Human trafficking is as much a local issue as it is a global problem. Nearly 2,000 people at any point in time in Ohio are held in trafficking.
Community members are invited to attend a free awareness event Saturday, Jan. 14, and learn how to spot a human trafficking victim and what to do if you suspect someone is a victim. Attendees will visit with local vendors, view the movie “Chosen,” hear from a survivor, and learn about labor trafficking. There will also be a panel discussion to discuss human trafficking in Summit County and the county’s efforts to combat it.
It is estimated that 80 percent of those pulled into trafficking are female; and 50 percent are children, according to the U.S. State Department. The average age span of entry into prostitution is 12 to 14 years old. Minor victims in the United States are sold on average 10 to 15 times per day.
The event will take place 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Akron-Summit County Public Library’s Main Library, 60 S. High St., in downtown Akron. The cost is free.
For info, visit the event page at www.facebook.com/CollaborativeAgainstHumanTraffickingSummitCounty.
If you think you have seen a victim of human sex trafficking – child or adult, even an infant – contact the following organization anytime toll free, 24 hours a day: National Human Trafficking Resource Center: (888) 373-7888.
