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Survivor-Advocate Harold D’Souza warns of trafficking red flags
Educators and leaders urged to recognize exploitation and respond immediately to trafficking.
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Staff Reporter - Tue, 17, Feb 2026
- 03:25 EST
- 23
Harold D'Souza at the event / Courtesy photo
“Trauma has no expiration date,” human trafficking survivor and advocate Harold D’Souza told attendees at the 3rd Annual Educators Human Trafficking Awareness Summit, underscoring the lasting impact of exploitation.
The summit was hosted by Gracehaven and Franklinton Prep High School in Columbus, Ohio, on Feb. 13. It brought together dignitaries, educators, law enforcement officials, military personnel, healthcare professionals, parents, community leaders and concerned citizens seeking to prevent and combat human trafficking through education and awareness.
ALSO READ: Five Indian Americans Charged in Nebraska Human Trafficking Case
D’Souza, recipient of the 2023 United Nations Human Rights Hero Award, delivered the keynote address titled, “Red Flags, Problems, Solutions & Resources: The Prevention of Human Trafficking.” Director of Community Outreach & Training for Gracehaven, Hannah Swift, welcomed him to the stage and acknowledged his courage and global leadership in empowering survivors and educating communities.
D’Souza shared his personal experience of being trafficked through fraudulent promises, forced into debt bondage, starved, abused and stripped of his dignity. He recounted how his trafficker would snap his fingers and call him “Illegal,” reducing a human being to a label of shame and control.
He also spoke of threats of kidnapping his children, hiring a hitman to kill him, and the emotional trauma that left a lasting impact.
D’Souza emphasized that he stands as a survivor and not as a victim. He noted that while America is a destination country for trafficking, many nations including India, Mexico, Bangladesh and Nepal are source countries, where vulnerable individuals are deceived with false promises.
He highlighted the significance of learning about the red flags, problems, solutions and resources to identify and prevent trafficking, providing practical guidance and urging immediate action if exploitation is suspected.
He shared critical hotline numbers for quick action to combat human trafficking:
- United States National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-3737-888
- Canada Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-833-900-1010
- India: +91-799-026-2632
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