• defines “severe forms of trafficking in persons” as:  “(a) sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age; or (b) the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery”.

• provides for greater human trafficking victim protection, broader and more severe penalties for human traffickers, and greater prevention efforts of human trafficking both in the United States and all countries. 

• establishes the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons within the Department of State.

• creates victim rights, victim assistance, and victim advocacy through appropriations to the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Labor, Agency for International Development, and Department of State.  The funding is allocated for shelters, victim assistance and protection, research, job skills training facilities, victim rescue and relocation, and trafficking education and prevention.

• allows human trafficking victims residing within the United States illegally to apply for immigration benefits. 

• makes responsible, the federal agencies most involved in combating human trafficking and assisting trafficking victims, for coordination and cooperation:  creating policy, implementing prevention and education programs, establishing task forces and initiating investigations, enforcing anti-trafficking laws, creating victim assistance programs, and collaborating with non-governmental organizations and non-profits.  They are additionally responsible for monitoring human trafficking outside of the United States. 

In addition to reauthorizing the 2000 Act, the 2005 Reauthorization Act concentrates on sex trafficking within the United States as well as sex trade traffickers and exploiters, increases prison sentences for human traffickers, and affords greater victim protection through the Witness Protection Program. 

Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005

Along with reauthorizing the 2000 Act, the 2007 Reauthorization Act sanctions harsher penalties for human traffickers, expands victim assistance and protection for trafficking victims within the United States, creates new programs focused on sex trafficking/tourism and forced labor trafficking, and establishes new programs to prevent international human trafficking. 

Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2007

Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report 2009

To report an emergency human trafficking crime, call 911.
To report a non-emergency human trafficking crime or tip, contact:

U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Hotline - 866.DHS.2ICE

U.S. Department of Justice Trafficking in Persons & Worker Exploitation Task Force Hotline - 888-428-7581

National Human Trafficking Referral Hotline – 888.3737.888

Global Rescue Relief Trafficking Rescue Hotline - 877.264.8356