Department of State/ Global Human Trafficking Hotline FY 2017
THE FUNDING NEED
$300,000 for the Department of State to launch the Global Human Trafficking Hotline as recommended by Executive Order 13627, Strengthening Protections Against Trafficking in Persons in Federal Contracts.
Need
In January 2015, the U.S. Government released regulations to implement Executive Order 13627, Strengthening Protections Against Trafficking in Persons in Federal Contracts. These regulations require “a process for employees to report, without fear of retaliation, activity inconsistent with the policy prohibiting trafficking in persons, including a means to make available to all employees the hotline phone number of the Global Human Trafficking Hotline at 1–844–888–FREE and its email address at [email protected].” FAR § 52.222-50(h)(3)(ii).
The FAR 22.17 policy can ultimately succeed only if workers have an independent channel of communication to report concerns. Providing access to a multimodal hotline (e.g., phone, email) gives contractor employees and agents an easy means to safely report any indication of exploitation or human trafficking in their workplace or community. We recognize that in order to build trust with workers who may fear retaliation they must receive swift and sustained support. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately provide funds to the State Department to scope the most effective hotline model to ensure workers receive the assistance they require.
Solution
We request $300,000 for the Department of State to launch the Global Human Trafficking Hotline. This funding will enable the Department of State to provide a confidential and independent hotline to support the goals of Executive Order 13627.