Tim Ballard, CEO and founder of Operation Underground Railroad and a member of the US Advisory Council to End Human Trafficking, highlights the aspects of how the pandemic effects trafficking. In March 2020, the FBI warned school closures would heighten the risk of exploitation. 

Ballard indicates a lack of infrastructure in the home leads to more exploitation. He shares that the United States is the top consumer in the world for child exploitation material. Ballard highlights the statement from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, "In the first quarter of 2020, NCMEC became aware of predators openly discussing the pandemic as an opportunity to entice unsupervised children into producing sexually explicit material. At the same time, we experienced an explosion in reporting to our CyberTipline from both the public and electronic service providers, all while transitioning to a teleworking environment."

CyberTipline Reports have increased 90.46%, or by about 6 million in real numbers, compared to the same time last year for online solicitations. Ballard expresses the importance of spreading true information and educating parents, teachers and as many possible people that have children in their care about the threats of human trafficking.

Attorney General Bill Barr notes the 20th anniversary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and promises the Justice Department will do everything they can to prevent human trafficking and help survivors. The Justice Department is issuing the largest ever federal investment of this kind, at $35 million going to 73 organizations in 34 states to assist with housing.

Funds will support multiple forms of housing assistance including rent, utilities, vocational education, job training. moving expenses and more. This year the Justice Department expects to award a total of $100 million this year to combat human trafficking.

Ivanka Trump highlights the opening of the second office The Missing and Murdered Cold Case Task Force. She notes that the Trump administration has signed nine pieces of legislation, and has already allocated $70 million for enhanced prosecution and $123 million for supporting state and local governments to combat human trafficking. The National Human Trafficking Hotline says that housing assistance is the most requested service. 

Brooke Rollins, acting director of The United States Domestic Policy Council, commits to working closely with the administration to combat human trafficking.

Tenisha Watson, a leader in advocacy for 16 years, accepted the grant for Jordan Community Resource Center in Cleveland, Ohio, shared insight about providing transitional housing and jobs and opportunities for advancement.

Grant money was awarded to Alternatives for Girls, in Detroit Michigan. They are committed to helping homeless girls and women avoid violence and exploitation, explore and access resources, supports and opportunities to grow strong and to make positive choices for their lives. they have served about 6k women in 2019 through street based outreach and other services, collaborating with law enforcement. Services include domestic violence interventions, safety, counseling, and a range of services to runaways and homeless youth, as well as at risk girls.

Helda Fernandez, CEO of Camillus House in Miami reported that the most common referral to the Phoenix Project is through law enforcement, homeland security, the state attorneys office and other state agencies. They work hand in hand with law enforcement to bring traffickers to justice.

Tanya Gould, member of US Advisory Council on Human Trafficking and founder of Identifiable Me, was also grateful for the administration for their support of the the Advisory Council. Tanya explained the recommendations in the 2020 report of the Council, including safe housing and the opportunity to heal, calling to prioritize the housing needs of survivors and their children. They also called upon agencies to increase services and assistance to under served and under-reported communities, including minorities and LGBTQ, to promote trauma informed practices and housing assistance initiatives to all survivors of trafficking.

Women and men joined the event in Islamabad, one of several rallies across the country, for what is known in Pakistan as the Aurat March, using the Urdu word for women. Hundreds of men and women from the Red Mosque brigade, consisting of several local militant groups, and a Taliban allied religious party staged a rival rally just across from the women’s march venue, District Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat said.

Police official Mazhar Niazi said the officers blocked the Islamists as they tried to break through a cordon to attack the marchers. A Reuters witness and Niazi said the Islamists threw stones, bricks, sticks and shoes at the marchers. Niazi said no one was injured.

Professional golfer Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey, 44, was arrested in the operation and charged with first-degree misdemeanor solicitation, CBS affiliate WTSP reports.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday that Gainey was arrested in an undercover sting called "Operation Santa's Naughty List," which lasted six days. The investigation yielded 53 arrests for prostitution, 46 arrests for soliciting prostitution and five arrests for intent to sexually harm a child, according to the sheriff's office. Also among the arrested suspects: A Disney security guard who showed up naked to try to buy sex from an adult undercover detective, WTSP reports.