“With this NCAS initiative, UCLA has a unique opportunity to help bring awareness to the problem of human trafficking that affects thousands of people both in the United States and abroad,” said Director of Athletics Dan Guerrero. “As one of ten schools participating in the program this academic year, we have the ability to help educate our student-athletes, overall student body and faculty/staff on the realities of this particular subject. In doing so, we aim to help spur public discussion and bring greater attention to this disturbing issue.”
The goals of Shut Out Trafficking are to raise awareness about human trafficking in the United States and to empower students to take action while learning the value that love and forgiveness can have in implementing change. Shut Out Trafficking educates college students on the brutality of human trafficking and the $150 billion dollar industry it has become.
Human trafficking is one of the most horrific human rights violations existing in the world today. An estimated 27 million people are enslaved, one third of whom are children. The root causes include poverty, discrimination, lack of education, lack of social and legal protections, and violence. In the United States, most people who know human trafficking exists believe it is a problem only outside our borders. Trafficking, however, has been reported in all 50 states. In the United States alone, it is estimated that there are between 100,000 – 300,000 children at risk for sex trafficking with thousands more exploited through labor trafficking in agriculture, carnivals, and domestic servitude.*
The NCAS and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF hosts week-long outreach programs on these campuses including keynote speakers, film screenings, appearances by prominent student-athletes and coaches, discussion groups with students, survivors of human trafficking and public service announcements. Speakers share their personal stories and their reflections about the power of love and forgiveness in their lives. Students participating in the events will be invited to become active in anti-trafficking work to help end human trafficking.
In the fall, Shut Out Trafficking took place at LaSalle University, St. John's University, Tulane University, Brown University and the University of Central Florida. More than 5,000 people were engaged on the five campuses and there were in excess of 3.2 million social media impressions. Shut Out Trafficking scheduled five university and college campuses programs in spring 2015. The first of these took place at the University of Denver (Colorado) from January 8 – 9 and at Chicago State University from March 30 – April 3. The three other spring programs will be at the University of California Los Angeles from April 7 – 11, the University of Nebraska from April 13 – 19 and the University of Alabama from April 19 – 25.
From April 7 – 11, UCLA will be hosting Shut Out Trafficking through the following events:
| April 7 | Shut Out Trafficking Awareness Day & Fair Trade Expo Pauley Pavilion – North Concourse & Exterior 10:00 am – 2:00 pm |
| April 8 | Keynote Program Pauley Pavilion – Pavilion Club 7:00 pm (Doors open at 6:15 pm) Presenters: Richard Lapchick & Emily Pasnak-Lapchick |
| April 9 | Film Night – “Not My Life” Sunset Village Northwest Campus Auditorium 7:00 pm (Doors open at 6:15 pm) Panel Discussion: Emily Pasnak-Lapchick |
| April 11 | Shut Out Trafficking Awareness Day Rafer Johnson & Jackie Joyner-Kersee Track & Field Meet and Bruin Day Drake Stadium 11:00 am – 4:00 pm |
For 29 years, the mission of the NCAS has been to “use the power of sport to effect positive social change.” The NCAS educates and empowers individuals and organizations by inspiring values-based thinking leading to actions that promote social responsibility and equality. Through Dr. Richard Lapchick's leadership, the NCAS has improved college student-athlete graduation rates, advocated for diversity and inclusion in all athletic organizations and created programs to affect social change in sports and society including combatting domestic violence.
The End Trafficking project is the U.S. Fund for UNICEF's initiative to raise awareness about child trafficking and mobilize communities to take meaningful action to help protect children. In partnership with concerned individuals and groups, the End Trafficking project aims to bring us all closer to a day when there are zero exploited children. The Shut Out Trafficking project is funded by the Fetzer Institute.
* U.S. Department of Justice, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
For more information about the Shut Out Trafficking campaign, visit www.ncasports.org/services/human-trafficking