Public-interest reference materials for human rights documentation, ethical open-source research, and individuals seeking specialized assistance in the United States. Each external resource is identified by its actual role: education, victim support, federal reporting, or investigative methodology.
01 / Specialized public resources
Human Trafficking Prevention, Victim Assistance & Reporting
People facing exploitation may need immediate support from qualified providers rather than an investigative inquiry. The following independent third-party organizations and government programs serve distinct purposes.
Education & prevention
DHS Blue Campaign
U.S. Department of Homeland Security public awareness initiative offering information about indicators of human trafficking, prevention, and appropriate response. This is an educational resource, not a GCHRV-operated program.
Connects people experiencing or concerned about human trafficking with information and specialized support resources. Operates separately from GCHRV and is not a law-enforcement reporting line.
Federal channel for reporting suspected human trafficking and related criminal activity to law enforcement. Making a report is different from requesting victim services.
If you are in immediate danger in the United States, call 911. Do not submit emergency details or identifying victim/witness information through an ordinary website form. If you are seeking specialized trafficking support, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline directly.
02 / Research & documentation
Methods and Reference Guides
These external resources support careful, ethical examination of public information. Listing a resource does not mean GCHRV is affiliated with its publisher or has adopted every practice described.
Berkeley Protocol on Digital Open Source Investigations
Published by the UC Berkeley Human Rights Center with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. Guidance for collecting, analyzing, preserving and responsibly using digital open-source information in investigations of potential human rights violations.
Practical guidance for people documenting human rights concerns through video, including safety, informed consent, preservation, and evidentiary context.
GCHRV’s public educational framework (October 2026) outlines proposed standards for research initiation, verification, ethical conduct, case and evidence registers, confidentiality, human rights documentation, risk assessment, publication, conflicts of interest, and quality review.
01Define the claim
Specify scope, timeframe, public-interest basis and plausible alternative explanations.
02Examine the sources
Document provenance, independence, context, contradiction and uncertainty.
03Protect people and records
Evaluate privacy, safety, custody, authorization and disclosure risks.
04State bounded findings
Separate verified facts, partial support, unresolved allegations and corrections.
This framework is a proposed educational model. It does not establish that every procedure has been formally adopted, independently audited, or operationally implemented. Upload the Phase I PDF into the WordPress Media Library, then link it from this section after confirming the public file URL.
Verification categories proposed by GCHRV
Verified · Partially Corroborated · Unverified · Disputed · Contradicted. These categories apply to particular claims, not to the overall credibility of a person or institution.
04 / Independence & safety
Important Resource Disclaimer
GCHRV is an independent research and verification initiative. Links on this page are provided for public information and referral purposes. GCHRV is not part of, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, the National Human Trafficking Hotline, UC Berkeley, the United Nations, or WITNESS.
GCHRV does not provide legal advice, legal representation, law-enforcement services, emergency response, or guaranteed investigation or referral. External services determine their own availability, eligibility criteria, and confidentiality practices.
Do not transmit sensitive testimony, confidential case documents, evidence files, or identifying details of victims or witnesses through a general website contact form. A request for resources is not the same as a formally accepted investigative case.
External resources should be checked periodically for changes to contact information and service availability. Last editorial review: October 2026.