Yet, this kind of atrocity is happening all over the world, even in our backyards.

On a bus this morning, I saw this poster:

“Human Trafficking in Contra Costa is Real!  12 – 14 YEARS OLD.  AVERAGE AGE OF U.S. CHILDREN BEING FORCED INTO PROSTITUTION”

How do we stop these crimes on children? How do we spread awareness?

For the full story, click on Martinez News-Gazette

Excerpts from the article by Darya Esipova January 19, 2014

DA says human trafficking exists in Contra Costa County

District Attorney Mark Peterson told about 30 participants at the conference of the significance of human trafficking, and mentioned there are 16.5 million people throughout the world that become victims of labor exploitation every year – 65 percent of which are women used in slave labor.

Contra Costa County Prosecutor Nancy Georgiou said that since January 2011, the problem of trafficking started to become more and more obvious. In 2011 she had four cases to review, and in 2013, 32 cases, with a prosecution rate of 100 percent. In 2014 there are 10 cases on the waiting list.

Police officers and probation officers are trained to rescue human trafficking victims.

“It is vital for the general public to know the dynamics of human trafficking,” she said, “and to know that behind every girl there is a person that controls her: manages her transportation – where does she have to go, what clothing to wear and when to work. In 2013, the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors created a Human Trafficking Coalition, where community members, health service providers, law enforcement agencies and others collaborate with each other and exchange the information they have.”

Devorah Levine, Chair of Zero Tolerance for Human Trafficking, stated that their main message is that the public has an obligation not to tolerate trafficking as a kind of modern slavery in our county.

“If you are a victim of trafficking or if you suspect that someone may be being trafficked, we believe you and want you to come forward and to speak to people who can help, and the first step is to call hot-line number 211. There are many people standing behind that number that are ready to help – violence police officers, health services providers and many more,” explained Levine.

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Look Beneath the Surface - Human Trafficking is modern-day slavery. A victim of trafficking may look like many of the people you see everyday.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/programs/anti-trafficking

The Anti-Trafficking in Persons Program (ATIP) identifies and serves victims of human trafficking, assisting foreign trafficking victims in the United States to become eligible for public benefits and services to the same extent as refugees.  The program also raises awareness of human trafficking through the HHS Rescue & Restore Victims of Human Trafficking campaign.

Together we can help make this world a safe place for all children.