CLIMATE JUSTICE
OUR WORK IN LOS ANGELES
How LA’s Climate Emergencies Shaped Our Advocacy
In Los Angeles, the January 2025 wildfires brought the intersection of climate change and human trafficking into sharp focus. As entire neighborhoods were evacuated and emergency response systems struggled to meet the scale of need, our team witnessed how displaced individuals and workers recruited for recovery efforts, especially those already experiencing marginalization, faced the risks of exploitation. This moment made clear what we already knew: disaster response cannot be effective without being trauma-informed and rooted in anti-trafficking protections. It pushed us to press even harder for policy change that centers survivors and prevents harm before it begins.
CITY AND COUNTY ACTION
In response to the heightened risk of trafficking following natural disasters, both Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles have taken formal policy action to integrate anti-trafficking protections into disaster preparedness and recovery efforts. In 2025, the County adopted a motion directing departments to strengthen prevention measures, oversight, and coordination across disaster response systems, while the City Council passed a complementary motion to address trafficking risks during emergency response and rebuilding. Together, these actions reflect a coordinated local approach to preventing exploitation and protecting vulnerable workers and communities in the aftermath of natural disasters.
| Los Angeles County | City of Los Angeles | |
|---|---|---|
| Motion | Preventing Trafficking in the Wake of Natural Disasters | Preventing Human Trafficking in the Wake of Natural Disasters |
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PUBLIC AWARENESS
How Natural Disasters Increase the Risk of Human Trafficking – And What We Can Do About It.
Learn more about the connection between natural disasters and human trafficking, and how we can prevent exploitation before it happens. While the press conference mentioned in the video has already taken place, the information remains relevant and timely.
Watch Video
Tools to Recognize and Stop trafficking After Disasters
To support a coordinated and informed response risks of trafficking after natural disasters, we’ve developed a range of practical tools for community members, service providers, and recovery workers:
Social Media Toolkit: Designed to raise public awareness during and after disasters, this toolkit provides ready-to-use posts, graphics, and messaging to help communities recognize and prevent trafficking.
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Flyers for Recovery Workers
Distributed in areas affected by natural disasters, these multilingual flyers educate workers recruited for cleanup and rebuilding on how to recognize the warning signs of trafficking, and where to seek help, including national and local hotlines to access support services.
Download Flyers:
Flyers for Community
Flyers designed for community members to identify signs of trafficking after disasters and access reliable local and national support resources.
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Guide For Service Providers
A short, easy-to-use guide to help service providers spot signs of trafficking during disaster response and connect people to the help they need.
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