Recognizing National Slavery & Human Trafficking Awareness Month
written by Jeanne-Hélène Roy, YWCA Greater Cleveland Public Policy & Grants Manager
In 2010, January was designated National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, marking the 10th anniversary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000. Fifteen years later, that designation is not a symbolic observance—it is a call to confront a crisis that persists in our communities and to act with the urgency justice demands.
At YWCA Greater Cleveland, our vision of a community grounded in equity and human dignity compels us to respond. That is why we are proud to partner with the Greater Cleveland Coordinated Response to Human Trafficking (GCCR2HT), a multidisciplinary coalition led by the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking, which serves as the coalition’s backbone—providing leadership, training, data analysis, and coordination across systems that too often fail survivors.
Human trafficking—often called modern-day slavery—is the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit people for labor or sex. It does not discriminate by age, race, gender, or nationality, and it does not only occur “somewhere else”— we Clevelanders need only recall the horrific happenings on Seymour Avenue, mere blocks away from where I sit writing. It happens across borders and within them, in cities and suburbs, and in our own neighborhoods. Individuals denied access to basic necessities like safe housing, food, healthcare, and economic opportunity are disproportionately targeted and far more likely to be criminalized rather than recognized as victims when exploitation occurs.
Trafficking does not exist in isolation. It is deeply intertwined with sexual violence, child abuse, domestic violence, online exploitation, and financial instability. These “harms” share common roots—poverty, racism, gender inequity, housing insecurity, and under-resourced systems—and often impact the same individuals and families in a never-ending loop of despair. Addressing trafficking means tackling these intersecting injustices head-on.
Ohio consistently ranks among states with the highest numbers of reported human trafficking cases. In response, state agencies have joined the federal call to elevate awareness throughout the month of January, and state lawmakers have taken steps to strengthen penalties against traffickers. While accountability is essential, enforcement alone is not enough. Ending human trafficking requires sustained investments in prevention, survivor-centered services, and policies that reduce vulnerability in the first place.
GCCR2HT’s coordinated response follows the federal and international 4P framework:
Prevention through education and awareness;
Protection through legislation, direct services, and specialized legal support;
Prosecution of traffickers via the law enforcement and specialized court dockets; and
Partnerships among more than 75 agencies sharing data, expertise, and resources.
Through this partnership network, the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking convenes partners to deliver trauma-informed, comprehensive services to survivors while addressing root causes through education, systems change, and policy advocacy.
As a proud partner in this coalition, YWCA Greater Cleveland knows prevention begins with relationships. By showing up consistently for the vulnerable communities we serve—listening without judgment, building trust, and creating spaces of safety and belonging—we help reduce isolation and risk. We equip individuals, families, and communities with knowledge and resources, shifting the conversation from awareness alone to meaningful prevention and action.
Ending human trafficking is not the responsibility of survivors—it is a collective community responsibility. By investing in everyday actions, both big and small—checking in, believing survivors, advocating for equitable policies, and strengthening community supports—we build resilience and move closer to a future where exploitation has no place.
Human dignity is not negotiable. This January—and every month—we recommit to protecting it.
If you or someone you know needs help, The Collaborative to End Human Trafficking 24-hr hotline number is 216.433.6085.