PSA: Ohio and human trafficking

Public Address Announcement from the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs 

Dear community members and leaders,

Did you know that Ohio ranks 5th in the nation in the prevalence of human trafficking crimes? Such startling information has been the basis for an increased effort by Governor Kasich to put an end to this troubling trend. Similarly, statistics indicate that this is a national issue, and the White House has issued an official statement declaring January National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

The idea behind the initiative is to raise awareness of the prevalence of human trafficking and call attention to existing services and resources to aid victims and their families. Thus, OCHLA is taking this opportunity to share some of the available resources in Ohio.

OCHLA continues its work with Attorney General Mike DeWine’s Human Trafficking Commission. OCHLA’s Executive Director serves on the board of this taskforce, and the Commission’s Public Policy Officer serves on the legal and legislative subcommittee. This year, OCHLA helped to publicize issues relating to human trafficking through its frequent briefs and announcements, and helped shape House Bill 262 – a so-called “safe harbor” bill that will aid Ohio law enforcement in recognizing and stopping human trafficking – which Governor Kasich signed into law. You can receive updates on OCHLA’s work in the area of human trafficking and stay updated with the latest information on the State’s progress with these initiatives by signing up to receive “policy and leadership” updates through our Alliance Membership e-campaign system.

In addition, you can learn more about human trafficking in Ohio and access resources for yourself and your community with the information below.

What is human trafficking? – The first step to finding solutions to the problem in your community is learning about what human trafficking really is and dispelling the traditional stereotypes and misconceptions of the perpetrators and victims.

Human Trafficking in Ohio – Find out about human trafficking in our State. The Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force has issued this report that goes beyond identifying the issues and provides recommendations for what state government and organizations can do to combat the problem. Learn about existing efforts and state agencies who have made fighting human trafficking a top priority.

Get assistance with human trafficking issues in your area - From hotlines to report crimes to a list of organizations fighting human trafficking in your area.