The White House recently released the 2021 National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking (National Action Plan). The National Action Plan lays out a broad-based, multidisciplinary, whole-of-government approach to addressing human trafficking and its harmful impacts on survivors, their communities, and our national security.
The National Action Plan calls upon the U.S. Department of Justice, including OVC, and its partners across the Executive Branch to implement a number of Priority Actions to enhance efforts to combat human trafficking in the United States.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland states,
“The department welcomes the issuance of this National Action Plan, which will streamline coordination among federal anti-trafficking partners, strengthening our ability to seek justice for victims and hold perpetrators accountable. We are committed to using every tool at our disposal to prevent human trafficking; increase detection, investigation and prosecution of human trafficking crimes; and expand support and services to protect and empower survivors.”
The National Action Plan emphasizes the use of victim-centered and trauma-informed approaches that are necessary for success in anti-trafficking efforts. Among the Priority Actions listed in the National Action Plan, OVC will—
- continue to prioritize its housing program to support safe, stable housing options for human trafficking victims;
- consider enhancements to the Enhanced Collaborative Model Task Forces to Combat Human Trafficking program to increase collaboration between victim services, law enforcement, and community and survivor stakeholders;
- release a self-guided training on integrating trauma-informed engagement in supporting individuals and communities impacted by human trafficking; and
- explore, with other federal partners and in partnership with federally funded service providers, developing a pilot collaboration to overcome current challenges in connecting survivors to sustainable housing and meaningful employment.