U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

New Guidance on Creating Human Trafficking Public Awareness and Training Materials

The President’s Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (PITF) has released the Senior Policy Operating Group Public Awareness and Outreach Committee Guide For Public Awareness Materials (non-binding) publication.

This guide serves as a public resource that reflects the common messaging, standard statistics, and shared guidelines on images that Senior Policy Operating Group (SPOG) agencies use when creating public awareness and training materials on human trafficking. Other organizations and members of the public are encouraged to follow this guide and incorporate it into their organization policies and practices.

Among the recommendations in this guide is to avoid images that display physical abuse, reinforce misconceptions about human trafficking, or sensationalize the issue, such as those depicting victims of trafficking in chains, behind bars, or in handcuffs.

The PITF consists of 19 federal government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice, responsible for coordinating U.S. government-wide efforts to combat trafficking in persons. The SPOG consists of senior officials designated as representatives of the PITF agencies. Both the PITF and SPOG work year-round to address the many aspects of human trafficking both in the United States and around the world.

Date Published: March 27, 2020