SAFE training is free of charge. We are able to offer our curriculum and training resources to properties and businesses around the country through our online web portal. If you prefer that a SAFE staff member travel to your property, there may be a fee for transportation and accommodations, depending on the location.
Unfortunately, human trafficking happens to men and boys as well as women and girls. The International Labor Organization estimates that there are 20.9 million victims of human trafficking globally, including 5.5 million children. Of these, 45% are believed to be men and boys. It is unknown what percentage of trafficking victims in the U.S. are male, because unfortunately, there has never been a demographic survey of human trafficking victims in the United States.
Yes. The Internet has changed purchasing decisions in all areas of our lives, including the commercial sex industry. Instead of local “tracks” with high volume in just one or two areas within a city, Internet-based purchasing has caused a massive dispersion that now affects every level of hotel properties. Testimony from police, victims, and survivors confirm that even very high-end properties are being used for this illicit activity, making the hotels unwitting victims themselves. With sex trafficking estimated at a $99 billion-a-year industry, expenses for high-end resorts and travel costs can be accommodated by traffickers and buyers.
Yes, it is available nationally online or in person, if desired. The SAFE Action Project website was specifically designed to be the online portal to access curriculum, training videos, and customized webinars. In-person training from SAFE staff is available as well, using our innovative curriculum and materials
The SAFE Action Project acknowledges properties and businesses that have completed SAFE training for their employees. We recognize conducting organization-wide training about human trafficking is a significant commitment. Our “Be SAFE” recognition signifies that a business has taken the initiative to receive training to help protect their property and ensure all guests and employees are SAFE from this horrible crime against children. To see a list of our current “Be SAFE” properties, click here. For more information how your property or business can “Be SAFE”, please click here.
There are a number of key terms and phrases used within the commercial sex industry. Shared Hope International, has a reference page of sex trafficking terms you can find here. There are significantly less idioms specific to labor trafficking.
While not a definitive sign of sex trafficking, this is definitely a red flag. “Pimps” and traffickers are often portrayed as primarily male, yet there have been a number of cases citing female traffickers as well. It is also common for traffickers to “stay out of sight” and have others do the work for them to avoid police surveillance. Regardless of the gender, if suspicious warnings signs such as extreme control of movement and/or possessions, or questionable activities within the room appear evident, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-3737-888 to report the situation.
We are actively seeking local and regional partners across the country that are interested in becoming SAFE trained to launch efforts in their own areas. Potential partners include government agencies, anti-trafficking organizations or task forces, tourism associations, and more.
SAFE offers in-person and webinar “train-the-trainer” sessions. If you are interested in becoming a SAFE trainer or volunteer, please contact us here.
The SAFE Action Project was developed with the understanding that the hospitality industry is far too diverse to create a “one-size-fits-all” training program. Instead, SAFE created a flexible training “toolkit” of resources and training options that can be customized to fit the needs of individual properties and organizations. The time commitment to train depends on the customized training plan for your property or organization. For in-person trainings, we typically recommend 1-2 hours, particularly focusing on managers, supervisors, and security staff. Many properties choose to use SAFE department-specific training videos to train line staff; these training videos range from 5-10 minutes each.
All SAFE warning signs documents are available in both English and Spanish. Our Housekeeping training video is also available in Spanish, and other departmental training videos will include Spanish subtitles in the near future. As the SAFE Action Project continues further translation of our materials, we welcome suggestions of languages that would prove helpful to your training efforts.
The National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) is a national, toll-free hotline, available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year, in more than 200 languages. Experienced hotline staff answers every call, and determines whether it should be logged as a suspicious incident (which may prove valuable for law enforcement in the future) or to include local or federal law enforcement immediately via three-way calling to pursue an appropriate and timely response.
Properties often fear a police response, concerned that the hotel might be seen as complicit in any suspected situation, or that a response might become public and disruptive. This has shown not to be the case. Investigators and detectives who work with the national hotline are trained and compassionate in addressing human trafficking. They will work with your property to carefully complete their investigations so as not to disrupt other guests.
There are a number of key terms and phrases used within the commercial sex industry. Shared Hope International, has a reference page of sex trafficking terms you can find here. There are significantly less idioms specific to labor trafficking.