First-of-its-kind campaign has been launched by Secretary Napolitano to Combat Human Trafficking
In order to fight against the growing threat of human trafficking, the Secretary of Department of Homeland Security (DHS,) Janet Napolitano has recently launched the “Blue Campaign”. The DHS Blue Campaign has been aimed to combat human trafficking by creating public awareness, training law enforcement forces, and enhancing victim assistance programs.
According to Secretary Napolitano, the Department’s federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement forces, governments all over the world, communities across the country, and non-profit and non-governmental organizations will share the responsibility of combating human trafficking. She is of the view that the DHS Blue Campaign will bring out the traffickers to justice and help the victims.
John Morton, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director, Alan Bersin, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner, Alejandro Mayorkas, Director U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Ken Keene, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Deputy Director, and Alice Hill, Senior Counselor to Secretary Napolitano, jointly launched the Blue Campaign to help combat human trafficking and assist the victims.
A set of public outreach tools, including social media, public awareness campaigns, and a new website, www.dhs.gov/humantrafficking has been launched by the Department to aid citizens in recognizing and reporting the incidences of human trafficking.
Apart from the public outreach tools, the DHS Blue Campaign also incorporates initiatives to train law enforcement forces and DHS personnel, improved assistance for victims, and establishment of new partnerships and collaboration between agencies. Additionally, the campaign also includes placement of more victim assistance specialists for law enforcement personnel.
In view of fostering worldwide awareness about human trafficking, the Department has chosen the DHS Blue Campaign’s name and symbol. The symbol reminds us of the “thin blue line” of law enforcement. Further, the symbol combines global anti-human trafficking symbols, the Blue Blindfold and the Blue Heart. The Blue Blindfold symbol was created by the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Center and the Blue Heart, by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime.