Raising Awareness for National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month

January is National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month and for AAHOA, it also is a month of action. There are an estimated 25 million to 40 million victims of trafficking worldwide, with an estimated 50,000 new victims being brought into the U.S. each year. And the COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened many of the conditions that lead to the trafficking of vulnerable populations.

As hoteliers, we are in prime position to lead the fight against sex and labor trafficking and that is precisely what we have been doing. AAHOA has long been at the forefront of the hospitality industry’s battle against human trafficking. Overall, we've trained nearly 7,000 people to recognize the signs of trafficking through our Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST) Inhospitable to Human Trafficking Training Sponsored by AAHOA program. Our goal is to have 100% of our members and their employees trained in human trafficking awareness and prevention.

The state of Florida and the city of Houston, TX, both recently passed laws mandating that hoteliers train themselves and their employees or face a fine. Florida’s law went into effect on January 1, while Houston’s goes into effect March 31. But even if you don’t live in those areas, it is imperative that you and your staff get trained as soon as possible. Trafficking not only destroys lives, it also can destroy livelihoods. Don’t wait. Get trained today to save lives and protect your business.

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Join Us for Our Upcoming Webcast: Understanding Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation

Register now for AAHOA’s upcoming webcast with BEST (Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking), coming up Jan. 28, 2021 at 3 p.m. EST, Understanding Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation. This session will provide a detailed overview of human trafficking and its impact on children in particular. You will learn what it is, how it happens, and why it is so prevalent, as well as what makes certain groups more vulnerable to exploitation and how you can identify and respond to individuals in need. Experts will also discuss important red flags for hotel staff to help spot human trafficking.

Attention Florida Hoteliers

Human Trafficking Awareness Training Deadline: January 1, 2021

As you may know, a new law is going into effect mandating that all Florida lodging establishments provide annual human trafficking awareness training for housekeeping and front desk employees.

Here is what you need to know:

By January 1, 2021, or within 60 days of hire, whichever is LATER, all housekeeping and front desk employees must be given annual training regarding human trafficking awareness.
Your business must keep a signed, dated acknowledgment of training by each trained employee. This acknowledgment may be kept in electronic form and must be made available to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation upon request.
By January 1, 2021, you must implement a procedure to report suspected human trafficking to either local law enforcement or the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888 or here.)
By January 1, 2021, post a human trafficking public awareness sign in a conspicuous location which is accessible to employees that is:
1. least 11 inches by 15 inches in size,
2. printed in at least 32-point type, and
3. which states in English and Spanish the following:

“If you or someone you know is being forced to engage in an activity and cannot leave, whether it is prostitution, housework, farm work, factory work, retail work, restaurant work, or any other activity, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 888-373-7888 or text INFO or HELP to 233-733 to access help and services. Victims of slavery and human trafficking are protected under United States and Florida law.”

“Si usted o alguien que conoce se ve obligado a participar en una actividad y no puede irse, ya sea prostitución, tareas domésticas, trabajo agrícola, trabajo de fábrica, trabajo de venta al por menor, trabajo en restaurante o cualquier otra actividad, llame al Centro Nacional de Recursos contra el Trafico de Personas al 888-373-7888 o envíe un mensaje de texto con INFO o HELP al 233-733 para acceder a ayuda y servicios. Las víctimas de la esclavitud y trafico de personas están protegidas por las leyes de los Estados Unidos y de la Florida.”

How can you satisfy the training element of the above requirements? It’s easy.

Simply offer your employees BEST'S Inhospitable to Human Trafficking Training sponsored by AAHOA! This course meets the requirements set forth in the law and is officially approved by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. AAHOA offers this all-digital training to AAHOA Members and their staff for FREE, it's available in English and Spanish, and is proven to increase the reporting of human trafficking incidents.

Human trafficking is a scourge that can affect every community across the nation. Hoteliers are uniquely positioned to help prevent this crime and help save lives by denying exploiters access to their properties. But they can do so only if they know how to look for and identify the signs of human trafficking.

That's why AAHOA is committed to promoting awareness of this grave violation of human rights by educating hoteliers on how to spot and report suspected instances of human trafficking. AAHOA developed partnerships with the Department of Homeland Security's Blue Campaign, Polaris, and Businesses Ending Slavery & Trafficking (BEST) to provide education and resources to hoteliers. AAHOA also is committed to working with victims' rights groups and lawmakers at the state and federal levels to support laws giving both hoteliers and prosecutors more tools to stop the victimization of men, women, and children in human trafficking.

Human Trafficking Awareness Training is a FREE digital educational offering available for AAHOA Members and their employees. Click the logo below to access the training:

With AAHOA, You Can Make a Difference

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What is human trafficking?

Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery, and it can take many forms. From forced prostitution to laborers forced to work under the threat of deportation or physical violence, millions of men, women, and children are exploited by traffickers and denied their fundamental right to freedom.

AAHOA's Resource Library includes webinars that are designed to give viewers a better understanding of how this criminal enterprise can set up shop at unsuspecting hotels. In addition to AAHOA's Human Trafficking Awareness Training, 'Don't Give Danger a Keycard to Your Property' and 'Human Trafficking Recognition and Response' are two webinars that will help viewers recognize and respond to incidents of suspected trafficking.

For more information regarding the laws protecting those who report suspected crimes in good faith, click here.

Below are some resources provided by the Department of Homeland Security to help hoteliers become more aware of the signs of human trafficking.

Human Trafficking 101	Hospitality Toolkit: Inform & Educate Your Employees

How can you help raise awareness?

Did you know that at least 38 states and the District of Columbia have laws to require some public agencies and/or private businesses to train their staff to recognize, report, and respond to human trafficking crimes and victims?

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State Requirements	Train Your Staff: How Can You Identify Person(s) Being Trafficked?

How can you help prevent human trafficking?

Almost every state in the country requires/encourages human trafficking training or the posting of the National Human Trafficking Hotline information in hotels.

AAHOA offers Human Trafficking Awareness Training, completely digital and free for all AAHOA members and their employees.

Earn Your Certificate TODAY - BEST Inhospitable to Human Trafficking Training, Sponsored by AAHOA

Other Resources:

National Hu man Trafficking Hotline Resource Center (888) 373-7888
Report Suspected Human Trafficking (866) 374-2423