WASHINGTON — Convenience stores have a unique role to play in combating human trafficking, a crime that often hides in plain sight. With nearly 8 million customers passing through c-stores every day, store employees and even restroom signage can serve as critical touchpoints for victims seeking help.
That message was underscored during the recent NACS webinar Recognizing Human Trafficking in Your Stores, featuring Cheryl Csiky, executive director of In Our Backyard, a nonprofit dedicated to combating trafficking. “We want everyone to know what the truth looks like around human trafficking,” Csiky said. “Our bottom line is to have our Freedom Stickers hotline posted in every public restroom. We’re all in this together.”
Watch the entire Recognizing Human Trafficking in Your Stores webinar.
Training and Awareness
Through the Convenience Stores Against Trafficking (CSAT) program, In Our Backyard offers free training to store employees and provides “Freedom Stickers” that display the National Human Trafficking Hotline number. These stickers, placed in restrooms, create discreet opportunities for victims to seek help.
To date, more than 50,000 convenience stores, 17 state-based convenience store associations and 184 c-store companies have partnered with CSAT. Collectively, they help raise awareness among more than 4 million people daily, and more than 1 million stickers have been distributed since the initiative began.
Industry Collaboration
Human trafficking thrives on bystander inaction, making collaboration across the retail community essential. NACS currently partners with multiple groups—including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, National Safe Place Network, Truckers Against Trafficking, and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children—to expand prevention efforts and education.
Looking ahead, Csiky will speak at the offers free training to store employees and provides “, set for December 3-4 in Dallas, where retailers will continue conversations on training, awareness, and best practices to help identify and respond to trafficking in stores.
For more resources and to watch the full webinar, Recognizing Human Trafficking in Your Stores, visit NACS Online.
