What is Dressember?

Approximately one million children are trafficked each year for forced labor and sexual exploitation. Every year more women and children end up in human trafficking due to financial circumstances, poverty, lack of education, discrimination, and unemployment. Yet, human trafficking also occurs due to instability in income and instability in the family. Human trafficking continues to increase globally, and it is often not discussed in a conversation. Therefore, Dressember is about wearing dresses or a tie throughout December to bring awareness of human trafficking.

There are many components of human trafficking such as forced labor, sexual exploitation, removing and selling organs, slavery, and debt bondage. Someday human trafficking might come to a stop. In the meantime, Dressember is a way to start a conversation about Human Trafficking and preventing it. It began in 2005 by Blythe Hill who started her movement to end human trafficking. She challenged herself to wear a dress every day throughout December.

Dressember is now a foundation that donates to anti-trafficking programs. Post information about Human Trafficking prevention and Dressember on social media. Dedicate some time to bringing awareness about human trafficking statistics and using resources that can be found on the Dressember website. A dress is more than a fashion statement and it has many meanings. You can wear a blue dress for Dressember or another color dress throughout December.

Blue is recognized as the designated color for human trafficking especially during human trafficking awareness month which takes place in January. Dressember helps to be alert and to start a conversation with your children to prevent human trafficking. As well as listening to survivors with compassion and to listen about their experiences of human trafficking. Do not be afraid if you see something or hear something and report it to the authorities. It is necessary to observant and to know the warning signs that might suggest human trafficking.

Human trafficking can occur to anyone. Some warning signs can be a child not attending school for more than a year. Also, a child stops going to school for many months without a reason. There are physical bruises and sometimes may be hidden from the family. Changes in behavior, mood, and disconnecting from friends, family, and acquaintances.

Getting paid a low wage and working overtime without being paid. As well as not having a stable home and not having enough possessions. Furthermore, a person is afraid and too shy to speak to anyone. Nonetheless, human trafficking affects everyone and needs to end. Here are websites about Dressember. 

Dressember:

https://www.dressember.org

Human Trafficking Statistics and Facts:

https://www.safehorizon.org/get-informed/human-trafficking-statistics-facts/#definition/

* Font and background from PiZap

* Dress clip art at clipground.com/pics/get