Convenience Channel Bolsters Efforts to Fight Human Trafficking

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — As the eyes and ears of the community, convenience store retailers are being asked to help provide a comprehensive review of human trafficking in the transportation sector.

NACS is joining with more than 100 groups to participate in the 2021 National Outreach Survey for Transportation, led by United Against Slavery. Other participants include 59 oversight agencies from Canada, Brazil, the Netherlands and the United States.

The project will analyze frontline data from experts in all modes of transportation to craft policies and solutions to disrupt human trafficking and ultimately make it difficult, unattractive and unprofitable.

"Convenience stores have taken an exceptional leadership role in helping to address human trafficking in their neighborhoods. Because of their proximity and extended hours of operation, our members have a positive impact on people in their communities through partnerships with anti-trafficking groups," said NACS Vice President of Strategic Industry Initiatives Jeff Lenard.

"This survey will add valuable data from all areas of transportation to build programs that supports the work already being done," he added.

According to NACS, a custom survey link has been developed for convenience retailers. Responses are needed from frontline staff, store managers and supervisors, to corporate human resources, training staff and leadership. All survey submissions are confidential, and the data will be anonymized prior to being exported for analysis. To access the 15-minute survey, click here.

"For many convenience retailers, putting a stop to human trafficking is a serious responsibility. With close ties to the community, our stores are positioned to share important messages that employees and customers can use to raise awareness against trafficking and help victims. Our members can continue to play an important role by responding to the survey," Lenard.

The convenience channel represents one-third of all retail stores in the United States with more than 150,000-plus c-stores. In addition to providing products and services, c-store retailers help address important national initiatives at a local level. NACS survey data shows that 40 percent of all consumers say that human trafficking is an issue they would support their local store in combating.

NACS partners with two organizations to help raise awareness about human trafficking. In Our Backyard has several industry-specific initiatives to address human trafficking, including Convenience Stores Against Trafficking (CSAT). Seventeen state associations and 184 convenience store companies have partnered with CSAT. In addition, NACS, CSAT and Ready Training Online (RTO) collaborated on a free online training module, "Community Heroes: C-Stores Stop Human Trafficking." In 2017, NACS partnered with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Blue Campaign to provide free training and awareness materials that help store associates identify instances of human trafficking.  

For more information the role the convenience channel plays in combating human trafficking, read the Convenience Store News special report.