BEST Equips Port of Seattle’s Business Partners to Prevent Human Trafficking

Transportation industries in all 16 Host Cities across North America are preparing for the World Cup soccer-related events that will take place in June and July. Many are striving to increase their capacity to respond to potential situations of human trafficking, but few are taking concrete steps to deter would-be traffickers. The Port of Seattle is among those few in the transportation realm that are acting now to prevent human trafficking this summer. As far as BEST knows, the Port of Seattle is the only transportation authority in the U.S. that has invited the businesses that lease space in its facilities—both aviation and maritime —into those prevention efforts.

This month the Port of Seattle is sponsoring and hosting four events for its business partners, facilitated by BEST. All of its aviation and maritime tenant businesses have been invited to participate in a pair of sector-specific events in preparation for the surge of tourists anticipated in Seattle this summer: 1) an information session on “Leading Your Business to Counter Human Trafficking”; and 2) an interactive workshop on “Developing Human Trafficking Prevention Strategies”. Three of the four events have already taken place, and the final event, i.e. the workshop on prevention strategies for maritime businesses, will be held soon.  

All the events to date have sparked robust discussions, and feedback to BEST from participants and Port leaders after each event has been very positive. All participants who completed evaluation forms reported that the session(s) they attended helped them learn more about labor and sex trafficking, and ways businesses can act against human trafficking. In the words of one participant: “I’ve always thought of countering human trafficking as something that law enforcement does. I had not considered it from an employer’s perspective until today.” Most importantly, all participants have indicated they intend to have their business take at least one action step to prevent human trafficking!

The inclusion of port tenants in the Port of Seattle’s anti-human trafficking initiative began in 2023, with the launch of the Port Allies Against Human Trafficking Pledge developed by Port leadership in consultation with BEST. Since then, over 20 businesses have signed the PAAHT pledge, including airlines, cruise lines, seafood companies, and several of the restaurants, retail companies, and other businesses that serve aviation and maritime passengers and facilities across the Port of Seattle’s properties. To support PAAHT members, the Port makes Flights to Freedom and Ports to Freedom anti-human trafficking trainings available in multiple accessible formats to any worker at Port facilities—and to the employees of pledge signatory companies. It also makes print and digital educational materials available in partnership with survivors of human trafficking and community-based organizations, including BEST.

BEST is glad to support the Port of Seattle and its business partners in the aviation and maritime industries in their proactive and collective efforts to prevent human trafficking before, during, and long after the 2026 World Cup.