The Port of Seattle has launched its Port Allies Against Human Trafficking (PAAHT) pledge. During January’s National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the Port is calling on its partners and tenants to raise awareness of the signs and behaviors of human trafficking with their employees. The pledge represents the next step in the Port’s efforts as a regional leader in anti-human trafficking work — including awareness messaging and trainings — that began in 2018 with Commission passage of the Port’s Comprehensive Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy.
The latest statistics from the National Human Trafficking Hotline show that 955 signals (reports) were received in Washington state in 2021. Of those signals, 404 were from victims or survivors of human trafficking. Additionally, 233 cases involving 337 victims of trafficking were identified in the state. The hotline can be used to report suspicions and potential human trafficking issues, and it can provide help and resources, like medical care, financial assistance, housing assistance, or law enforcement assistance.
“Increasing awareness of human trafficking saves lives. This pledge will increase awareness of the signs of trafficking and how to report it, which is the best way to prevent and stop trafficking through Port of Seattle facilities,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Sam Cho. “We are grateful to the initial signatories of the pledge and know that in the coming weeks and months more of our partners and tenants across Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and at our maritime facilities will join us to take the pledge.”
“Education and awareness are key to recognizing human trafficking at our gateway,” said Port of Seattle Commissioner Toshiko Hasegawa. “Active participation from pledge members will help to interrupt this monstrous underground economy.”
The initial signatories to the PAAHT pledge includes BEST, Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, BF Foods (Poke to the Max), HMS Host, Concessions International, SSP America, Dufry/Hudson Group, and 1915 KCHouse (Lucky Louie).
Organizations that sign onto the pledge are joining the Port in combatting human trafficking by:
- Endorsing and amplifying Port-led public education campaigns on human trafficking at and around all Port facilities
- Promoting participation in awareness training opportunities to build staff knowledge to recognize typical trafficking signs and behaviors
- Educating and urging staff and bystanders about how to report occurrences of such signs and behaviors via the National Human Trafficking Hotline (1-888-373-7888 or texting 233-733) or via 911
To support PAAHT members, the Port will make anti-human trafficking trainings available in multiple, accessible formats to any worker at Port facilities, as well as making print and digital educational materials available in partnership with community-based organizations and survivors of trafficking.
Pledge members will also have access to the first proprietary anti-human trafficking training developed by a port authority, which the Port of Seattle created in partnership with Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST).
“Human traffickers often move victims through airports and seaports,” explains Mar Brettmann, CEO and Executive Director of BEST. “This next step by the Port of Seattle will provide valuable training and materials to help even more employees learn what they can do to help stop labor and sex trafficking in Washington. When more employees learn to recognize the signs of human trafficking, they can assist more people to be able to find freedom and hope.”
“Air travel can be misused by criminals harboring people and youth for the purpose of exploitation, which is why we train our flight attendants to look for signs of human trafficking on every flight,” said Gloria Chow-Vanderwell, managing director of inflight services at Alaska Airlines. “We applaud the Port for making training materials available to all airport employees who, together with airline employees, can help to put an end to human trafficking at SEA.”
In addition to the trainings, the Port of Seattle posted 310 signs in the restrooms and passenger loading bridges at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, as well as 20 signs at Port of Seattle parks and 10 signs at Fisherman’s Terminal on how to report suspected trafficking. The signage includes language in eight languages beyond English, including Spanish, Tagalog, Korean, Chinese, Somali, Russian, Ukrainian and Vietnamese.
In its January 10 meeting, the Port of Seattle Commission approved a proclamation recognizing January as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. The Port of Seattle is one of the recipients of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2022 Human Trafficking in Transportation Impact Award. This honor will provide $50,000 in funding for SEA to work with other airports around the country to develop standardized anti-trafficking messaging.
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