Safe Place®: How Companies Are Combating Human Trafficking

Imagine a casual walk down a city street in your town one evening. With no warning, a black van abruptly pulls up next to you. Instantly your heart begins to pick up its pace.

With their vehicle still running, four men suddenly exit and make a quick beeline toward you. You realize now that this is an abduction attempt. The attackers, collaborating in their efforts, easily overpower you.

Your valiant display of kicking and screaming fails and you are ultimately hoisted, like a bag of mulch, into their van. Though you are certain people witness your situation, no one comes to your aid.

Once inside the van, three of the four assailants endlessly beat you until you give up resistance. The last man walks behind the van and quickly closes the back doors.

In that moment, you know you are alone and begin to wonder whether you will see your family, friends, and community again. You feel the sudden jerk of the vehicle peeling off at light speed. Then, a cold prick. Something sharp in your arm. As you drift in and out of consciousness towards a dreamless sleep state, your last thoughts are, “Will anyone ever find me?”

This story serves as one example of how we witness members of our human family endure the worst of situations, yet stand by and do nothing.