January 2024
Since 2010, the month of January has been dedicated to raising awareness about human trafficking and to educating the community about how to identify and prevent this crime. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared 2024’s theme to be “Activate Connections to Prevent Human Trafficking.”
Human trafficking is the trade of humans for the purpose of forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation. Typically, an action is taken with the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel persons in to forced labor or sex. Trafficking impacts people of all races, genders, ages and socio-economic status.
Ohio currently ranks fifth in the nation for human trafficking. Crime Victim Services’ Day One program has assisted 157 survivors of human trafficking in in the last three years in the Allen County and surrounding areas. Many survivors have been trafficked by romantic partners, including spouses, and by family members, including parents.
Common industries where trafficking occurs includes agricultural or landscape work, construction work, sweatshops, nail salons, restaurants, hotel housekeeping, prostitution, pornography, strip clubs, or massage parlors.
This January, Crime Victim Services encourages you to connect with us to prevent trafficking! Follow our social media to learn about the red flags of human trafficking and where and how to report. Have your business learn about best practices in policy to ensure the purchase and sale of goods made through non-exploitative sources. Invite Crime Victim Services to come and speak at your school, business, church, or community event Join our anti-human trafficking coalition.
The Northwest Ohio Rescue & Restore Coalition (NWORRC) is a Coalition made up of over 30+ representatives from the community and local agencies, with Crime Victim Services serving as the fiscal agent. The mission is to end sex and labor trafficking by enhancing public education, survivor recovery, and justice response. The coalition is comprised of 16 counties in northwest, west central, and southwest Ohio. Meetings are held on the second Thursday of every month from 11:30am-1pm and are open to the public. To learn more about the coalition, visit us at https://www.crimevictimservices.org/humantrafficking.
If you suspect someone is being trafficked,, call our hotline at 1-877-867-7273 or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. If you would like educational presentations on human trafficking, call our office at 419-222-8666.
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