Preventing and Responding to Sex Trafficking at Venues and Events

Since the introduction of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) in 2000, public discourse around human trafficking, including sex trafficking, has steadily increased. This is good news in the fight against sex trafficking because increasing awareness is an important aspect of the “3P” approach - prevention, protection for victims, and prosecution.

Importantly, event venues play a significant role when it comes to educating the public on the signs of trafficking. In fact, data shows that major events like the Super Bowl correlate with large spikes in media campaigns and discussions. The large crowds, demand for labor, and high population of tourists and temporary workers makes the connection between large events and an increased risk for sex trafficking a logical conclusion. 

So what can event venues do to address this issue and support the efforts of law enforcement?  Rahel Bayar, abuse and harassment prevention expert and CEO of The Bayar Group, offers this insight: “One of the most surprising yet effective tools is to name the issue, and engage all personnel from the hot dog vendor to the head of security on the signs and work to remind everyone that you do not need to be an expert in sex crimes to do good and create safe spaces.” 

We recommend applying the five stages of emergency management to prevent and respond to sex trafficking. 

1. Prevention - In addition to building your organization’s understanding of sex trafficking as a risk, contribute to community-wide prevention efforts.

• Launch internal and external awareness campaigns
• Screen vendors and contracted partners for compliance with anti-trafficking practices including policies and background checks. 
• Engage with community organizations and advocacy groups that work against trafficking. 
• Develop policies to prevent sex trafficking at your venue, including zero-tolerance policies for any type of complicity.

2. Mitigation - Use enhanced security practices to reduce the likelihood of sex trafficking activities within the venue while working to identify potential victims.

• Install security cameras and actively monitor feeds. Ensure that recordings are stored, backed-up, and readily accessible.
• Increase lighting in areas that are less visible or have lower foot traffic.
• Utilize security personnel who are trained to recognize and respond to suspicious activity. 

3. Preparedness- Provide staff with the internal and external resources to take the appropriate action if sex trafficking activities are suspected.

• Train staff on the signs of sex trafficking and the proper protocols for reporting suspected cases, including specific indicators and how to safely assist potential victims.
• Form partnerships with law enforcement agencies and other organizations that specialize in combating sex trafficking to assist in the preparation of response staff.
• Conduct drills and tabletop exercises to practice responding to reports of sex trafficking as well as assisting potential victims. 

4. Response- Create pathways for gathering information about potential sex trafficking incidents and implement a response plan.

• Develop a clear and confidential system for staff and guests to report suspected trafficking activities.
• Outline the expected response in an Emergency Operations Plan or similar document, taking care to note key points of contact, roles, and responsibilities. 

5. Recovery - Utilize internal and external resources to support victims, bystanders, and impacted staff while preserving normal operations.

• Establish an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that includes counseling and support for eligible employees and expand access to the resources for employees who are impacted by an incident but may not be permanent or full-time.
• Foster relationships with local organizations that can facilitate immediate help for victims. 

To event venue managers and safety professionals, this strategy will seem familiar as it is used to address a wide range of potential incidents and risks. For more information about how your organization can identify and respond to incidents of sex trafficking, reach out to us.

This blog was written in partnership with Rahel Bayar, CEO of The Bayar Group. For more information on navigating sex trafficking prevention and response, please contact The Bayar Group.