TraffickingDHS to focus on combatting human trafficking

DHS enters the arena to combat human trafficking // Source: fletc.gov

The Obama administration has unveiled a plan which will focus on bolstering the prevention of human trafficking. Officer.comreports that DHS secretary Janet Napolitano announced the plan last week at the White House Forum on Combating Human Trafficking, saying it is the administration’s “latest effort to combat the hidden crime of human trafficking and help victims of human trafficking.”

The Federal Strategic Action Plan on Services for Victims of Human Trafficking has been developed by the White House and several federal agencies including the Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, and Labor. The plan will be open for comment for forty-five days.

Napolitano said the goal of the plan is to “better coordinate efforts across the federal government to identify, rescue and support victims.”

According to a release by Napolitano, once the plan is completed, it will “complement and advance anti-trafficking efforts already under way” at DHS and the administration’s previous anti-trafficking program, called the Blue Campaign was successful.

“Last year alone, we received more tips through the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement tip line than ever before, investigated a historic amount of cases and rescued more victims of human trafficking, and provided support to over 1,200 human trafficking victims,” Napolitano told Officer.com.

“We have also expanded our victim assistance program, and will continue to make combating human trafficking a priority.

“Working together, we can take comprehensive action to stop this terrible crime, rescue victims, and put perpetrators behind bars.”