Human Trafficking Awareness Month
For many of us, January is a time to make giant platters of nachos and invite friends and neighbors over to watch the playoffs and cheer loudly for our favorite teams.
But advocates for victims and survivors of sex trafficking remind us that these large sporting events are often hubs for human trafficking, with thousands of vulnerable women and children brought to the host city and forced into prostitution.
That’s why January has been named Human Trafficking Awareness Month, as a reminder that the crime of trafficking, tragically, can be taking place around us every day.
Throughout my time in the General Assembly, I’ve worked hard on legislation to prevent this terrible crime. I’m proud to have sponsored the Lodging Services Human Trafficking Recognition Training Act, which provides training to hotel workers, giving them the tools to identify likely cases of trafficking and report them quickly and safely to law enforcement. I also have passed increased protections for people who have escaped trafficking and are establishing new lives in safety,
To learn more about the warning signs and how to help, please click here. If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, please contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline, at 1-888-373-7888. There is help for you today.