Florida must fight human trafficking
Originally published on HeraldTribune.com
Now that the Super Bowl is over, Florida must continue to leverage the increased attention, partnerships and support from game-related, anti-trafficking activities.
Florida has already taken admirable strides to combat human trafficking, which is a terrible crime of inhumanity and greed. It would be a shame for momentum to die down now that Raymond James Stadium has emptied.
Each year before the Super Bowl, designated cities across the United States ramp up law enforcement stings and anti-trafficking awareness efforts. Eye-catching “It’s a Penalty” banners, billboards and signs were prominently displayed throughout the Tampa Bay area showing how to spot and report human trafficking. And Hillsborough County undercover detectives recently arrested 71 people following a month-long human trafficking operation.
Yet sex trafficking is a major problem that occurs year-round, not just leading up to or during the Super Bowl. There is a thriving underground economy based on the commercial sexual exploitation of children, with traffickers using online and on-the-ground tactics to connect with victims.
The bad news is Florida has the third-highest rate of human trafficking reports to the National Human Trafficking Hotline – and Tampa has the 12th-highest rate of calls per capita. While most victims are female, men and boys are also trafficked regardless of geography, age, sexual orientation, race and socioeconomic status.
In fact, sex trafficking has been reported in every county in Florida. One in five victims is a child, and the average age that exploitation begins is 12 to 14.
The good news is that Florida is recognized as a national leader in the fight to end human trafficking. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, who chairs Florida’s Statewide Council on Human Trafficking, also serves as co-chair of the National Association of Attorneys General Human Trafficking Committee. The group, which is composed of 56 attorney generals from the U.S. and its territories, promotes best practices for combating trafficking at state levels.
As the statewide director of the largest network of survivor-centered services in Florida, I have seen firsthand the impact of our state’s progress on improving the lives of sex trafficked children and young adults.
Florida has some of the strongest laws against human trafficking in the country. Florida was also the first state in the nation to require schools to teach K-12 child trafficking prevention. Survivors of trafficking now have their voices heard like never before; they have a seat at the table in policymaking, advocacy, awareness and direct services.
However, the number of individuals identifying as victims is growing. It has not yet been determined whether this is because services are becoming increasingly available or because there is expanded awareness about trafficking – or because there is more criminal activity taking place.
Florida must continue its leadership to end trafficking by continuing to support trauma-informed programs for victims that are also survivor-led, remove barriers to gainful employment for survivors and address policy options with stronger punishments for traffickers. By doing so we will send the strongest message to traffickers that Florida is closed for their business – permanently.
