Gambling companies around the world are reaffirming their commitment to National Trafficking Prevention Month (NTPM) this January. NTPM highlights endemic problems in the US regarding human trafficking which claims 25 million victims per year.
Its goals are to protect and empower survivors of human trafficking, prosecute traffickers and bring about an end to the illicit enterprise entirely. The American Gaming Association (AGA) has released a new toolkit this week that will provide the gaming industry with the know-how to combat human trafficking.
These toolkits provide resources including communications materials, ways for gaming employees to participate, social media graphics and additional programs and guides. There are four weekly themes for the month.
From January 1-7, the theme will be Support Survivors, January 8-14 is Work with Law Enforcement, January 15-21 is Unite with Travel Partners and the month will end with Empower Employees from January 22-31.
The Support Survivors week will offer organizations ways to partner with NPOs that specialize in supporting victims of trafficking. The second week teaches gaming operators how to cooperate with relevant law enforcement agencies and communicate with them effectively.
The third week informs the industry of how best to collaborate with lodging and transit sectors to prevent trafficking. Finally, with Empower Employees AGA aims to ensure that customers and employees are in a safe environment and are acting of their own free will.
A statement in the AGA’s toolkit reads: “We have a moral and legal obligation to ensure that our customers and employees are in a safe environment acting of their own free will and to take meaningful steps to identify and prevent human trafficking.
“Awareness, due diligence and training are critical to protecting vulnerable individuals and keeping criminal activities out of our industry.”
