We all have a part to play in the fight to end human trafficking
Dressember Reading Day #31
Every day during this month, we’ve answered common questions and broken down different aspects of human trafficking on our blog and Instagram. It’s not too late to join us in raising awareness about the injustice of human trafficking by sharing, donating, or joining the Dressember campaign.
For most of us, January 1st not only rings in the new year (hello, roaring 2020s!), but it also marks the end of Dressember. Some of you may continue wearing a dress until the donations stop or were inspired by one of our Dressember advocates who wore dresses for over a year! While today is the last day of December, you can still fundraise in January. If you didn’t feel it before, by now you’ve probably got the advocacy bug—what can I do now? Here are some ways to be an everyday advocate beyond Dressember:
Advocate during Human Trafficking Awareness Month
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month! Continue to share facts and statistics about human trafficking. Maybe involve friends who didn’t participate in Dressember in advocacy efforts. Research if your community is holding fundraisers or awareness days, and be sure to follow Dressember on Instagram as we share more about the signs of human trafficking in January.
Know the signs
Signs of human trafficking vary between the types of exploitation, but here are signs that are often consistent across all types. Individuals may:
act as though they are forced or coerced to carry out specific activities
demonstrate signs of physical or psychological abuse (lacking self-esteem, anxious, bruising or untreated medical conditions)
seem to be bonded by debt
have little or no contact with family or loved ones
be distrustful of authorities
have threats made against themselves or family members
not be in possession of their own legal documents
Report
The STOP APP allows you to anonymously and securely report an incident of human trafficking via a text message, photos, and videos. The information is then sent to the STOP THE TRAFFIK database and is shared with the proper authorities, organizations, and communities. (Note: it is not a substitute for calling the authorities. If it is clear that someone is at risk and in danger and in an emergency situation then you should contact the proper authorities.)
The National Human Trafficking Hotline is an additional service where you can call 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733 to report human trafficking.
Purchase ethical clothing and products
Dressember is not only a campaign for organizations working in prevention, rescue, and aftercare, but it is a way to change our everyday buying habits. When we shop consciously and try to know the makers of our clothes, we are helping to create sustainable supply chains with higher ethical standards. When we invest in companies who are carrying out these sustainable and humane practices, we are prioritizing humanity over rampant consumerism.
While we encourage you to continue to show up and advocate to end human trafficking, we also know that Dressember often requires more energy than it seems. Whether you wore the same dress or tie every day, wore a dress in blizzards, wore a dress when you would literally prefer wearing anything else, whether you hit your fundraising goal or not, your advocacy and inspiration is making a difference!
Further Resources
Spotting the Signs and Reporting
National Human Trafficking Hotline
Changing our buying habits
About the Author
Madeline Van Husen first decided to be a part of Dressember while procrastinating physics homework her senior year of high school and the rest is herstory. When she isn’t too busy hosting hot chocolate parties, asking people the 36 questions, or avoiding the dreaded side-hug, you can find her curled up reading a good book, creating playlists on Spotify or drinking copious amounts of tea or frozen hot chocolate. Maddy is a senior at Boston College and wants to be like her mom when she grows up.