Event: Combatting Human Trafficking in Aviation (2025)

Date: Monday, January 13th, 2025

Location: Dulles International Airport - East Ground Transportation Center

Time: Two Sessions Offered

• 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (Morning Session - Remarks, Training, Panel Discussion, and More)
  OR
• 1:00 - 2:00 PM (Afternoon Session - Training & Panel Discussion Only)

Join the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and the Blue Lightning Initiative Campaign, for a groundbreaking event focused on combatting human trafficking in aviation. This in-person gathering will bring together experts, professionals, and activists to discuss and address this pressing issue.

Register now to secure your spot and be part of this important event!

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the Airports Authority second place in its annual Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation Impact Awards 2024.  The Department's annual Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation Impact Award aims to incentivize individuals and entities to think creatively in developing innovative solutions to combat human trafficking in the transportation industry, and to share those innovations with the broader community. 

Our commitment to eliminating Human Trafficking includes the following approaches:

1. Awareness and Education: Through ongoing educational initiatives and training programs with anti-trafficking organizations, we strive to equip our employees and partners with the knowledge and tools needed to identify and report suspicious activities.
2. Collaboration and Partnerships: We actively collaborate with our Office of Public Safety, external law enforcement agencies, non-profit organizations, and governmental bodies to strengthen our efforts against human trafficking. 
3. Vigilance and Reporting: We have established clear reporting mechanisms to enable the prompt reporting of any suspected cases of human trafficking. We work closely with relevant authorities to investigate and respond to such reports with the utmost seriousness.
4. Support for Victims: We recognize the importance of providing support to victims of human trafficking. Our airport endeavors to collaborate with support organizations to ensure that victims receive the assistance they need.
5. Continuous Improvement: We are committed to regularly reviewing and enhancing our anti-human trafficking measures. This involves staying informed about evolving trends, updating protocols, and implementing best practices to strengthen our overall approach. 

Read the full statement from our President and CEO, John E. Potter. 

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is delighted to announce its collaboration with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Blue Lightning Initiative (BLI). A key component of the DHS Blue Campaign, the BLI is spearheaded by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a DHS Component Agency. This initiative focuses on training aviation personnel to recognize potential traffickers and identify victims of human trafficking, empowering them to report suspicions to federal law enforcement.

As of now, over 350,000 personnel within the aviation industry have undergone training through the BLI, resulting in the continuous reporting of actionable tips to law enforcement. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority takes pride in being part of this impactful initiative. We have disseminated informational material throughout our airports to aid passengers in identifying signs of human trafficking and to assist victims in locating resources for safety. This collaborative effort underscores our commitment to combatting human trafficking and promoting a safer environment within our airports.

For more information, visit the Department of Homeland Security's Blue Lightning Initiative website.