1. http://solutions-network.org/site-htsi/
Human Trafficking Data Standards
A basis from which to build better numbers on human trafficking
The Problem
Q: “How many victims are we talking about, just here in the US?”
A: “Somewhere between 1,400 and 2.2 million.”
The estimated number of humans trafficked in the United States alone
varies by more than an order of magnitude. In any industry, achieving a
measure of effectiveness within such a wide range would be impossible.
Under such circumstances, sound policy decision-making gives way to
emotional responses lacking fact-based evidence, funding requests to
prevent trafficking and provide victim care appear dubious, and resources
and efforts are easily misused when adequate measures of the problem
remain so vague.
Exhibit A: In 2000, activists estimated that 50,000 victims of forced labor and prostitution were
trafficked into the United States every year. President Bush then authorized 42 Justice Department
task forces and spent more than $150 million to find and help the estimated hundreds of thousands of
victims. Between 2000 to 2007, they identified exactly 1,362 victims and filed fewer than 15 federal
cases against traffickers.
Exhibit B: After 10 years of publishing the annual Trafficking in Persons Report, the U.S. Department of
State acknowledges that every figure in every chart pertaining to victims and cases of trafficking on
every continent are “estimates only, given the lack of uniformity in national reporting structures.”
The reasons behind the lack of quality data are real and challenging, including: security concerns,
bendable and misunderstood definitions, mixed criminal elements, gray areas especially within labor
trafficking definitions, lack of harmony among existing data sources, over and undercounting of
participants, and simple unwillingness to share data. These challenges have been documented since
2002, and yet, the problem remains largely the same in 2015.
The Envisioned Solution
Clear data standards and standardized security protocols are the beginning of a solution - a
groundwork that can help deliver better numbers and efficient continuity of care for survivors. Affected
sectors and likely stakeholders include:
❏ agencies in the chain of care
❏ funding organizations interested in accurate reporting
❏ technology providers (e.g. IBM, Oracle, EMC) interested in security and transmission of data
❏ industries (e.g. mining, cocoa, shipping, fishing) wanting to eradicate nefarious acts in their
logistics path
the numbers on trafficking

2. HTSI: the numbers on trafficking : http://solutions-network.org/site-htsi/
A standard:
❏ uses definitions to lessen confusion
❏ has well-defined sets of structured data (specific labels, names and values)
❏ can be the backbone for cooperation
❏ can be used to derive meaningful statistics
❏ is constantly reviewed for applicability and efficacy, can be pruned or expanded
❏ can be the basis for auditing agencies’ processes, both internally and externally
Some relevant historical examples of both international and private standards:
802.11 Internet Protocol
After 9 years of negotiation, the 802.11
committee finally agreed on definitions
and drew up a standard acceptable to
75% of the committee members. Now,
this standard enjoys global adoption
by all companies wishing to support
the seamless transfer of data,
wirelessly.
Healthcare HL7 (CCD)
The Consolidation Project team analyzed
and compiled several competing forms and
tools, finally creating a fully compliant CCD
document, then layering in the additional
HITSP, IHE and Stage 1 Meaningful Use
constraints. It provides a means for one
healthcare practitioner, system, or setting
to aggregate all of the pertinent data about
a patient and forward it to another user to
support the continuity of care.
CARFAX
In 1984, Edwin Barnett III started
selling CARFAX reports based on
10,000 vehicle records he obtained. To
grow, Barnett knew his company would
need far greater access to vehicle
records. In nine years' time, CARFAX
was receiving automobile records from
all 50 states. Within 20 years, 3 billion
records were generated by dealers
and shops feeding standardized data
into the system.
The Project and Deliverables
Resolve/HTSI envision a three-phase project to develop and solidify data standards, standardized
security protocols, and form an independent Standards Committee.
Phase One Phase Two Phase Three
1. Preliminary Standard to be
Prototyped
2. Preliminary Standards
Committee Formed
3. Results of Prototype Data
Transfer between Agencies
Available
1. Results of Data Transfer
between Agencies
2. Refined Standard
3. Stable Standards
Committee
4. Better numbers achievable
in testing areas
1. Widespread Global Adoption
in public and private sectors
2. Robust Standards Committee
3. Ongoing Evangelization
4. Better global numbers
achievable
Months 1-8 Months 9-33 Month 34 onward

3. HTSI: the numbers on trafficking : http://solutions-network.org/site-htsi/
Phase One (months 1 - 8)
➔ Observation of how data is used between agencies at least 12 agencies (4 agencies in 3
countries), uncovering points of agreement and negotiation. On-the-ground observation
identifies and assesses how data is captured and read in each participating agency, identifies a
minimum set of data, finds sets of values that make sense, and determines what data creates
the most understanding and least confusion.
➔ Develop alliances with the public sector, research and think tanks, commercial tech firms and
other stakeholders (e.g. funders, advocates).
➔ Normalize data for preliminary standard to include common attributes, minimum sets, and
boundary conditions.
➔ Develop preliminary Standards Committee that will eventually mature to independence over
the course of the project.
Phase Two (2 years / months 9 - 33)
➔ Refine and solidify Standards Committee, including bi-annual meetings, committee reporting,
and committee-lead monitoring and evaluation of preliminary standard.
➔ Expand research to include additional agencies to increase breadth and scope of input.
➔ Expand research with legacy agencies to hone definitions and troubleshoot protocols.
➔ Begin evangelizing the standards through conferences, stakeholders, and other forums.
Phase Three (5 years / months 34++)
➔ Standards Committee evangelizes the product globally.
➔ Standard is refined at an international context level.
➔ Standards Committee takes over 100% of product evolution.
➔ Standard becomes promoted as a basis for compliance in grant funding.