In 2011, a Washington-based foundation hosted a series of meetings to examine the role that the business community might have in preventing human trafficking in local communities. A clear consensus emerged: business are central to the prevention and reporting of human trafficking prevention locally, yet they were almost entirely absent in efforts and protocols to address the issue. Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST) was launched in March 2012 to address this service gap and pioneer a groundbreaking approach to reducing human trafficking.

The mission of BEST is to align and equip leaders to use the power of business to prevent human trafficking. Human trafficking is (a) the prostitution of minor and/or (b) the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into work or prostitution. An estimated three to five hundred youth are prostituted in King County and the majority of these crimes involve businesses (like hotels). Yet the employees on the front lines are unaware that it happens and do not know how to stop it. If we are going to prevent this exploitation, businesses on the front lines must be aware and educated. 

BEST addresses the issue of human trafficking, which is the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into work or prostitution. Human trafficking is also underage commercial sex work. In the United States, the estimated median age of entry into prostitution is between 13 and 15 years old. Three to five hundred children are prostituted in King County alone.

The mission of BEST is to align and equip leaders to use the power of business to prevent human trafficking. Because the majority of these crimes involve businesses, business people are integral to preventing this crime. BEST provides training and resources for business and community leaders to increase the identification of trafficking victims and to take action to deter traffickers and buyers from exploiting victims. BEST is passionately dedicated to preventing human trafficking by changing the attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors that fuel the exploitation of vulnerable children, women, and men in our communities.

Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking (BEST) aligns and equips leaders to use the power of business to prevent human trafficking.  BEST provides training and resources for business and community leaders to increase the identification of trafficking victims and to take action to deter traffickers and buyers from exploiting victims. BEST is passionately dedicated to preventing human trafficking by changing the attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors that fuel the exploitation of vulnerable children, women, and men in our communities.