Meridian domestic violence shelter raises awareness of human trafficking prevention

In Meridian, a local domestic violence shelter is putting out information this entire month, to raise awareness and educate the community regarding human trafficking, with January being National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

This month, Care Lodge is releasing information via its social media pages on how to identify signs of human trafficking, hoping to prevent and eliminate human trafficking in the local community, along with information on how to get victims help.

According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, in 2019 Mississippi had 148 human trafficking cases reported, seeing an increase in the number of cases, in comparison to 39 cases reported in 2015.

Sara Smith, Community Engagement Director at Care Lodge told Twin States News, that human trafficking can also look like domestic violence.

“We see people who are groomed into the process, it’s very predatory. So, you have an abuser, who can maybe even pose themselves as a boyfriend, or a girlfriend, -- or a soulmate, and their goal is to try to make their victim believe, -- or their potential victim believe that basically the life that they’re going to offer them is way better than what they’re already experiencing. So, in this predatory nature they’re coming for people who are in a situation,” said Sara Smith.

Smith also listed some of the way’s victims may experience human trafficking.

“Overtime you’ll see instance of force, fraud, and coercion. These are the top three tactics that the abusers will use to try to get their victim trafficked. Now, that can be labor trafficking, but regardless of what it is, it is wrong and it’s illegal,” said Smith.

Care lodge is able to connect victims of human trafficking with safe and supportive services, for more information you can call 601-693-4673.