The International Rescue Committee and Hewlett Packard Enterprise announce a partnership to use advanced technology against human trafficking

Lisbon, Portugal, November 12, 2024 - dir="ltr">At the onset of Web Summit, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) are announcing a partnership to pioneer innovative digital initiatives to help create a profound and measurable impact against human trafficking. It is estimated that 25 million to 27 million people around the world are being trafficked at any given time, often as a result of conflicts, natural disasters, and poverty. This project will blend HPE's technological expertise with IRC's humanitarian insight into anti-trafficking efforts to amplify the impact.

The IRC has been at the forefront of anti-human trafficking efforts in the United States and Europe for the past 20 years. With the support of HPE and HPE Foundation, the IRC's strategic focus on prevention, protection, and partnership will work to help counteract the recruitment and exploitation strategies used by traffickers. Traffickers often use coercion and deception to exploit vulnerable individuals to keep them in abusive conditions.

As social media and other digital tactics are increasingly used as a means of recruitment and exploitation by traffickers, this project will further explore how to use technology, including artificial intelligence, to combat human trafficking for both prevention and protection purposes.

The project will focus on two outcome areas: building the IRC's digital support services and piloting AI integration for anti-trafficking. The first phase will focus on consolidating content on human trafficking and ensuring that timely information is made widely accessible. The second phase of the project will expand on these efforts. Through the use of AI, the IRC and HPE will work to create solutions using cutting-edge technology to help develop long-term solutions that will assist the IRC in their goal to serve clients more effectively and at scale. AI has the potential to improve and personalize the client experience, shorten the typical time to resolution, and enable greater data-driven decision-making. With HPE's support, the IRC can bridge the current gaps in digital literacy and safety, effectively using advanced technology to protect vulnerable populations and prevent human trafficking.

"We are grateful for HPE's commitment to the IRC's work to end human trafficking and hope to scale our partnership moving forward in testing, piloting, and scaling AI solutions for unparalleled progress towards solving a global problem affecting millions," said Ellen Beattie, Head of Resettlement, Asylum and Integration Program Excellence, IRC.

"HPE is proud to support the International Rescue Committee in advancing the critical work of combating human trafficking," said Fred Tan, Head of Social Impact at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. "By harnessing our technology and expertise, we aim to amplify the reach and effectiveness of life-saving services across the globe. This partnership enables us to co-create and scale innovative AI solutions that not only empower the IRC but also drive meaningful, systemic change in the fight against modern slavery."

About the IRC:

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people affected by humanitarian crises to survive, recover and rebuild their lives. We deliver lasting impact by providing health care, helping children learn, and empowering individuals and communities to become self-reliant, always with a focus on the unique needs of women and girls. Founded in 1933, we now work in over 40 crisis-affected countries as well as communities throughout Europe and the Americas.

About HPE:

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE: HPE) is the global edge-to-cloud company that helps organizations accelerate outcomes by unlocking value from all of their data, everywhere. Built on decades of reimagining the future and innovating to advance the way people live and work, HPE delivers unique, open, and intelligent technology solutions as a service. With offerings spanning Cloud Services, Compute, High Performance Computing & AI, Intelligent Edge, Software, and Storage, HPE provides a consistent experience across all clouds and edges, helping customers develop new business models, engage in new ways, and increase operational performance. For more information, visit: www.hpe.com.