An estimated 25 million people are victims of forced labor globally, coerced to participate in some type of labor or commercial sex act by force, fraud or coercion. Victims of this highly profitable crime are all ages and are from all races and socioeconomic backgrounds. Forced labor includes human trafficking, which occurs in both large cities and rural areas. Women and girls are disproportionately affected, accounting for 99 percent of victims in the commercial sex industry, and 58 percent in other sectors, according to the International Labour Organization.
It is important that we address human rights issues not only in our operations, but also along the value chain. While human trafficking is not directly related to our operations, we are in a position to help curb modern day slavery by working with our suppliers and supporting Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) in the U.S. The nonprofit agency educates, equips, empowers and mobilizes members of the trucking and travel plaza industry to combat human trafficking. Truckers Against Trafficking is designed to provide extra sets of eyes and ears to law enforcement, operating in all 50 states.
“There are more professional drivers on the road than there are law enforcement officers,” noted Kirsta Leeburg Melton, Deputy Criminal Chief, Texas Human Trafficking and Transnational/Organized Crime Section, speaking at a recent training event we hosted in Kenedy, Texas.
The Coalition Build events we hosted brought together law enforcement agencies, general managers of truck stops, representatives of trucking companies, state trucking associations, and oil and natural gas companies to provide extensive training. Participants learned about the realities of domestic sex trafficking, how the trucking industry can combat it, and how to report suspected trafficking situations. They also heard from a survivor who shared anecdotal information about how traffickers maintain control over their victims. In addition to the Coalition Build event in Texas, we hosted another event in North Dakota, working with industry partners, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp, the North Dakota Motor Carriers, the Highway Patrol, and local sheriffs and police departments. Our leadership has spurred broader industry support and resulted in a significant increase in anti-trafficking activity in local areas, according to Truckers Against Trafficking representatives.