In Your Backyard

Publish Date:   January 24, 2017

In Your Backyard

 

Human trafficking happens in all states in the nation and all counties, both urban and rural, right here in Wisconsin.

 

Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery defined as “an act of recruiting, transporting, transferring, harboring or receiving a person through a use of force, coercion or other means, for the purpose of exploiting them.”

 

Almost 80% of human trafficking cases involve sexual exploitation, and most of the victims are women and children.  Victims may be forced into exploitation to meet their daily needs for food and shelter; they may be controlled through physical, verbal, or sexual abuse; or they may receive threats against their families.

 

In Waushara County, a group of interested persons have come together to form the Waushara County Human Trafficking Committee which is currently meeting on a monthly basis.  The primary goal of this committee is ‘public awareness’.  Making the general public aware of Human Trafficking is one way to help eliminate the issue.  This committee has purchased, through donations, and is placing copies of the DVD “The Chosen” into all of the public libraries in the County.  They are also working to get informative posters posted around the County – these posters will have phone numbers listed for those who may need help.

 

Our local committee is also working with the National Organization of Truckers Against Trafficking, to be certain that those involved in the trucking organization, including local truck stops, are aware and become proactive against Trafficking.

 

If you are interested in more information about Human Trafficking or being involved at the local level, please contact:  Mary LaBlanc, Waushara County Prevention Coordinator at 920-787-6600.

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