Baton Rouge, LA (KPLC) – Horrible crimes like human trafficking can usually disguise in plain sight. That’s why Louisiana’s first girl Donna Edwards is elevating consciousness that “no neighborhood is immune.”
“A younger woman was truly found in a cage in our hometown, and he or she was being trafficked by her family. It was in our papers and all over the place. And I used to be like wow, I imply it’s in our personal again yard, so that they should consider it and understand it now,” Edwards mentioned.
Edwards tells of tales hitting too near residence. She explains it’s straightforward to be unaware of human trafficking occurring in your individual neighborhood even in the event you suppose it’s one thing that might by no means occur there.
“It’s one thing that you simply suppose ‘oh that’s so far-off, that’s a international difficulty. That’s not likely one thing that’s native,’ however but it’s. And it occurs to our personal youngsters. These will not be youngsters from a special nation which might be trafficked. They’re proper right here in our state,” Edwards mentioned.
Edwards mentioned human trafficking is occurring to males, ladies and youngsters; compelled to participate in sexual acts for revenue.
Social media can usually be a sizzling spot for traffickers to bait their victims.
“The trickery that’s utilized in trafficking a few of these victims is simply unbelievable,” Edwards mentioned. “Handing a cellphone and social media to our 9 and 10-year-old younger individuals in our lives is absolutely one thing we’d like to consider. You’re actually handing them a gateway to who is aware of what.”
With elevated schooling and consciousness, Edwards hopes her initiatives can play an element in placing a cease to human trafficking.
“The extra that we turn out to be conscious of it and perceive that it’s proper there in our personal communities,” Edwards mentioned. “And you recognize, it goes again to the saying ‘see one thing say one thing.’ You understand, I usually say lengthy gone are the times of that’s not our enterprise. You understand, we use to inform our youngsters that’s none of our enterprise, however it’s. When a life is in peril, it’s completely our enterprise.”
For extra details about the First Woman’s ‘Cease Trafficking Louisiana: Trafficking is R.E.A.L.!” initiative, CLICK HERE.
To entry the Louisiana Human Trafficking Prevention Sources, CLICK HERE.
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