Belgium is the leading contributor to the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons (UNVTF) that assists victims through its global network of civil society organizations. Since adopting the Blue Heart Campaign in 2019, every year the Government of Belgium has led the national campaign to mark the World Day against Trafficking in Persons, illuminating federal buildings in blue.
Local authorities are often the first responders to human trafficking and play an essential role in preventing vulnerabilities. The Cities of Antwerp, Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, Kortrijk, Leuven, and Mons dress up and light up their iconic monuments to join the national efforts to raise awareness of this heinous crime.
In 2017, Rukus Avenue Group partnered with the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Trafficking in Persons to release “Music to Inspire”: a triple disc compilation featuring over 75 renowned artists and dignitaries from around the world as a collective fight by the music industry to end human trafficking under the “Artists United Against Human Trafficking” banner. All monies raised from the charitable album were donated to the Trust Fund in support of victims. Since then Rukus supports UNVTF to raise fund for victims of human trafficking on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. For example in 2020 UNVTF teamed up with Rukus Avenue Music Group to host a virtual fundraising concert for victims of human trafficking. Rukus Avenue Music Group
Air transport is increasingly exploited for human trafficking.
As a major gateway from overseas to Japan and vice versa, Narita International Airport Corporation is supporting the Blue Heart Campaign against human trafficking since 2019 to raise awareness and to create an environment throughout the airport where human trafficking is less likely to occur.
This year Narita Airport is distributing UNODC’s Blue Heart lapel pins to personnel of airlines, other airport organizations and business partners. By wearing the pin, they all contribute to raise awareness of human trafficking. In addition, campaign images are displayed on the digital signage boards in Narita International Airport passenger terminals on 30 July, United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) is actively supporting the Blue Heart Campaign through the Samawati Blue Heart Initiative. This initiative aims to raise awareness of the devastating impact of human trafficking on society. Committed to preventing and combating human trafficking, the KCAA is taking steps to ensure that all front-line staff of air operators and airports receive training on identifying and responding to trafficking situations. For more information on their efforts, you can follow @CAA_Kenya.
Since 2018 IATA supports the Blue Heart Campaign against human trafficking. IATA is working with airports and other stakeholders within the air transport sector to raise awareness of human trafficking and share guidance material, including ‘recognize and report' practices. International Air Transport Association (IATA)
On 14 September 2018, Ecuador's largest airline TAME EP joined the Blue Heart campaign: #AQUIESTOY (#HereIAm) against human trafficking. Assisted by UNODC, the airline plans to educate thousands of staff and customers to recognize potential trafficking situations and contact relevant authorities rapidly in these critical situations.
Ecuador's flagship airline TAME EP joins Blue Heart Campaign against human trafficking
16 February 2018 - Aeromexico has joined the Blue Heart Campaign: #AquiEstoy contra la trata de personas (#HereIAm against trafficking in persons), becoming the first airline to promote this new awareness raising initiative.
In 2018 The Mexico City Metro introduced a transportation system ticket to commemorate World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and support the #Aquiestoy Blue Heart Campaign.
Alliance of NGOs on Crime Prevention & Criminal Justice
Human trafficking is also dubbed the act of stealing people's dreams to lure victims into exploitation. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Mongolia, in cooperation with the Mongolian Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs launched the awareness raising campaign ‘Dream Umbrella’, a call to protect young Mongolian women’s dreams under the umbrella of knowledge about what human trafficking is and what the signs of exploitation are, and open discussions about life opportunities and migration decisions. In its second phase, launched July 2022, ‘Dream Umbrella’ has been tinged with the colors and symbols of the Blue Heart campaign, in pursuant to the spirit of partnership and delivering as one UN.
Since 2020, UBER in Latin America has supported the Blue Heart Campaign by adding the Blue Heart to their app in Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador. As a technology company that’s engaged in part in the transportation sector, Uber is in a powerful position to raise awareness of human trafficking. That is why Uber joined the UNODC Blue Heart Campaign and has also teamed up with the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking in Canada; Truckers against Trafficking, Polaris and ECPAT in the United States; and SinTrata and Crime Stoppers in Latin America to help educate users on how to spot the signs of human trafficking and what to do if they suspect someone is in a potentially dangerous situation.
Coyote Logistics provides road freight logistics solutions to thousands of shippers across Europe. Human trafficking is a prevalent issue in the transportation industry, so Coyote Logistics supports Blue Heart Campaign to help educate their network of carriers and shippers about the issues and warnings signs involved in human trafficking. Their goal is to equip, mobilize and empower members of the supply chain to combat this crime and make a positive impact. Coyote Logistics on Linkedin
