menace of human trafficking.

Human trafficking stands as a grave violation of human rights, affecting individuals of all backgrounds and demographics. According to the WhiteHouse, “more than 27 million people around the world endure the abhorrent abuse of human trafficking and forced labor, including thousands of people right here in the United States.”  Involving the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit individuals for labor or commercial sex acts, human trafficking victimizes millions worldwide, including within the United States. It transcends boundaries, occurring in various communities and impacting victims of any age, race, gender, or nationality. Traffickers employ different tactics to ensnare their victims.

Its pervasive nature demands a unified effort to eradicate this social evil. “We firmly believe that through collaborative efforts between government agencies, law enforcement, non-profit organizations, and community members, we can effectively address the root causes of human trafficking, provide support to survivors, and bring Singh said. “As a prominent advocacy group, UNITED SIKHS ICHRA wholeheartedly supports this initiative, emphasizing the necessity for collective action at the local, state, and federal levels to effectively address and eliminate human trafficking within our communities.”

To facilitate reporting and intervention, we encourage members of our community to utilize the National Human Trafficking Hotline (888-373-7888) and Homeland Security Investigations Tip Line at 1-866-347-2323 for reporting any issues related to human trafficking. Additionally, we highly encourage members of the Sikh community to call our UMEED TOLL FREE HOTLINE at 1-855-878-6333 to report any problems they may encounter. Active engagement with these hotlines empowers individuals to play a crucial role in the prevention and intervention efforts against human trafficking.

We also urge our fellow Sikh organizations in the United States to take concrete actions, including implementing awareness campaigns, supporting anti-trafficking legislations, and providing resources for victim assistance programs. By standing together in the fight against human trafficking, we can create a safer and more just society for all. 

UNITED SIKHS also shares resources made available by the Department of Homeland Security and campaign leaders here UNITED SIKHS also shares resources and toolkits made available by DHS here – What Is Human Trafficking? | Homeland Security (dhs.gov) and here HHS Human Trafficking Prevention Month 2024 Toolkit. We eagerly anticipate an active month of campaigning, fostering a proactive stance in the prevention and eradication of human trafficking. #WearBlueDay!

Sincerely,

Dr. Henok Gabisa

Director, UNITED SIKHS International Civil and Human Rights Advocacy (ICHRA)