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January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month
Did you know?
Here’s some inside into the history of Human Trafficking Awareness Month, courtesy of The Lifeboat Project.
More than 20 years ago, the U.S. government enacted the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA 2000), with a nationwide commitment to combat human trafficking nationally and internationally. The first presidential proclamation was in January 2010 by President Obama for “National Slavery and Human Trafficking Month.”
Every year since 2010, there has been a Presidential Proclamation in January to bring awareness about human trafficking and how to educate the public to identify and prevent this crime. The U.S. Department of State raises awareness of this crime through U.S. embassies and consulates abroad. (www.state.gov) President Biden has proclaimed January 2022 as “National Human Trafficking Prevention Month,” reaffirming his Administration’s commitment to protect and empower survivors of all forms of human trafficking, to prosecute traffickers, and to bring an end to human trafficking in the United States and around the world.
“Since human trafficking disproportionately impacts racial and ethnic minorities, women and girls, LGBTQI+ individuals, vulnerable migrants, and other historically marginalized and underserved communities, our mission to combat human trafficking must always be connected to our broader efforts to advance equity and justice across our society,” he said.
The U.S. Department of Justice also released the U.S. National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking. The primary forms of human trafficking are recognized are consistent with TVPA 2000: commercial sex trafficking and forced labor.
As of today, nearly 40.3 million worldwide have lost their freedom to human traffickers. It is estimated that nearly 20% of those people are children.
Florida ranks third of all U.S. states for human trafficking activity according to the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline with a total of 5,384 cases reported. There is a case of human trafficking reported in every county of Florida. Central Florida is a major hub for human traffickers.
In 2022 alone, Central Florida law enforcement officials have arrested more than 150 criminals in under cover human trafficking operations. The average age of a victim first used for commercial sex is 12-14 years old (Florida Statewide Council on Human Trafficking).
Anyone can fight against human trafficking. Learn the signs, attend a training, and become more aware of what is happening in our local community. You are important to stop human trafficking! In upcoming weeks, we will look at vulnerable populations that human traffickers prey on.
Use hashtags on your social media #GiveFreedom #TheLifeboatProject # EndHumanTrafficking, or visit www.thelifeboat project.org.
