Organizations come together to better educate the public on human trafficking.
– January is national human trafficking prevention month.
State Police is teaming up with Truckers Against Trafficking as they try to better educate drivers about the signs of human trafficking and how they can help.
The state police have been in partnership with Truckers Against Trafficking since 2015 and Keller says it plays a huge role in helping educate the public
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services also recently announced that $1 million dollars in grants would be available to improve services for human trafficking victims.
According to the Michigan Department of Attorney General, around the country, and right here in Michigan, men, women and children are forced into prostitution, domestic servitude and other labor for little or no pay. Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery and is a large and growing criminal industry worldwide.
The Michigan Attorney General is leading the fight against this horrific crime by prosecuting the state's first-ever criminal cases under state law banning human trafficking in Michigan.
Victims of human trafficking are in bondage through force, fraud or coercion, for the purpose of sex or labor exploitation.
Our children are especially at risk, a staggering number of human trafficking cases involve the sexual exploitation of a child. The Attorney General, as the top law enforcement officer in Michigan, remains dedicated to protecting our children and upholding our Constitution to guarantee fundamental freedom for all.
This office has worked aggressively with law enforcement task forces to ferret out modern day slavers and put an end to their trade. Attorneys from the office also conduct trainings for law enforcement and prosecutors and works with community members and advocates to raise awareness of this despicable crime.
Signs of human trafficking include people that are younger there with much older people, they look out of place, they look uncomfortable.
What you can do to help is make a call to the national human trafficking hotline.
If you call that number with something that you think is suspicious and it turns out to be nothing, there is no harm and there’s no foul
The national human trafficking hotline is available to everyone at any time.
If you see something suspicious, call this number: 1-888-373-7888 or click this link.
Identify Human Trafficking
If you suspect something is wrong, ask yourself these questions:
- Are there bruises or other signs of physical abuse?
- Are there signs of psychological abuse?
- Is the person submissive or fearful?
- Is the person being controlled?
- Is the person being deprived of food, water, sleep, medical care, or other life necessities?
- Is the person allowed to be in public alone?
- Can the person freely contact friends or family?
- Is the person a minor engaged in commercial sex?
- Does a minor appear to be in a relationship with a much older person?
- Does the person fear his or her employer?
- Can the person leave their job situation if they want?
- Has someone threatened the person's family?
If you want to learn more about it or even find ways to help, there are many organizations involved in this important work. Here are a few you can check out:
The locally based "Women At Risk, International" unites and educates to help protect and support those at risk of being trafficked. They also offer a boutique called the War Chest Boutique, where they market and sell handcrafted items made by at-risk and rescued men and women from around the world. The Wyoming boutique is located on 44th Street, 2 miles east of Rivertown Crossing Mall.
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