CULLMAN, Ala. – Leaders in government, law enforcement and community services came together at Cullman City Hall on Friday, Jan. 6 as Mayor Woody Jacobs proclaimed Jan. 11 Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Accepting the proclamation was the Cullman County Human Trafficking Task Force’s Ashley Dover who will be at Karma’s Coffee House on Jan. 11 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. with A21’s Alex Hill speaking with customers about human trafficking and recognizing the signs.
Human trafficking, as defined by the United Nations 20 years ago, is “the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Exploitation shall include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude or the removal of organs.”
According to the Department of Homeland Security, signs of human trafficking include:
- Does the person appear disconnected from family, friends, community organizations or houses of worship?
- Has a child stopped attending school?
- Has the person had a sudden or dramatic change in behavior?
- Is a juvenile engaged in commercial sex acts?
- Is the person disoriented or confused, or showing signs of mental or physical abuse?
- Does the person have bruises in various stages of healing?
- Is the person fearful, timid or submissive?
- Does the person show signs of having been denied food, water, sleep or medical care?
- Is the person often in the company of someone to whom he or she defers? Or someone who seems to be in control of the situation, e.g., where they go or who they talk to?
- Does the person appear to be coached on what to say?
- Is the person living in unsuitable conditions?
- Does the person lack personal possessions and appear not to have a stable living situation?
- Does the person have freedom of movement? Can the person freely leave where they live? Are there unreasonable security measures?
The National Human Trafficking Hotline is 1-888-373-7888.
