Past Five Presidents, Fight Against Human Trafficking

January is Human Trafficking Prevention & Awareness Month.

As part of our January Campaign to bring awareness, Women At Risk, International (WAR, Int’l) here is the third blog article in the series.

How the Past Five Presidents Took Up the Fight Against Human Trafficking

Since 2010, the President of the United States has recognized the month of January as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, dedicating time to raise awareness, educate the public, and celebrate those engaged in the fight against human trafficking at home and abroad. In the spirit of Human Trafficking Prevention Month 2025, Women at Risk, International, wants to highlight the decisive action the last five presidents have taken towards setting captives of modern slavery free.

President Joe Biden (2021 – Present)
In 2021, President Biden signed an updated National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking, espousing the Administration’s commitment to prosecute, protect, and prevent. Additionally, in 2021, the President signed the Countering Human Trafficking Act, which codified the expansion of the Department of Homeland Security’s Center for Countering Human Trafficking. Continuing the fight against forced labor in supply chains, President Biden approved the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. Finally, due to the reality that most victims of trafficking are women and girls, the Biden Administration reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act in 2022, expanding jurisdiction of tribal courts to prosecute non-Native American sex traffickers.

President Donald Trump (2017 – 2021)
During his time in office, President Trump asserted that human trafficking is an “urgent humanitarian issue” and that his administration is “committed to leveraging every resource we have to confront this threat, to support victims and survivors, and to hold traffickers accountable for their heinous crimes.” President Trump signed four key bills demonstrating the continued bipartisan commitment to end human trafficking: the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, the Abolish Human Trafficking Act, the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act, and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Together, these bills worked to tighten criteria for meeting trafficking elimination standards, appropriate necessary funding, and establish new justice and security initiatives. President Trump issued an executive order on Combating Human Trafficking and Online Child Exploitation in the United States in January 2020. This order outlined mandates to strengthen federal responses to human trafficking, prosecute perpetrators and individuals who exploit children online, and protect victims. President Trump, additionally, approved the largest Department of Justice grant package in history to combat human trafficking.

President Barack Obama (2009 – 2017)
President Barack Obama was responsible for establishing the National Human Trafficking Prevention Month in 2010. Every January, he renewed his Administration’s commitment to fighting human trafficking and called upon the American people to “recognize the vital role we can play in ending modern slavery and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities.” President Obama reauthorized the Trafficking Victims Protection Act in 2013, focusing on the elimination of human trafficking from the supply chain of goods. In 2015, Congress passed, and Obama signed, the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act, providing U.S. Customs and Border Protection broad authority to prevent the import of goods suspected to be made with forced labor. The Obama Administration convened the first U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking in 2016, which appointed eleven human trafficking survivors to ensure that their voice was heard and present in ensuring that federal anti-trafficking initiatives were grounded in the experiences of those most deeply impacted.

President George W. Bush (2001 – 2009)
President George W. Bush made fighting human trafficking a cornerstone of his administration stating that, “No one is fit to be a master, and no one deserves to be a slave.” The President signed to amend and reauthorize the Trafficking Victims Protection Act in 2003, 2005, and 2008. This greatly refined and expanded existing legislation, providing for greater criminal provisions, extraterritorial jurisdiction over trafficking offenses, and improved methods to hold traffickers accountable. In 2003, President Bush championed the PROTECT (Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to End the Exploitation of Children Today) Act which increased penalties for federal crimes against children and provided law enforcement with more tools to prevent, investigate, and prosecute child abuse, trafficking, and violent crimes. President George W. Bush placed special emphasis on combating trafficking abroad, too. In 2008, he spearheaded a $50 Million Initiative to Combat Trafficking in Persons, empowering international projects to support rescue, vocational training, and law enforcement task forces in countries such as Brazil, Cambodia, and Tanzania, among many others.

President Bill Clinton (1993 – 2001)
On October 28, 2000, Congress passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), and President Clinton subsequently signed it into law. This marked the first federal law to combat trafficking in persons. It dramatically expanded the fight against human trafficking, establishing both the President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking and the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking within the Department of State. These two entities spearhead domestic and global efforts to prosecute traffickers, protect victims, and prevent the continuation of trafficking. Clinton initially outlined this three-fold strategy in a 1998 executive directive, cementing the United States’ bedrock approach to the issue. Earlier, in 1994, Clinton signed the Violence Against Women Act, which established federal criminal provisions and grant programs to improve the criminal justice system’s approach to domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Not only did this heighten protection for women but it mitigated the perpetration of acts that perpetuate human trafficking.

In the spirit of Human Trafficking Prevention Month:

~Learn more about the history behind the Month here.
~Explore the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons here.
~Consider writing a letter to your Representative to request their continued support towards ending modern slavery TODAY.

Myths that Perpetuate Trafficking

January is Human Trafficking Prevention & Awareness Month.

As part of our January Campaign to bring awareness, Women At Risk, International (WAR, Int’l) here is the first blog article in the series.

Myths that Perpetuate Trafficking (and Facts that Break Chains)

Today, at least 50 million people are enslaved by the evil that is human trafficking. Though it is frequently punishable by law, the horrific realities are often hidden behind closed doors. To make matters worse, the shadowy nature of human trafficking contributes to many misunderstandings which allow the industry to thrive. In the spirit of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, here are a few myths that confuse and hinder the efforts to combat human trafficking in our own communities, nationally, and across the globe.

It is of note that this is not an exhaustive list.

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Myth: Human trafficking only happens in impoverished countries overseas.

FACT: Human trafficking exists in nearly every country, including in the “Land of the Free.”

Human trafficking has become the most pervasive criminal activity in the world, and it happens in nearly every country across the globe. According to the International Labor Organization, the Asia and Pacific region has the highest number of victims at 29.3 million, over half of the global total. In the Americas, human trafficking victims are primarily women subjected to sexual exploitation. While human trafficking is a global problem, this does not preclude it from being an American problem. In 2017, human trafficking was reported in every single U.S. state. There are at least one million victims of modern slavery in the United States and an estimated 15,000 to 50,000 women and children are trafficked for sex each year. Individuals are enslaved in our communities, and we are not absolved from fighting for them.

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Myth: Sex trafficking is about sex.

FACT: Human trafficking is an industry, and sex sells.

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 defines sex trafficking as “the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purposes of a commercial sex act in which the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud or coercion” (emphasis added). The emphasis on “commercial” is crucial—human trafficking begins when enslaved victims are coerced, used for profit, and estranged from the money they “earn.” Efforts to curb human sex trafficking often focus on the seemingly uncontrolled desire for sex, steering activism away from the root of the problem. The problem is not that sex is desired, but that the desire for sex is exploited to make a profit at the cost of vulnerable individuals. Sex trafficking is only one vein of human trafficking and each form shares one thing in common: traffickers monetarily benefit from the exploitation of others.

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Myth: Human trafficking is a “male” problem.

FACT: Human trafficking is a “heart” problem. Women are complicit, too.

Society often presents a picture that trafficking is perpetuated by men, hungry for sex and power. The reality, though, as presented above, is that human trafficking is primarily aimed at monetary exploitation. Women have a role in this, too. One study conducted by the United Nations found that 60% of traffickers are women. In many cases, brothel keepers, or “Madams,” are women that oversee the prostitution of other women under their “care.” It is likely that female traffickers are as common as male traffickers, and they often operate together in the context of abusive, hierarchical relationships. Female sex traffickers are often “supporters,” “bottoms,” or “partners in crime.” Often victims of trafficking themselves, they are frequently exploited to perpetuate the cycle of violence by grooming new victims, handling cash, and “advertising.”

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Myth: Rescue is enough.

FACT: Rescue is only the beginning of a long path towards healing.

Trafficking destroys lives. Victims often exist in a state of social death, having lost their identity as an individual and becoming only what their masters and consumers want them to be. Some survivors, rescued out of slavery, have presented PTSD more severe than that of veterans. Trauma does not dissipate in the hours, days, or even months after a survivor is released from her chains. Arguably, after rescue comes the hardest, messiest work. Just as important as seeking liberation from bondage is coming alongside women as they heal, regain their sense of worth, and work towards building a new life for themselves. If aftercare is ignored, the cycle of violence continues. With nowhere else to go, women often fall back into exploitation. Because of this, WAR, Int’l is committed to breaking chains, establishing circles of protection such as safehouses, and providing vocational training that leads to restored dignity.

Join us in facing the reality and breaking the chains of modern slavery!

Attend a Civilian First Responder Training to learn how you can rise up against trafficking.

Host a pop-up boutique to educate your community and support survivors on their healing journeys.

Invest In Women

March 8th | International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is a global celebration of women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. It is a day to recognize the progress we have made and also to acknowledge the work that still needs to be done to create a more equal and just world for all women. This day is not just about celebrating women, but also about coming together to support and empower one another.

As we continue to face challenges and obstacles, it is important to stand in solidarity and work towards a future where women are valued and respected in all aspects of life. Let us use this day to reflect on the progress we have made, and to inspire one another to continue making positive changes for women. The theme for 2024 is Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.

Work of Women At Risk, International

At Women At Risk, International (WAR, Int’l), we are dedicated to supporting and empowering women on a daily basis. Through our collaborative efforts with safehouses both internationally and domestically, we strive to rescue, restore, and empower women who are wounded or at risk by providing them with a secure environment to heal and grow. Our approach is to offer culturally sensitive, value-added intervention projects as well as counseling, education, skills training, and more, to ensure their holistic well-being.

Furthermore, we have created and nurtured relationships with our global and local partners who offer vocational training centers and microenterprises to create opportunities for rescued and at-risk women to earn a living with dignity. By empowering them to support themselves safely and independently, we aim to prevent exploitation and promote self-sufficiency.

Encompassed Creations | Our U.S. Training Center

Precious wounded women and children have walked through the doors of our international headquarters—weary and in need of a safe haven. Our U.S. Training Center (USTC) provides them with a fresh beginning in a holistic program offering counseling, skills training, scholarships, employment, and much more. As women learn to design and create beautiful products within a nurturing community, they are also learning to redesign their lives and dream again. Working with dignity empowers them to provide for their children, learn skills, build a resume, and change their futures.

When you purchase jewelry, candles, spa products, and other items handcrafted by our artisans, you invest in our own communities, helping us rescue, restore, and empower in “the land of the free.”

Invest in the Lives of Women

As you consider how you can invest in the lives of women around the world, here are three ways to make a difference:

1. Link arms with your friends to co-host a WAR Chest Pop-Up Boutique!

Learn more here or simply email party@warinternational.org us today.

2. Volunteer at our headquarters or at events!

Sign up here or simply email volunteer@warinternational.org us today.

3. Donate to our 911 Rescue Fund to help facilitate rescues here!

Read stories of rescue here.

We wish all women around the world a very happy International Women’s Day!

Stories of Healing

Whereas statistical information and reporting are helpful with understanding the issues as solutions are sought, focusing merely on the numbers can make the victims nameless, simply a number, as it were.

Each and every victim of human trafficking has a name, a voice that has been silenced, as well as a life worth saving, and a story worth telling. This fact makes highlighting stories of rescue and healing vital.

In honor of Human Trafficking Awareness Month, here are three such stories.

Erin: healing moment

At a recent Human Trafficking Awareness Conference, the Q&A panel included social workers, law enforcement officers, lawyers, and Erin, a survivor of human trafficking.

When asked how the police had treated her, Erin froze, not wanting to tip the apple cart. Seeing Erin’s hesitation, Becky McDonald, founder & president of WAR, Int’l, encouraged her to speak up and share her experience.

Erin shared how the police were not helpful regarding her situation, telling her there wasn’t anything they could do for her. One officer even asked for her number.

Upon hearing the apologies from the male law enforcement officers on the panel, Erin had an unexpected response. Those apologies, she realized, healed a place in her heart she didn’t know needed healing.

Trauma-informed interviewing is key when assisting survivors. During our February 2022 Light Up Your World Zoom, we learned about this interviewing technique from Amy Allen, a federal law enforcement officer. Click here to view it.

Reena: finding solutions

How many girls had now disappeared from Reena’s village? She had watched as foreigners came, promising education or stable jobs to girls of impoverished families. Out of desperation, they had been sent or sold to provide for the rest of the family. But Reena knew these promises were empty.

Reena knew traffickers targeted poor and vulnerable families.

Yet she had a plan. Reena began a small bakery where she could employ at-risk women in her village, giving them the fair payment they needed to provide for their families.

To Reena’s delight, the bakery thrived! Now she’s running four sustainable micro-enterprises to sponsor a safehouse, counseling services, vocational training, micro-loans, and different classes!

Reena’s work is helping attack trafficking at its root cause and freeing hundreds of lives from its threat. Support WAR’s micro-enterprise program to be a ‘Reena’ to others at risk.

Rhoda: story of resilience

Ever since she was a little girl, Rhoda wanted to sing. After much local success, Rhoda thought she caught her big break when a talent agent promised a vocal tour in Japan. Though her first visit proved successful, on her second trip, traffickers took her papers and forced her to serve drinks at a bar. One night a co-worker lured Rhoda to a “dance club” filled with the Japanese mafia. After drugging and abducting her, mafia members repeatedly brutalized and raped Rhoda for three days.

She eventually escaped, but the Japanese police blamed her, and a counselor even advised suicide as the only way to preserve her dignity. Even after returning home to America, help was nowhere to be found.

Finally, Rhoda discovered a community of healing and support at WAR, Int’l. Now she no longer numbs her pain with substance abuse and self-mutilation. Instead, she has transformed her suffering into a story of survival and hope. Rhoda uses her passionate voice to share this story, singing at benefit concerts, speaking out against human trafficking, and whispering words of hope and encouragement to vulnerable teens and wounded women.

A Song for the Silenced

Resources for you here.

Real Rescues

Working to raise donations for Women At Risk, International’s 911 Rescue Fund, we want to share the impact your contributions make in the lives of others, in their time of need. Here are stories of Real Rescues.

The Genesis of WAR, Int’l’s 911 Rescue Fund: Ellie

Mai cut the cooked egg into four sections, dividing it equally between her four hungry children. With another one on the way, there would soon be five hungry mouths to feed.

Two weeks after her new little one was born, Mai sold Ellie, her beautiful baby girl, to local traffickers. When our partnering safehouse heard about the situation, they tracked Ellie down and loaned Mai money to buy her back, despite threats from the traffickers.

Now adopted into a safe home, Ellie is blossoming under the love and care she receives.

Our 911 Rescue Fund grew out of this partner’s request in the dead of night to rescue this precious baby girl who had been sold to Thai traffickers for $200. Becky McDonald, founder and president of WAR, Int’l, was shocked they had to ask for the funding to rescue. Becky promised the money blindly, saying she would have a garage sale if necessary, and begged them to rescue the baby without delay!

We want WAR, Int’l and its partners to be empowered to immediately intervene in a rescue—not wait for the funding needed to save a life.

This Week’s Rescue Story: Margaret

Too many times, the trafficker is someone the victim knows. For Margaret, this was her story. Margaret’s boyfriend forced her to sleep with other men in order for him to secure drugs.

A moment in time allowed her, along with her teenage daughter (who WAR, Int’l was advised had thankfully not been trafficked), to escape. Like many others, they simply left with the clothes on their backs. It was during this time, when they were hiding in a hotel, that WAR, Int’l received Margaret’s call and was able to provide assistance.

Because of funding in our 911 Rescue Fund, we were able to provide food, clothing, and other basic essentials. To be reunited with family in another city, we also assisted with transportation needs.

It is through the generosity of the WAR Family that WAR, Int’l is able to effect change for the lives of those in need, in their time of need. Together … we rescue. #EffectChange

This Week’s Rescue Story: Angel

The day COVID-19 hit the U.S. in 2020, Rebecca McDonald, founder & president of WAR, Int’l, hid a young woman in her car.

When you help a woman escape exploitation, you see the painfully high cost of freedom. While she leaves abuse behind, in many cases she’s also leaving everything she’s ever known. She may never see family again if they were the root problem. Starting over is exhausting, let alone while navigating trauma and healing as well. Freedom is not free but painfully expensive in a thousand different ways.

For hours, Angel had run barefoot from her traffickers before she got WAR, Int’l’s number from a national hotline. Thankfully, she called us and we were able to assist her. As Angel was running from her trafficker, Becky hid Angel in her car as we arranged safe housing.

Today, Angel is flourishing as a legal secretary; pro bono lawyers have cleared the crimes claimed against her; she has visitation with her kiddos again; and thanks to the WAR family, she was able to get a car. Her lawyers had told her she needed a car so the judge would take her seriously because her only mode of transportation at the time had been a bicycle.

Your WAR, Int’l GT ‘23 gift immediately empowers rescue and intervention.

This Week’s Rescue Story: Ramona

Overcoming unimaginable circumstances, Ramona found the strength to be a witness against her traffickers in court. There is great importance in shedding light on the realities of human trafficking and bringing perpetrators to justice.

Having received a call from a federal agency, WAR, Int’l was asked to take Ramona shopping for clothes she could wear to court. We went into overdrive to “outfit” this courageous survivor to be the key witness against a trafficking ring. We ignored the attention we attracted by shopping under armed guard, and instead, rejoiced as we watched Ramona’s countenance transform from fear to confidence!

She whispered, “Why do you care for me when you don’t even know me?”

We love that question! The 911 Rescue Fund allows us to immediately engage in the moment of danger and empowers us to love in the name of Christ. We applauded Ramona’s resilience and were honored to be a part of her story.

GT ‘23 is fast approaching, benefitting the 911 Rescue Fund that allows us to respond, inform, and reach into lives with action. A matching gift doubles its impact.

Please consider donating today as the need for our 911 Rescue Fund is very real.

This Week’s Rescue Story: Moses

At four months old, Moses was an adorable baby—but his family offered to sell him to anyone who wanted him. In this situation, he came to the notice of a group of our partners who took turns watching him. Fortunately for Moses, we found him before a trafficker did. While the law tied our hands, we were able to use money from the 911 Rescue Fund to pay for his immediate needs.

Consider donating today to start making an impact as your gift immediately empowers rescue and intervention.

Want to start effecting change today?

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