Junior League of New Orleans (JLNO) joined the Association of Junior Leagues International’s initiative, the ABOLISH Movement, in 2019 and is committed to uplifting the anti-trafficking efforts of experts in the field through free educational programming for the public and JLNO members.
The Abolish Movement was founded in 2014 by the Junior League of Tampa to unite Tampa organizations and agencies in drawing attention to the problem of child sex slavery in the Tampa Bay area. In 2017, the Association of Junior Leagues International adopted ABOLISH as an association-wide initiative. The ABOLISH Movement has since expanded to educate the public about all forms of human trafficking.
JLNO is committed to raising awareness, providing support, and putting an end to this heinous crime. To learn more about the issue and how you can help, visit the ABOLISH homepage and join us at our awareness events throughout the year.
Human trafficking is when a person is physically forced, tricked or psychologically coerced into providing sex or labor services. Human trafficking can happen to anyone — children, adults, elders, men, women, transgender, gender nonconforming, U.S. citizens and foreign nationals.
Traffickers take advantage of the most vulnerable populations. This is particularly true for those who are marginalized or have a compromised legal status, such as foreign nationals or formerly incarcerated people.
The term ‘trafficking’ is relatively new, but human trafficking has happened in New Orleans for as long as the city has existed. However, we have limited data to understand the magnitude of sex and labor trafficking in the city because trafficking is a hidden crime. Many times, victims and survivors of trafficking do not come forward.
If you see someone who might be a victim of trafficking, please contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. This is the best way to connect to local partners in the Greater New Orleans area to support the potential victim.
If we can go “upstream” and work toward preventing vulnerabilities, we can help prevent trafficking from happening. The best means for prevention is to support initiatives that improve housing security, living wages, childhood wellness and development, equality and access to services.