United Way: January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and Jan. 11 is Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Human trafficking is a humanitarian crisis that is a form of modern-day slavery. Not only is human trafficking prevalent around the world, but also cases of human trafficking are reported in all 50 states.

Victims are trafficked for a variety of purposes, such as commercial sex, agricultural work or other forms of labor. The face of human trafficking can be rich, poor, men, women, adults, children, foreign national or U.S. citizen. They are all generally vulnerable in some way, but all victims share the loss of a most cherished human right — freedom. The Polaris Project hosts the national Human Trafficking Hotline and conducts extensive research on human trafficking. Their research shows there are 25 industries who utilize human trafficking in the United States. Human trafficking is a market-based economy that exists on principles of supply and demand. It is a high profit enterprise with limited or low risks. It is illegal under international, federal and Michigan state law. The Federal Victims Protection Act of 2000 and Michigan Penal Code address underage minors and adults involved in all forms of human trafficking, affected by the use of force, fraud or coercion (i.e. manipulation by traffickers or perpetrators).

As a society, we are seeking better understanding of the nuances of trafficking. It is a power and control issue, similar to domestic violence and sexual assault. Because of the secretive, coercive nature of human trafficking, it is hard to find an exact figure of how many people are trafficked in the United States.

The Lenawee Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition is encouraging everyone to wear blue on Jan. 11 in honor of Human Trafficking Awareness Day. The group will be hosting a panel discussion in conjunction with the Adrian Human Relations Commission at their January 2023 monthly meeting. Sister Patricia McDonald, O.P., a Siena Heights University professor, will coordinate this program on behalf of the Coalition. Please see the Lenawee Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition Facebook page for updated information on this and other Human Trafficking Awareness Month activities: www.facebook.com/LenaweeantiHTCoalition.  You can call 517-264-6821 for more information as well.

In Lenawee County, there has been an Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force or Coalition for over 11 years, formed initially through the Adrian Dominican Sisters. Their goal has been to promote education, awareness and advocacy of human trafficking. The Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition works closely with other community partners to address human trafficking and related domestic violence and sexual assault issues. Community partners include the Adrian Dominican Sisters, Catherine Cobb Safe House, the United Way, local sexual assault nurse examiners, Lenawee County Sheriff's Office, Adrian Police Department and area mental health professionals. As a group, these agencies address human trafficking from a legal, mental and physical health perspective. They understand the nuances of this issue.

I have been a part of both the Monroe and Lenawee County Anti-Human Trafficking Coalitions, collectively for over 10 years. This subject breaks my heart. You can help fight human trafficking by reading more about it, have a Lenawee County Anti Human Trafficking Coalition member speak to your group or simply help mentor vulnerable youth in your sphere of influence. There are many ways to get more information about human trafficking. The Department of Homeland Security also has an excellent awareness campaign called the Blue Campaign (www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign). The Polaris Project is home to the National Human Trafficking Hotline (888-373-7888), and they have great information as well (www.polarisproject.org ). There is also a very active Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force (www.mhttf.org ). The Catherine Cobb Safe House is also a good resource on violence against women issues: 517-265-5352 or www.fccsoflenawee.org .

Please note that the United Way is hosting our fourth Racial Equity Challenge in a 21-week format challenge with weekly email prompts Jan. 16 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day) through June 19 (Juneteenth). The challenge is a self-guided learning journey designed to deepen participants' understanding of, and willingness to confront, racism. Participants will engage in a series of readings, videos, podcasts and daily reflections as part of the program. The challenge facilitates a way for participants to identify and commit to their actions to advance racial equity. Participants can register at www.unitedwayMLC.org beginning Monday, Jan. 9.

Laura Schultz Pipis is the executive director of the United Way of Monroe/Lenawee Counties.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: United Way: January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month