As global attention turns to the upcoming international men’s football/soccer competition, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is launching a special five-day human trafficking awareness and outreach effort to educate commercial motor vehicle drivers, motor carriers, law enforcement officers and the public about the crime of human trafficking, the signs to look for and what to do if you suspect someone is being trafficked.
The Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative (HTAI), scheduled for June 1-5, will bring together law enforcement agencies, transportation safety organizations, professional drivers, trucking and motorcoach companies, and concerned citizens to address the increased risks of human trafficking associated with large-scale international events.
Human trafficking is a significant concern surrounding major events – such as the upcoming football/soccer competition – due to the massive influx of visitors, increased demand for hospitality, and strained local resources and personnel. Such a large-scale special event may increase the demand for commercial sex, which could increase sex trafficking, and vulnerable workers in certain industries may suffer from labor trafficking during the preparation and production of the event.
CVSA’s member countries of Canada, Mexico and the U.S., which are collectively hosting the international football/soccer competition, will participate in the human trafficking awareness and prevention campaign by utilizing resources, training industry and enforcement personnel, handing out materials, hosting in-person and digital campaigns, etc.
- TAT (formerly Truckers Against Trafficking) offers HTAI postcards, wallet cards, posters and window decals. Simply fill out the online order form and the materials will be mailed to you free of charge. Note: Supplies are limited.
- The Alliance offers human trafficking awareness resources to the public.
- CVSA’s industry and enforcement members may access and complete on-demand human trafficking training in the CVSA member portal.
- Download and use our HTAI support image, available in English, French and Spanish.
Human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception with the aim of exploiting them for profit. Men, women and children of all ages and from all backgrounds can become victims of this crime, which occurs in every region of the world, including North America. Human traffickers often use violence, fraudulent employment agencies, and fake promises of education and job opportunities to trick and coerce their victims.
Human trafficking remains a critical global issue, with traffickers often exploiting crowded environments and increased demand during major events. This initiative underscores the importance of coordinated efforts to disrupt trafficking networks and support survivors.
To find out what your jurisdiction is doing for human trafficking awareness, contact the agency/department responsible for overseeing commercial motor vehicle safety within your state, province or territory.
HTAI is part of CVSA’s Human Trafficking Prevention Program. The program seeks to reduce human trafficking throughout North America through coordinated enforcement, investigation and education within the commercial motor vehicle industry.
CVSA is a nonprofit organization composed of local, state, provincial, territorial and federal commercial motor vehicle safety officials and industry representatives. The Alliance aims to prevent commercial motor vehicle crashes, injuries and fatalities and believes that collaboration between government and industry improves road safety and saves lives.