About Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is a severe form of exploitation for labor (including sex) involving force, fraud, or coercion.
Exploitation: The action or fact of treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their work.
Force: To make someone do something against their will.
Fraud: Wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain.
Coercion: The practice of persuading someone to do something by using force or threats.
Who experiences it?
Human trafficking is a crime against a person, not a border. It can impact individuals from a range of diverse backgrounds and identities, including:
- Those at risk of or experiencing homelessness
- Individuals struggling with substance dependency
- LGBTQIA+ community members
- Sex Workers
- Minors not residing with legal guardians
- Undocumented individuals
- Asylees and refugees
Where does it happen?
Human trafficking occurs across Colorado, in both urban and rural areas. It can take place in a variety of settings and sectors, including:
- Food service and hospitality
- Construction
- Farming and agriculture
- The commercial sex industry
- Temporary foreign worker visa programs
- Debt bondage scenarios with recruiters or smugglers
- Involuntary servitude or forced marriage arrangements
- Exploitative labor operations involving children
How to help
Volunteer
Become a volunteer advocate for Colorado’s Human Trafficking Hotline. Advocates take calls/texts remotely and are trained to handle a variety of scenarios with a focus on connecting callers to the hotline’s vetted list of statewide resources.
Get Trained
Grow your knowledge about human trafficking. LCHT leads trainings for community groups and a variety of professionals on the frontlines of combatting human trafficking in Colorado.
Donate
Your generosity has the power to advance progress through anti-trafficking training, community-based research, the strengthening of Colorado’s 24/7 Human Trafficking Hotline, and the development of future human rights leaders.
Stay informed
Keep up with the latest in Colorado’s anti-trafficking movement.
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Common myths & misconceptions
What’s Happening in Anti-Trafficking
Our Stories
7 Surprising Facts About Human Trafficking in Colorado
Human trafficking is a complex crime that is often misconstrued by the media and Hollywood. While many people associate trafficking with distant places or dramatic abductions, the reality is far closer to home.
Q&A with Research Director, AJ Alejano-Steele: Addressing Root Causes of Human Trafficking
We recently sat down for a conversation with Annjanette Alejano-Steele (AJ), Research Director and Co-Founder at LCHT. Learn why research is critical to creating effective strategies that address the underlying causes of this complex issue—and what keeps her motivated to do this work.
Knowledge is Power: Keeping Colorado’s Youth Safe from Human Trafficking
At the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking, we train professionals who may encounter situations of exploitation in their line of work—nurses, doctors, foster care families, educators, police officers, and more. But did you know that we also directly interact with and train youth?