Policy Awareness and Advocacy
Effective prevention requires strong laws, informed communities, and systems that protect people before exploitation occurs. This page provides an overview of current prevention focused policy priorities at the federal, state, and international levels, along with ways to engage responsibly.
United States Federal Policy Landscape
At the federal level, anti trafficking efforts are guided by laws that prioritize prevention, protection, and accountability. Key federal frameworks focus on addressing force, fraud, and coercion, strengthening victim protections, and improving coordination across agencies.
Current federal priorities impacting prevention include:
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Strengthening protections for children and youth, particularly within foster care and child welfare systems
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Expanding labor protections to reduce exploitation in high risk industries
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Improving data collection and reporting to better identify trafficking patterns
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Ensuring survivor centered services without criminalization.
Federal agencies such as the DOJ, DHS, and DHHS play a role in prevention through enforcement, training, and community based grants.
State Level Policy and Prevention Efforts
State laws play a critical role in how human trafficking prevention is implemented at the community level. Because states oversee education systems, child welfare, healthcare, and labor enforcement, state policy decisions often have a direct and immediate impact on vulnerability and protection.
At the state level, prevention priorities often include:
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Safe harbor laws that protect minors from criminalization and prioritize services
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Mandatory training for educators, healthcare workers, foster parents, and service providers
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School based prevention and age appropriate awareness education
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Improved coordination among child welfare agencies, law enforcement, schools, and community organizations
State level engagement gives communities a powerful opportunity to influence policies that shape local schools, foster care systems, workplaces, and service networks, making prevention more responsive and effective.
Kenya: Prevention and Protection Context
In Kenya, human trafficking prevention is addressed through national legislation and community based strategies that focus on vulnerability reduction and protection.
Kenya’s primary legal framework includes the Counter Trafficking in Persons Act, which criminalizes trafficking and supports prevention, protection, and prosecution efforts. Government ministries, local authorities, and civil society organizations work together to implement prevention through education, economic empowerment, and community awareness.
Key prevention challenges and priorities in Kenya include:
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Economic vulnerability and unemployment
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Child protection and school access
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Migration related risks
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Community awareness and reporting mechanisms
Community driven prevention, education, and economic strengthening remain critical to reducing vulnerability and protecting at risk populations.