What Survivors Say the U.S. Government Must Do to Effectively Combat Trafficking
Government programs must “understand the person, not just the crime” to effectively fight human trafficking. Only by focusing on forces that make people vulnerable and providing comprehensive services that assist survivors to fully recover can the U.S. eliminate trafficking nationwide.
“Human trafficking is a grave violation of human rights that transcends the actions of criminals and is deeply rooted in broader societal structures and norms.”
These are key takeaways from the 2025 Annual Report of the U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking, released via social media December 22 by the 13 presidentially-appointed trafficking survivors tasked with evaluating federal programs and suggesting improvements.
Download a .pdf of the full report here.
The report is the council’s 10th anniversary assessment. It reviews a decade of American progress and shortcomings by focusing on “persistent root causes that enable exploitation and hinder recovery.”
- Federal programs must “address systemic injustices and exploitation and promote justice, healing and self-sufficiency for survivors,” the council notes.
- Programs must “understand the connection between economic insecurity and labor trafficking” and must address “loopholes in immigration practices.”
- Awareness campaigns must “avoid over-reliance on trauma narratives” and “cultivate a deeper, more accurate public understanding and drive transformational change,” the report says.
- Survivors themselves must be involved in shaping public programs and delivering public services.
The council’s in-depth reflections include recommendations for better law enforcement, data gathering and the continuum of care for survivors.
ATEST applauds the council on its most recent report and thanks council members for their essential work.
