FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Working Together to Support Victims of Human Trafficking
April 10th, 2013 Posted by Katie Dixon
The following post appears courtesy of Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It originally appeared on the Department of Homeland Security Blog.
This morning, I joined Senior Advisor to President Obama Valerie Jarrett and Attorney General Eric Holder at the White House Forum on Combating Human Trafficking where we announced the Administration’s latest effort to combat the hidden crime of human trafficking and help victims of human trafficking. During the forum, we released a draft Federal Strategic Action Plan on Services for victims of Human Trafficking, which will be open for public comment for 45 days.
Developed collaboratively with federal partners including the Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, and Labor, and with leadership and guidance from the White House, this plan will better coordinate efforts across the federal government to identify, rescue, and support victims. You can view the plan and provide provide your comments here. When final, the Plan will complement and advance anti-trafficking efforts already underway at DHS.
Nearly three years ago, we launched the DHS Blue Campaign to unite the Department’s effort to combat human trafficking and leverage our relationships with other federal agencies, state, local, tribal and territorial law enforcement, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and international partners.
Last year alone, we received more tips through the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 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. 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. We look forward to receiving your feedback.
