ECPAT-USA Offers Hotel Industry Anti-Trafficking Training For Free
Your Role in Preventing Human Trafficking: Recognize the Signs is now available in 17 languages online.
Download the full press release.
Brooklyn, NY (March 27, 2020) - - - Today, ECPAT-USA, the nation's leader in combating child exploitation and trafficking, launched an online training for hotel associates on how to recognize and respond to signs of human trafficking in hotels. The 30-minute training, “Your Role in Preventing Human Trafficking: Recognize the Signs,” will be available for free to all members of the hotel and hospitality industry. This training was produced by Marriott International in collaboration with ECPAT-USA and Polaris with the support of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, an ECPAT-USA corporate partner in protection.
Hotels play a unique and pivotal role in the fight to end exploitation. Hotel workers can be the eyes and ears to suspected human trafficking, which makes it imperative that they have access to the tools and resources necessary to protect children, guests and themselves. Traffickers have long viewed hotels as a place where they can conduct illicit activities anonymously, enabling them to move victims without notice. However, through training, associates are given the information to help identify and respond to suspected instances of trafficking. With the right knowledge, a front desk attendant, housekeeper or security staff can all play a part in ending exploitation.
“For over a decade, our partnerships with members of the hotel industry have ensured that thousands of employees have been trained on how to recognize and respond to trafficking,” said Lori L. Cohen, Executive Director of ECPAT-USA. “By making this training available for free, thousands more will have access to this vital information on how we can all work to protect children from exploitation. It is with deep gratitude to AHLA, Marriott International and all the companies that have made fighting trafficking a priority that we launch Your Role in Preventing Human Trafficking: Recognize the Signs today.”
Available in 17 languages, the training includes information on sex and labor trafficking, follows major city and state ordinances on anti-trafficking training at hotels and guidance for how to set-up a response protocol if trafficking is suspected. Upon completing Your Role in Preventing Human Trafficking, associates will be able to recognize common indicators of trafficking and how to respond to a suspected incidence of trafficking. Participants may download a certificate of completion for their records at the conclusion of the 25-minute course.
More information on the training is available here.