Nov. 28, 2022
NBAA encourages members to participate in upcoming Blue Lightning Initiative (BLI) events to learn how they can help prevent human trafficking in the U.S.
Two in-person summits in Washington, DC, will recognize National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
The first, the counter-trafficking in transport event, will be held Jan. 25 and will highlight the role businesses play in preventing human trafficking and will discuss best practices for reporting such activity. The second event, set for Jan. 26, will raise awareness of human trafficking in aviation, featuring subject-matter expert presentations, partner representative panels and a lived experience expert perspective on best practices to combat the crime.
The Blue Campaign, which organizes Blue Lightning Initiative events and other activities to raise awareness about human trafficking and appropriate response, said businesses are in a unique position to recognize and report such wrongdoings. Public-private partnerships are essential to combat this heinous crime.
“NBAA and business aviation strongly support the BLI’s effort to stop human trafficking,” said Brian Koester, CAM, NBAA’s director of flight operations and regulations. “Aviation professionals responsible for training within their organizations are encouraged to attend to learn how you can spot the signs of human trafficking, to be part of the effort to stop global human trafficking, then to share those lessons with your team.”
The Blue Lightning Initiative is an element of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Blue Campaign, led by the Department of Transportation and DHS Component Agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The BLI trains aviation personnel to identify potential traffickers and human trafficking victims, and to report their suspicions to federal law enforcement.
To date, more than 200,000 personnel in the aviation industry have been trained through the BLI, and actionable tips continue to be reported to law enforcement.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.