The Exodus Road

Corruption is one of the most difficult challenges in fighting human trafficking. Fortunately, our India team is very familiar with the insidious ways corruption can taint the pursuit of freedom. That’s why they knew this case was worth pursuing — even after multiple failed attempts to catch the trafficker. Tip-offs from corrupt law enforcement allowed the perpetrator to run. Justice was postponed. This particular trafficker also evaded police by operating in multiple cities, moving quickly to escape detection. But our team operates with grit and perseverance born of the conviction that freedom is worth a fight. Finally, we were able to confirm the trafficker’s location. He was operating out of a hotel, keeping a woman from Bangladesh trapped inside, forcing her to provide buyers with sexual services. Mobilizing law enforcement partners we knew we could trust, the location was moved on immediately. Police freed the woman. The trafficker was arrested — and is finally facing justice. This operation is a reminder that fighting trafficking is complex and requires immense grit. Sometimes the repeated setbacks make it seem easier to give up. But because of your unwavering support, our team is able to continue tenaciously pursuing freedom. Thank you!

Removing someone from human trafficking is so much more than the moment when they are physically taken from their trafficker’s reach. It’s an ongoing process of untangling the multi-faceted trauma of being trafficked. That’s why we have developed trauma-informed indicators to guide our process of reintegrating adult women survivors of trafficking into their communities when they leave Freedom Home (our aftercare center in Thailand). To make sure that we have provided the best support possible before a female survivor leaves Freedom Home, our social workers walk with her to meet goals in each of these areas: - Self-sufficiency - Economic independence - Budgeting ability - Housing security - Mental and emotional stability - Personal safety - Physical health - Relational support system Every survivor who meets her goals and leaves Freedom Home knows that she’s not heading into her new season of life alone. Our team continues to follow up on her needs for a minimum of two years, continuing to provide creative, individualized support as new needs arise. We’ve seen this comprehensive model work in the lives of survivors who have reintegrated after leaving Freedom Home. These bold young women know that they can trust our community’s care to hold them through the long road to true restoration. This year so far, we’ve reintegrated 3 young women, and we’re watching them thrive!

The flash of colored lights, the intense pulse of a dance track’s bass beat, damp tropical air: these are the trappings of what could be considered a good party. But for some teenage attendees in the Philippines, their experience was anything but a good time. Traffickers were selling these girls, most of them minors still in school, for sexual services at parties and in private karaoke bar rooms. The adult female and male perpetrators advertised on social media, detailing the kinds of services that partygoers could demand from the vulnerable teenagers.  Our team, working in support of multiple partner law enforcement agencies, crashed the illicit parties. They moved on a few sites where the girls were being forced to entertain. Traumatized and confused, the girls were scared, unsure if they were in trouble. But government social workers were there to reassure and bring them to shelters to be safely interviewed and cared for. Law enforcement arrested five perpetrators on charges of trafficking. Even as they processed the traffickers’ statements, police learned that their work wasn’t yet complete: pieces of a network still exist to this day. They will continue diligently pursuing others in the criminal ring who are exploiting other girls. Thank you for diligently supporting safety for girls like these survivors in the Philippines!

Did you know that you're changing the world? 🌏 Because of your support, 8 survivors of trafficking were freed this month, and 7 traffickers were arrested! These are their stories: • In a sobering case, two Thai teenage girls were freed from sex trafficking, and another teenager who was trafficking them is in custody. All are in follow-up care. • Our cyber investigations team led their first successful solo operation, freeing a Latin American mom from debt bondage! Read more: https://lnkd.in/gg47amPn • Despite many tip-offs, our tenacious India team persisted. A woman was freed from a hotel-based brothel, and a trafficker was arrested! Keep reading: https://lnkd.in/gPVwVr-A • This 17-year-old mom was being trafficked in Latin America. After tailing her trafficker's taxi with our help, police freed her. Get the full story below! https://lnkd.in/g5GyfE4R

We are thrilled to share that The Exodus Road has been awarded the prestigious João Alfredo Corrêa de Oliveira Counselor Medal from the Regional Labor Court of the 6th Region in Brazil! This honor, presented on May 28, 2024, was accepted by our Brazilian Country Director, Cintia Meirelles. Cintia’s leadership has been pivotal in forging groundbreaking partnerships with law enforcement across nine states in Brazil. Under her guidance, more than 30,000 officers have been trained to recognize and respond to human trafficking through our TraffickWatch Academy: Brazil, developed in collaboration with our partner, Cellebrite. Cellebrite's technology, including 11 Universal Forensic Extraction Devices (UFED – now known as Cellebrite Inseyets), has dramatically enhanced the capacity of law enforcement to investigate and respond to trafficking crimes. Their support has been vital in freeing nearly 400 survivors and arresting over 40 perpetrators in Brazil alone. Receiving this award underscores the collective efforts and dedication of The Exodus Road team and our partners. We’ve made significant progress in public awareness, police training, and community vigilance. Together, we are making a tangible difference in the lives of the vulnerable in Brazil. You can read our full release celebrating the award below!

We're hiring! The Exodus Road is looking for a Finance Director with expertise in handling financial data and a passion for working toward a freer world. This is a full-time position located in our Colorado Springs office. Applicants can send their resume and cover letter to careers@theexodusroad.com, using the job title in the subject line. For more about this position and other current opportunities, see our careers page: https://lnkd.in/dXN_a54M

One of the ways we can all fight back against human trafficking is knowing the signs. Follow The Exodus Road to learn more about their excellent online training that will teach you what to look for and practical steps to take.

At 17 years old, Olivia (not her real name) was already deeply familiar with the world’s hardness.  Under the control of a powerful network of traffickers, Olivia was sold to man after man for sex. This cycle meant that at just 16, she became a mom. Her son Diego* was born into abuse. Olivia’s trafficker had no patience for the inconvenience of a child. She was forced to continue meeting clients in a dingy, dirty room while tiny Diego slept fitfully on the hard floor. When The Exodus Road’s team found Olivia while investigating trafficking in her area, they immediately let law enforcement know about her situation. Police wanted to help her but weren’t sure how to infiltrate the movements of the powerful ring that controlled her. Our investigators worked closely with law enforcement to put together a plan. Their expertise allowed police to pinpoint Olivia’s location and the exact date and time she would be transported to meet a buyer. She would be riding in a vehicle with Diego. Police found the vehicle and pursued it, chasing the car through the city streets. They pulled the car over. Olivia and Diego were inside, vulnerable and confused about what was happening. A government social worker reassured them, accompanying them to safety. The work to bring justice to Olivia’s traffickers is ongoing. In the meantime, our expert psychologists are ensuring that Olivia and Diego have compassionate, trauma-informed care as they recover from the deep wounds of exploitation. Olivia has experienced the worst abuse the world has to offer. Because of The Exodus Road’s community of supporters, she’s also now experienced the possibility of help and healing. Thank you for offering that hope to Olivia and her baby! Read full story below!

The wait is over! You can access our video-based digital safety training for parents and caregivers TODAY! Influenced Parent Academy is filled with expert guidance on preventing child exploitation online. 🔸 Some of what you will learn: • How Gen-Z sees and interacts with the online world • The consequences of unmonitored excess time online • The prevalence of Sextortion — the fastest-growing crime against children in the U.S. • Warning signs parents should look for • The connection between online exploitation and human trafficking • Practical tools and resources for protecting the children in your life Course participants also gain access to incredible resources that will help: • Inspire compassionate conversations and foster connections with the teens in their lives • Discover how much power every child has to shape the online world positively • Implement practical steps to keep kids safe Designed by The Exodus Road and backed by 13 years of experience fighting exploitation globally, Influenced Parent Academy is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn from experts about protecting kids from online abuse of all kinds — including potential grooming and human trafficking. 🌟 SPECIAL LAUNCH DISCOUNT: Get a year of access to Influenced Parent Academy, a $90 value, for only $29! Enroll today at👇 influenced.org/academy

Over the past few years, The Exodus Road has built a team of expert, specialized cyber investigators who have prepared and delivered dozens of target packages to police. We are celebrating a significant milestone for this team! They took the lead on an investigation that resulted in freedom for a young woman in Latin America, who was exploited for labor in a country in Southeast Asia. This was the team’s first successful solo operation. Vera (not her real name) was a mom needing ways to support herself and her kids. When a family member in Southeast Asia offered her a job at his bar, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. So Vera got on a plane, flying toward her hope for a new future. When she landed, her hope evaporated. Her family member paid her far below the agreed-upon salary, offering too little to live on. He accused her of accruing a travel debt and demanded repayment. Vera found herself trapped in forced labor, in debt bondage to her family member. He threatened her with his powerful connections with local governing authorities: if you try to leave or tell anyone, I’ll destroy your life. The father of Vera’s children felt deeply uneasy about the signs he was seeing. So he reached out to The Exodus Road’s team for assistance. Our cyber investigations team quickly went to work, coordinating with government officials to build an escape path. But first, Vera had to get her passport— which her trafficker had taken and hidden. Everything hinged on Vera’s incredible bravery. She waited for an opportunity when he was away from home. Then she acted, sneaking in to reclaim her documents. Eventually, Vera made it home. This is a landmark case for The Exodus Road’s cyber investigations team. It’s an example of how technology can be used for immense good. Thank you for being part of empowering this forward momentum in the fight against trafficking!  Read full story below: