Human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world, with more than 50 million victims worldwide.

And it’s happening today — in Fort Collins.

Simply put, human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception, with the aim of exploiting them for profit. Anytime a child is involved in a commercial sex act, whether or not there is someone directly forcing them to do so it is always trafficking. Men, women and children of all ages and from all backgrounds can become victims of this crime, which occurs in every region of the world. The traffickers often use violence or fraudulent employment agencies and fake promises of education and job opportunities to trick and coerce their victims.

Colorado sits at a geographic crossroads and is accessible via an international airport and by two major interstates. Such circumstances may result in the exploitation of many particularly vulnerable populations including immigrants on temporary visas, refugees, people experiencing homelessness, victims of domestic abuse or sexual violence and our youth.

The work of protecting the vulnerable and bringing justice and restoration to the oppressed is integral to the work of the gospel, and our churches will come alive as we tangibly live this out in our communities. Unbound was born out of the Antioch International Movement of Churches, and each Unbound Office started out as a grassroots ministry within a local church.

Unbound Ministries around the United States are working in three main areas:

1. MOBILIZE THE CHURCH: Churches are made up of brilliant people with unique skills and areas of influence. What if all of these members were mobilized to prevent, identify and respond to human trafficking, in their worlds? Whether a parent equipped to protect their kids or a doctor trained to identify the signs of human trafficking, our church members can be mobilized for a vital role in the fight.
2. PARTICIPATE IN UNBOUND GLOBAL: Unbound is supporting hundreds of human trafficking survivors across the world each year. Unbound ministries are invited to have global impact, bringing freedom and restoration to communities around the world.
3. SUPPORT LOCAL EFFORTS: Unbound Ministries mobilize church members for tangible community impact by supporting local efforts. Not only does this give a great community service opportunity for church members, but it also shows the community that the church is active in caring for the oppressed.

KNOW THE SIGNS
You can help by being aware of human trafficking and the signs to look for. If you ever suspect human trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or Colorado’s 24/7 hotline 1-866-455-5075 or TEXT 720-999-9724. Never approach a potential trafficker or trafficking victim, for your safety and the safety of the victim. In emergencies, call 9-1-1.