The Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force is sponsoring Alabama Human Trafficking Awareness Day on January 9. We are asking the City Mayors in Huntsville, Madison, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, Birmingham, and Mobile to sign Proclamations on that day in observance of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
Radio, television, and printed media coverage across the state will help educate citizens about human trafficking in our state; raise awareness about human trafficking; outline victim identifiers; and explain how to report potential human trafficking situations.(www.ENDITAlabama.org.)
This coordinated effort is the first of its kind and the first event planned by the newly established Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force, put in place by House Joint Resolution 270 sponsored by Representative Jack Williams (R-Vestavia Hills) which passed the Alabama legislature in March 2014. Governor Robert Bentley (R-Tuscaloosa) signed the resolution in April 2014 making the Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force a reality. The Task Force meets once a quarter at the Alabama State House. Meetings are open to the public.
The purpose and agenda of the Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force includes all of the following:
1) To combat all aspects of human trafficking, including sex trafficking and labor trafficking.
2) To pursue a comprehensive response to crimes of human trafficking.
3) To coordinate strategies to provide necessary services for victims of human trafficking.
4) To focus prevention efforts to end the demand for human trafficking and create awareness through education and community initiatives.
5) To develop legislation to prevent, intervene, and treat human trafficking.
Members and supporters of the Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force:
• Jack Williams, Task Force Chair, Birmingham, AL 205-862-5041
• Barry Matson, Task Force Vice Chair, Montgomery, AL 334-242-4491
• Pat McCay, Task Force Secretary, Huntsville, AL 256-653-8527
• Tajuan McCarty, The WellHouse, Birmingham, AL 1-800-991-0948
• Carolyn Potter, The WellHouse, Birmingham, AL 1-800-991-0948
• David Pinkleton, Fundraising Committee Chair, Huntsville, AL 256-714-1142
• Carrie Shaw, Deputy District Attorney, Montgomery, AL 334-262-7378
• Jerusha Adams, Senior Litigation Counsel, Montgomery, AL 334-551-1770
HUMAN TRAFFICKING FACTS:
1. Human trafficking is the second largest criminal industry in the world (second only to drug trafficking).
2. There are 27 million slaves in the world today – more than at any
other time in the history of the world.
3. It is estimated that 600,000 to 800,000 victims are trafficked in the U.S. every year.
4. Approximately $32 billion are generated worldwide through
trafficking activities annually.
5. The average age of a human trafficking victim is 12 years old.
6. Although 80 percent of all sex trafficking victims are female, but
the number of males being sexually exploited is rapidly rising.
7. Within the first 48 hours of leaving home, one-third of runaway
youths become the victims of human trafficking.
8. I-20 and I-65 are major corridors for human trafficking. I-20 has
been identified as the “super highway for human trafficking in the
United States.”
9. Huntsville sits in the middle of five human trafficking “hot spots”: Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, Atlanta, and Birmingham.
