TALLAHASSEE, FL (352today.com) – State leaders are coming together to fight against human trafficking by raising awareness and bringing together survivors and advocates.
On Oct. 3, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the 2023’s Human Trafficking Summit which is online and free, offering legal sessions, education, and awareness. The conference unites survivors, law enforcement, prosecutors, advocates, community leaders and citizens, who are working to put a stop to human trafficking.
“Let us remember that each victim in this crime was a person, a child even, with dreams, aspirations, hopes for how their future may evolve. And now they are dealing with a new reality and a new trauma,” shared Moody in a news conference.
Moody says that we should not become immune to human trafficking and increase our efforts and passion to put an end to it.
The summit consists of nine different sessions ranging from topics about how the opioid crisis fuels human trafficking to how to support survivors. All attendees get access to eleven hours of the informational content until March 2024.
John Walsh, the former host of “America’s Most Wanted” and founder of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is the keynote speaker for the summit.
If you would like to attend the virtual conference, you can here.
The Florida Department of Education says the Sunshine State is the third largest hub for human trafficking.
According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, in 2021, the center received 2,894 signals from Florida. “Signals” include calls to the hotline, text reports, online reports, emails and web chats.
1,146 of those signals received were from victims or survivors. The state identified 781 cases and 1,253 victims involved in the cases which can involve multiple victims.
If you suspect human trafficking, you can call the statewide human trafficking hotline at 1-855-FLA-SAFE. If you would like to remain anonymous, you can contact Florida Crime Stoppers at **TIPS (8477) on your cell or online.
