Houston
2014 Director’s Community Leadership Awards
Houston | United Against Human Trafficking |
Maria Trujillo accepts the award on behalf of United Against Human Trafficking. High-resolution image |
The Houston Division honors United Against Human Trafficking (UAHT) for its efforts to fight human trafficking by educating the public, training professionals, and empowering the community to take action. UAHT has proven invaluable to the Houston FBI Human Trafficking Task Force by providing training to civic and professional organizations. The organization has trained more than 26,000 people in the Houston area, including professionals such as those from Child Protective Services, the health care field, and others who can play a key role in identifying potential victims of this crime. In 2014, UAHT headlined a regional media campaign to use multi-lingual billboards and signs on taxi cabs, on airport shuttles, and in malls to saturate the Houston market with messages such as “Stop Modern Day Slavery” and “No Human Life Should Be For Sale,” as well as with information about how to report suspected trafficking. It also organized a press conference that featured remarks by Texas Governor Rick Perry. As a result of this media campaign, the Houston area now leads the nation in incoming tips to the national human trafficking hotline. |