Human Trafficking Awareness & Resources

 

Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (also known as CSEC or child sex trafficking) has been a growing issue in Hawaiʻi and throughout the United States. CSEC refers to a “range of crimes and activities involving the sexual abuse or exploitation of a child for the financial benefit of any person or in exchange for anything of value (including monetary and non-monetary benefits) given or received by any person” (OJJDP). Commercially sexually exploited youth are at high risk for mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, substance abuse and suicidality. It has become critical to increase awareness of CSEC and address related issues that impact exploited children and youth. The Child & Adolescent Mental Health Division (CAMHD) is committed to helping survivors of CSEC obtain resources to help them heal and thrive.
 

Hotlines

Tip Lines & Chat Sites
If you suspect any human trafficking activity, please report them.

  • To report child trafficking, call the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Human Services Child Trafficking (Child Welfare Services): (808) 832-1999 (O‘ahu) | +1 (888) 398-1188 (Neighbor Islands) | or call the Police Department
  • Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Tip Line: +1 (866) 347-2423 (24/7)
  • National Human Trafficking Hotline: +1 (888) 373-7888 | Anti-Trafficking Hotline Advocates are available 24/7 to take reports of potential human trafficking. You can also text the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 233733 or chat with someone at the National Human Trafficking Hotline via https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/chat
  • Report missing children or child pornography to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC): +1 (800) THE-LOST (843-5678) or through their Cybertipline.

Local Resources

Child & Family Service
Sex Trafficking in Hawaii

Child & Family Service (CFS) is a Hawaii-born, impact-driven, community-based organization with a mission of strengthening families and fostering the healthy development children. Their statewide community programs include preschool education, prevention of child abuse and neglect, programs for at-risk youth, domestic violence emergency services, therapeutic counseling, employment assistance, programs for elder care, and more.

Pearl Haven
CAMHD Awards HOʻŌLA NĀ PUA’S “BROMLEY FAMILY PEARL HAVEN CAMPUS” with CSEC Residential Services Contract

Ho’ōla Nā Pua (New Life for Our Children) was founded to shine a light on the dark criminal enterprise of sex trafficking, placing the health of Hawai’i’s youth at the center of our mission and vision for our community. They are committed to the prevention of sex trafficking and providing care for children who have been exploited. Ho’ōla Nā Pua (HNP) is dedicated to creating a community where children are safe and have the ability to embrace their bright futures. Today, not only does HNP offers integrated programming that reaches thousands of youth and community members, and stakeholders across the state of Hawaii annually, but is considered a national partner and a rising standard in the global effort to stop sex trafficking, permanently.

The Bromley Family Pearl Haven Campus is a premier Special Treatment Facility (STF). Pearl Haven’s 32-bed, a residential treatment program is designed to provide trauma-informed therapeutic services for adolescent girls and gender non-conforming youth ages 11 to 17 who present with severe emotional disturbances and complex trauma specific to commercial sexual exploitation and those who have suffered other types of abuse or exploitation.

  • In Hawai’i, the average age of children when they were first sex trafficked is 11
  • 3-in-4 victims are trafficked by someone they know
  • An estimated 2,780 Hawai’i youth may be at risk for commercial sexual exploitation each year
  • 64% of Victims victims are Native Hawaiian
Susannah Wesley Community Center
Trafficking Victim Assistance Program (TVAP) Hawaii

The Susannah Wesley Community Center provides victim-centered, trauma-informed comprehensive case management to survivors of all forms of human trafficking statewide for minors and on the island of Oahu for adults. Certain services are covered statewide for adults through different funding sources.

National Resources

Blue Campaign
One Voice. One Mission. End Human Trafficking. | #WearBlueDay: January 11

Blue Campaign’s largest initiative is #WearBlueDay on January 11th. To raise awareness of human trafficking, they invite the public to take photos of themselves, friends, family, and colleagues wearing blue clothing and share them on social media – Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram – along with their #WearBlueDay hashtag. Anyone can participate, all you need is a piece of blue clothing!

Hope for Justice
January is National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Hope for Justice investigate cases of human trafficking and work closely with law enforcement to rescue victims and ensure evidence is gathered against perpetrators to see them brought to justice. Their team of investigators is drawn from some of the country’s most respected and prestigious law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI and NCIS.

Polaris Project
Polaris is named for the North Star, which people held in slavery in the United States used as a guide to navigating their freedom.

The Polaris Project respond to sex and labor trafficking as they happen. They learn from that response and share that learning. Further, they use what we know to pilot big, new ideas for slowly, carefully, and finally, dismantling big, old systems that make trafficking possible. They are focused on where they can make the most change: Systems that trap impoverished migrants in degrading conditions; systems that allow sex traffickers to hide behind screens and systems that, if optimized, would allow the financial services industry to use traffickers’ own money to shut them down.

Training Resources

Sex Trafficking Intervention Research
The Arizona State University School of Social Work Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research (STIR) has training resources, information, research, and brochures that can be accessed and downloaded for free.

Crisis Support Resources

Crisis & Suicide Prevention

 

Last reviewed on October 23, 2023