Birmingham, Alabama has some trafficking problems. You might think it only happens in bigger cities, but this article says it is everywhere…
The city is asking for the public’s help. Start thinking about it. Get involved. Understand what the victims are enduring. The effort in Birmingham is called the Blue Campaign. It is a way of bringing human trafficking to the attention of the city. The city has teamed up with Homeland Security and posters are going up around town. It needs to be part of the daily conversation says Carlon Harris, who is the Director of Research and Development at Sunny Slaughter Consulting. He is involved in producing a documentary that details human trafficking in the city of Birmingham which he hopes to complete by spring. He says, “Human trafficking happens 365 days of the year. So, basically it can happen anytime, anywhere. Most victims, they will pass you. You have I-65 which is here and it is one of the key corridors for human trafficking. Basically every highway or every byway can be utilized as a corridor for human trafficking.”
He has been researching the problem in Birmingham, Alabama, for a year now and has been in touch with organizations that offer help to victims of trafficking and prostitution. He believes part of the city is the hot spot. This article says that at times, human trafficking and prostitution may fall under the same umbrella. However, they are two entirely different things. Harris said there are four different versions: labor, domestic, sex trafficking and organ trafficking. He added there are also three categories that label human trafficking that he refers to as FFC. “You have force, fraud and coercion. And so you have to have these three elements within human trafficking for it to be classified legally as human trafficking.”
When it comes to identifying victims: “If you have someone that’s sketchy in your area or that’s in your neighborhood, or if you are in an establishment where there’s an overly young individual, those are like key factors.”
Harris hopes to have his documentary complete by the spring.
For more information about the Blue Campaign visit http://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign.
To read the entire article, click on the link below.
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