Sabre Continues to Lead the Fight Against Human Trafficking by Launching Online Training to the Public

SOUTHLAKE, Texas, Jan. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery where people profit from the control and exploitation of others. Approximately 800,000 victims are trafficked globally every year and they include children involved in the sex trade, adults who are coerced or deceived into commercial sex acts, and anyone forced into different forms of labor or services against their will. Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing criminal industries in the world, and is estimated to be a $32 billion trade.

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In September 2012, Sabre launched Passport to Freedom, a comprehensive initiative to unite the travel and tourism industries to fight human trafficking. The primary objective for the initiative is to increase awareness and educate the travel industry on human trafficking issues, advocate for legislation change, and provide opportunities for leaders to collaborate.

In July 2013 Sabre rolled out custom-designed online training for its global employees.   Sabre partnered with the Polaris Project, a leading organization in the global fight against human trafficking and modern-day slavery, to help develop the company's employee training.

Find out how the training was created here.

Within the first six months, approximately 31 percent of all Sabre employees have voluntarily taken the training, with a 4.5 out of 5 positive rating. Now, in an effort to exponentially raise awareness, Sabre is releasing the training to the general public.  Sabre has made this move in part because numerous employees asked how their friends and family could take it.  Sabre's 30-minute interactive training provides insight in children's rights, the prevention of sexual exploitation and how to report suspected cases, using technology to provide this valuable resource on-demand.

"Sabre's Passport to Freedom initiative communicates that we do not accept or tolerate human trafficking. The initiative allows us the opportunity to let criminals, and the traveling public alike, know that we're not going to allow human traffickers to use our company as a stepping stone for their corrupt activities," said Cristina Scott, chairperson of Sabre's Passport to Freedom initiative. "By providing to the general public the training that Sabre employees have used to help identify and rescue two individuals in Uruguay, we are really hopeful that awareness will increase and that soon the citizens of the world will close in on the perpetrators."

Polaris Project Executive Director and CEO said this training could be a valuable resource in the fight against human trafficking.

"Launching this resource is an important tool in the fight against modern day slavery.  The more people who know what to look for and how to report it to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-3737-888, the more lives we can all save," said Myles.

Passport to Freedom Objectives:

• Train 10,000 global employees so they are better informed on the issues
• Raise awareness with airline, hotel, travel agency and corporate customers
• Inform travelers so they are better prepared to identify and report potential trafficking activities
• Partner with non-profit, travel and government organizations that support global advocacy toward ending human trafficking
• Update company policies, including its "supplier code of conduct," to reflect the company's stand against human trafficking

In addition to launching Passport to Freedom, Sabre is proud to be the first global travel Technology Company to sign the tourism code of conduct (The Code). The Code is an international tourism-focused initiative against human trafficking that is co-funded by the Swiss government (SECO) and private sector investments, and supported by End Child Prostitution and Trafficking (ECPAT) International, with UNICEF and the World Tourism Organization acting as advisory partners.

About Sabre
Sabre is a technology solutions provider to the global travel and tourism industry. It offers a broad range of technology solutions including, data-driven business intelligence, mobile, distribution and Software-as-a-Service solutions which are used by travel suppliers (airlines, hotels, car rental outlets, railways, cruise lines and tour operators) and travel buyers (travel agencies, travel management companies and corporate travel departments) to plan, market, sell, serve and operate their business.

In 2013, Sabre's technology processed over $100 billion of estimated travel spending and more than 1.1 trillion system messages. Headquartered in Southlake, Texas, USA, Sabre employs approximately 10,000 people in approximately 60 countries around the world. We serve our customers through cutting-edge technology developed in six facilities located across four continents. Sabre is privately owned by TPG and Silver Lake Partners.

The company operates four brands/businesses: Sabre Airline Solutions, Sabre Hospitality Solutions, Sabre Travel Network and Travelocity.

About Polaris Project
Polaris Project is a leading organization in the global fight against human trafficking and modern-day slavery. Named after the North Star "Polaris" that guided slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad, Polaris Project is transforming the way that individuals and communities respond to human trafficking, in the U.S. and globally. By successfully pushing for stronger federal and state laws, operating the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline (1-888-373-7888), conducting trainings, and providing vital services to victims of trafficking, Polaris Project creates long-term solutions that move our society closer to a world without slavery.

Media Contact:

Nancy St. Pierre

Sabre

+1-682-605-3864

[email protected]

SOURCE Sabre