Human Trafficking Institute

traffickinginstitute.org

The U.S. government recently released a report analyzing the highest-impact anti-trafficking strategies it has funded over the past decade—HTI's work was at the top of the list. The Human Trafficking Institute (HTI) is transforming the global fight against trafficking by targeting the root cause: traffickers. Rather than treating symptoms, HTI dismantles the incentive structure that allows trafficking to thrive, flipping the fear dynamic so that traffickers are afraid and victims are emboldened. While many anti-trafficking efforts focus downstream—serving victims after the harm is done—HTI goes upstream to cut off trafficking at its source: the traffickers. By stopping traffickers, HTI not only frees current victims but also prevents countless others from ever being exploited. The math is simple: fewer traffickers = fewer victims. That’s the only path to sustainable, systemic change. HTI partners with governments to build large-scale enforcement teams, equip them with data-tested strategies to prosecute traffickers at scale, and embeds HTI’s corps of world-class enforcement experts to build their skills and drive strong cases against traffickers. The result? Some of the largest increases in enforcement on the planet. Once traffickers routinely face asset seizure, prison time, and reputational ruin, their business model collapses, and traffickers begin to opt out at scale. Over time, HTI-equipped specialized units become permanent, government-funded enforcement engines, delivering ongoing protection without ongoing philanthropic investment.