Around 25% of all human trafficking victims worldwide are children and over 50% of the human trafficking cases in the US involve youth sold for sex. In a highly prolific industry, surpassed only by drug dealing, the number of children trafficked every year is increasing at an alarming rate. Fortunately, charities worldwide are determined to put a stop to this crime and empower its victims. So we had to ask: What are the best charities that fight to end child trafficking?

The best charities that fight to end child trafficking are Save the Children, PACT, and Operation Underground Railroad. Charities like GoodWeave, Remember Nhu, and Children of the Night each have preventative, market-based approaches to combating child exploitation.

Whether you want to support the rights of trafficked children, assist legal efforts to arrest the traffickers, or contribute to the prevention of further exploitations, there is a charity for you. 

Keep reading to learn more about what the best charities that fight to end child trafficking are all about, how they work, and what would be your best way to make a contribution.

Here’s What All the Best Charities That Fight to End Child Trafficking Have in Common

The charities on this list were chosen based on their impact, transparency ratings, achievements, and accreditations.

They operate all over the world, from North America to East Asia, and they all share the same goal of combating child trafficking in all its forms.

The charities below tackle various types of child trafficking, such as sex trafficking, forced labor, and child marriage. They collaborate with governments, businesses, or local and global law enforcement agencies to implement policies, enforce best practices, and apprehend the offenders.

They rescue the victims and provide immediate and long-term aftercare services to help them rebuild their lives holistically.

Yet, they all work to ensure that future children grow up safe and protected by implementing legislation and educating at-risk communities.

These Are the 9 Best Charities That Fight to End Child Trafficking in 2024

Below are our favorite charities that fight to end child trafficking (you can click on their link to directly jump to their section in this article):

Best Charities That Fight to End Child Trafficking

Save the Children

PACT

Operation Underground Railroad

GoodWeave

Remember Nhu

Love146

Children of the Night

Child Rescue Coalition

Destiny Rescue

(At the end of this article we’ll also share our six-step approach on how you can select the best charity to support.)

Save the Children: Every Child Deserves a Future

Save The Children was founded in 1919 in the UK by Eglantyne Jebb to raise funds to end children’s suffering across Europe after the First World War. Today, the charity is a pioneering and leading global movement for children’s rights, working in over 100 countries worldwide. 

Save the Children has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator and holds the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“We take a holistic approach to tackle the root causes of child trafficking and involve children in the design and implementation of solutions.”

Save the Children

Save the Children works to prevent trafficking by creating awareness training in schools and supporting the livelihoods of families. They conduct survivor rehabilitation programs that empower them to rebuild their lives. They also initiate legal reforms to protect the survivors’ rights and needs. In addition, they take a separate approach to ending child marriage, a form of child trafficking, with programs that empower girls to continue their studies and acquire livelihood skills for self-sufficiency. They also engage the survivors of child marriage to advocate against the issue and raise awareness among vulnerable youth.

Since their founding, Save the Children has continued to fight for children’s rights and reduced child marriage worldwide by nearly one-third. For example, in 2021, they enforced a policy to create a global stakeholder commitment to reduce and end child marriage. In 2010, they launched the anti-trafficking campaign “Open Your Eyes” in Mozambique, which reached 250,000 people through television programs, interviews, and posters. In El Salvador, the charity supported and implemented the first local reform to prevent child trafficking. 

You can support Save the Children by donating directly through their website. You can also volunteer or sponsor a child in the US or around the world. Additionally, you can shop their merchandise or participate in their fundraising events.

PACT: Working Together to End the Sexual Exploitation of Children

PACT (Protect All Children from Trafficking) was founded in 1991 as ECPAT by Ronald O’Grady to combat and end the commercial sex trafficking of children. Today, the charity is the world’s largest network focused on ending the sexual exploitation of children, changing their name to PACT in 2023.

PACT has a 99% encompass score for finance & accountability from Charity Navigator. They also hold the Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

Our mission is to protect every child’s right to grow up free from sexual exploitation and trafficking through legislative advocacy, education, and partnerships.”

PACT

PACT fights child trafficking both internationally and in the US. Locally, they begin with community engagement. They lead awareness and advocacy campaigns, events and policy initiatives to educate local communities about the gravity and complexity of trafficking. Their “Youth Against Child Trafficking” program empowers youth to learn about and advocate against the issue. PACT also fights to implement federal policies to improve the legal response to exploitation and survivors’ needs. Moreover, they engage the private sector, especially tourism, to ensure businesses deploy best practices to protect children.

PACT has a global network of 122 civil society organizations in 104 countries. For example, in 2017, PACT developed an international “Bill of Rights”, created together with child trafficking survivors, to educate potential victims on their rights to recovery, access to justice, and reintegration. They also conducted global research with 67 of their partners to prevent the exploitation of children in tourism worldwide. Their “Disrupting Harm” project assessed children’s experiences of online child trafficking in 13 countries across Asia and Africa. Additionally, PACT implemented a bill that prosecutes Americans who practice child sex tourism.

You can donate to PACT through their website. You can also support the charity by joining one of their campaigns or by applying for a job.

Operation Underground Railroad: Ending Child Trafficking

Operation Underground Railroad was founded in 2013 by Timothy Ballard to rescue the victims of human and child sex trafficking. Today, the charity conducts a team specialized in anti-child trafficking operations to bring an end to child slavery worldwide. 

Operation Underground Railroad has an overall score of 100% from Charity Navigator and holds the Silver Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“We offer freedom and healing to survivors of child trafficking through direct intervention and aftercare.”

Operation Underground Railroad

Operation Underground Railroad fights to end child sex trafficking and sexual exploitation by assisting the rescue and support of survivors worldwide. Their Operations Teams consist of former CIA and military personnel who conduct comprehensive tracking and arresting procedures. They intervene in international operations with undercover work and intelligence gathering to identify victims of child trafficking. They also collaborate with local governments and provide evidence for further prosecution of the traffickers. In addition, they provide trauma-informed, holistic aftercare services to victims. In the US, they offer cutting-edge technology to law enforcement to aid their anti-child trafficking efforts. 

Since their founding, Operation Underground Railroad has supported more than 1,000 international operations in all 50 states and 40 countries worldwide. With their interventions, they rescued over 6,000 victims and arrested over 4,000 traffickers. In the US, they supplied 38 K9 criminal tracking devices to over 130 law enforcement agencies in 21 states. 

You make a one-time donation to Operation Underground Railroad through their website. You can also join their Abolitionist Club by becoming a monthly donor. In addition, you can support the charity by volunteering or buying their merchandise. 

GoodWeave: A World Free of Child Labor

GoodWeave was founded in 1994 by Kailash Satyarthi, a children’s rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner, to end child and forced labor in rug-making chains. Today, the charity combats child labor in multiple global supply chains for various industries.

GoodWeave has an encompass score of 100% from Charity Navigator for finance & accountability. They also hold the Gold Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“We are the leading global institution with a mission to stop child labor in global supply chains through a market-based holistic and authentic system.”

GoodWeave

GoodWeave combats child and forced labor with a holistic system that combines the power of consumers and businesses to create social change. They have an accredited standard for best practices that businesses must pass to receive the GoodWeave certification label. This is an indication that the item was produced without the aid of child or forced labor. The charity also conducts frequent, unannounced inspections at their partners’ supply chains to further deter bad labor practices. In addition, they have social and rehabilitation programs for survivors of child labor that provide shelter, counseling, and support for further education. They also work to educate and raise awareness in vulnerable communities.

To date, GoodWeave have rescued over 6,000 children from exploitation in multiple industries, including textiles, fashion jewelry, and tea making. They have also provided educational opportunities to more than 44,000 youth. Moreover, they have label-certified over 28 million rug and home textile products and made nearly 260,000 quality inspections to their partners. They’ve also increased their network of more than 180 licensed importers and thousands of retail outlets worldwide. 

You can donate to GoodWeave directly through their website. You can also shop their certified rugs and textiles. In addition, you can assign your business to their certification program and receive the GoodWeave label for best labor practices. 

Remember Nhu: Ending Child Sex Slavery Through Prevention

Remember Nhu was founded in 2005 by Carl Ralston to prevent vulnerable children from entering the sex trafficking industry, after he met a girl who had been trafficked by her grandmother. Today, the charity is an international movement that actively fights against child sex trafficking worldwide.

Remember Nhu has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. They are also ECFA accredited, adhering to their Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship.

“We believe the innocence of childhood is an inalienable right. Our children come to us before they are exposed to the horrors of sex trafficking and mature into the happy, healthy young adults they were intended to be.”

Remember Nhu

Remember Nhu fights to prevent children in vulnerable communities from entering the sex trafficking industry. They do this by identifying and aiding underserved or poor families that would risk selling their offspring for money. The charity educates them about the dangers of sex trafficking and, when necessary, removes at-risk youth from their living situation. They also have a network of equipped and verified Prevention Homes run by house parents and foster homes to provide shelter and care for these vulnerable children. In addition, they empower children to continue their education or enter Vocational Training programs to prevent potential exploitation. 

To date, Remember Nhu has prevented over 2,250 children from being trafficked through their network of 117 homes in 16 countries. For example, in 2021, they took nearly 1,600 youth into their prevention homes and invested over $1,8 million in child support services. In the same year, they educated over 60 families with their Prevention Program and supported further education for 18 children after leaving their foster homes.

You can donate to Remember Nhu through their website. You can also contribute by sponsoring a child, a prevention home, or a foster family. In addition, you can join their team as a volunteer, staff member, or vocational instructor.

Love146: The End of Child Trafficking and Exploitation. Nothing Less.

Love146 was founded in 2004 by Rob Morris and his team to end child trafficking and exploitation by holistically changing the circumstances that impact and intersect with it. Today, the charity is an international movement with wide-reaching support worldwide.

Love146 has a 3-star rating from Charity Navigator, with a 100% score for Leadership and Adaptability. They also hold the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“We journey alongside children impacted by trafficking today and prevent the trafficking of children tomorrow.”

Love146

Love146 combats child trafficking with their Theory of Change plan that works to sustainably reduce child exploitation. They work to challenge society’s response to child trafficking and provide transformative services to its victims. For this, they run survivor care and trauma-informed counseling in the US, the UK, and the Philippines. The programs focus on Rapid Response and Long-Term Services for survivors by supporting further employment and education. Their “Not A Number” prevention curriculum educates and empowers American children to make safe choices and not fall victim to trafficking. Moreover, they engage communities to fight against child trafficking with national awareness campaigns, partnerships, and advocacy. 

To date, Love146 has reached over 3,500 child survivors with their survivor care services and over 16,000 stakeholders with strategic collaboration programs to avoid future trafficking. Their US prevention and education projects have reached 63,000 children, with 30,000 of them participating in their “Not A Number” curriculum. For this project, they licensed over 1,000 trainers in 337 facilities.

You can donate to Love146 through their website. You can also donate by sending an e-card to a loved one or purchasing care items for survivors. In addition, you can contribute by fundraising or workplace giving.

Children of the Night: Rescuing Prostituted Youth

Children of the Night was founded in 1979 by Lois Lee to provide intervention for children who are vulnerable to or involved in sex trafficking and pornography. Today, they are one of the most prominent and successful organizations in the US, addressing the needs of sex-trafficked youth.

Children of the Night has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, with a 100% score for both leadership and culture metrics. They also hold the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. 

“We are the only place in America where a child can call from a seedy motel or truck stop anywhere in the country and reach a skilled caseworker 24/7 who knows how to rescue and relocate them from any dangerous condition.”

Children of the Night

Children of the Night has a survivor-centered approach to fighting child sex trafficking in the US. They operate a 24-hour, nationwide hotline to help children in at-risk situations and get them to safety. They also provide immediate aftercare services to survivors, such as shelter, counseling, medical services, or substance abuse programs. Moreover, they provide online education programs like the ZOOM high school diploma tutoring to empower victims and prevent further exploitation. Globally, they conduct online ZOOM tutoring to teach English and Math skills to child sex trafficking victims to increase their employment opportunities. 

Since their founding, Children of the Night has rescued over 11,000 victims and sent over 100 of them to colleges nationwide. Over the years, they have maintained an average success rate of 80% in removing children from prostitution and helping them rebuild their lives. For example, in 2021, they provided nearly 11,000 types of aftercare services to 412 victims and tutored 112 students across 15 states. 

You can donate directly to Children of the Night through their website. You can also contribute by becoming a volunteer or applying for a job. In addition, you can use their hotline to report any child sex trafficking incident.

Child Rescue Coalition: Protecting Innocence Through Technology

The Child Rescue Coalition was founded in 2013 by Carly Asher Yoost to rescue youth from sex trafficking by building technology for law enforcement. Today, the charity has a global network of child exploitation investigators and police officers that rescue victims and capture traffickers. 

The Child Rescue Coalition has an overall score of 100% from Charity Navigator and holds the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“We rescue children from child trafficking by developing technology for law enforcement, free of charge, to track, arrest, and prosecute the predators.”

Child Rescue Coalition

The Child Rescue Coalition fights to end child sex trafficking by building advanced tools that help apprehend offenders. Their Child Protection System Technology provides a global view of where users are downloading and sharing explicit content online. They expose hidden networks by collecting 30 to 50 million reports of online users trading child sexual abuse material every day. They also train law enforcement agencies to use their technology to track and arrest current and potential traffickers. Their technology is so accurate that investigators can use it to immediately obtain a search warrant, rather than waiting for a direct download from the offender. 

To date, the Child Rescue Coalition’s anti-trafficking technology has been used by more than 10,000 police officers in all 50 states and in 97 countries worldwide. Their law enforcement partners used the Child Protection System to rescue over 3,200 children and arrest over 14,000 offenders with a 97% conviction rate. Their tools have prevented the sexual abuse and trafficking of more than 700,000 children.

You can donate to the Child Rescue Coalition directly through their website. You can also donate a Care Package or buy their merchandise. Additionally, you can participate in their public campaigns.

Destiny Rescue: Fighting for Freedom Around the World

Destiny Rescue was founded in 2001 by Tony Kirwan to save trafficked children from their abusers. Today, the charity is a global organization dedicated to rescuing children from sexual exploitation and trafficking.

Destiny Rescue has an overall score of 100% from Charity Navigator and holds the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.

“Our mission is to rescue children from sexual exploitation and human trafficking and help them stay free.”

Destiny Rescue

Destiny Rescue has a survivor-centered approach to ending child sex trafficking. Their agents work to rescue victims by going undercover in high-risk areas or by partnering with law enforcement to free the children and arrest the offenders. After the rescue, the charity works to reintegrate children into the community and support them to rebuild their lives. They offer temporary shelters, reunite them with their families, and provide “Path to Freedom” plans for long-term recovery. The plans empower the youth with counseling, education, and support for safe employment.

To date, Destiny Rescue has freed over 7,000 children from child sex trafficking and arrested over 300 perpetrators across 8 countries. For example, in 2021, they rescued nearly 2,400 victims, with an average of 7 rescues per day. They also enrolled 1,200 survivors in reintegration and community care programs. In the same year, they made 147 arrests and raided 92 high-risk areas.

You can support Destiny Rescue by donating through their website. You can also support the charity by fundraising, becoming an advocate for the cause, or joining their team.

How Can You Select the Best Charities to Support?

The charities on the list are, we deem, the best charities that fight to end child trafficking. However, you may have a particular charity you want to support. Let’s look at what you can do to ensure your contribution has the most significant impact.

• Check out the charity website. Charities that are worthy of your donations are transparent in their mission and their figures. Familiarise yourself with their history, mission, and values. Their website usually is the best place to start.
• Identify the charity’s mission. Without a goal, the charity is likely to fail. If the charity’s mission isn’t clear, it’s probably worth looking for a charity that does have a clear mission. 
• Check if the charity has measurable goals. An effective charity has clear goals. You want to know your donation will help the charity reach its goals. But if it doesn’t have targets, it’s likely to fail or squander your gift. The charity should be able to account for its spending and supply evidence of the work they do.
• Assess the successes or goals the charity has achieved. You wouldn’t invest in a business if it kept missing its targets. In the same way, charities are like this too. If no one is assessing a charity’s progress in reaching its targets, the chances are they’re not making a substantial positive change.
• Check the charity’s financials and stats. Trustworthy organizations will publish financial statements and reports each year. Some might be exempt from having to do so, but they should be able to provide them to public members who are interested in donating.
• Locate sources who work with or benefit from the charity. Word of mouth and first-hand experience of a charity’s work lets you know the charity’s quality. If you’re able to do so, check out the charity for yourself or speak to someone familiar with it. This way, your donation will go to the right place. 

How Can You Best Support These Charities?

After you’ve made your decision, it’s time for you to decide on how you’d like to help the charities you’ve chosen. Check how you can help – each charity runs specific programs that have unique aims. Find out what the aim of such programs is and whether they are right for you. 

Here are a few ways you can help your chosen charity:

• Donate money. You can find donation pages on the website of most charities. Your donation can be a one-time payment, or you can set it to be deducted regularly at different intervals. You can mostly pay via credit card, but some charities also take PayPal or Bitcoin payments.
• Buy their official merchandise. The charities can also raise money by selling merchandise. So, you can support them by buying the mugs, shirts, caps, pens, pencils, and any other such items they may be selling. Ideally, you should buy as much as you can to share and spread the word about the charity’s activities.
• Engage in volunteer work. As you’ve seen from our descriptions above, some charities engage in a lot of local and grassroots programs. You can help by taking on and organizing the program in your local area.
• Help their fundraising efforts. You can spread the word about the charity in your workplace, school, church, etc., and hold creative fundraising drives on social media or offline within your small circles.
• Share their stories. Most charities have compelling stories that you can share with your audience to attract more people to the cause.

Final Thoughts

Now it is up to you to select the charity that resonates most with you. And whichever charity you end up choosing and contributing to, we are sure that they will immensely appreciate your support. Hopefully, the information within this article has made this selection process a bit easier for you to support charities dedicated to fighting to end child trafficking – based on the causes that matter most to you.

Stay impactful,

PS: Finally, I want to leave you with a thought-provoking TED talk from Dan Pallotta, a leading philanthropic activist and fundraiser, about what is wrong with the way we think about charities – and what we can do about it:

Sources

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