Elkins fostering awareness of human trafficking, stalking – The Intermountain

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Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco recently signed a proclamation marking the month of January as Human Trafficking Awareness and Stalking Awareness Month. Taking part in the ceremony were Scott Baker (West Virginia Prevention Solutions), Stormie Meloy (Randolph-Tucker CAC), Katie Marcum (Legal Aid), Matt Scott (Legal Aid), Tekoa Jones (Centers Against Violence), Marco, Ryan Schauman (Centers Against Violence), Katelyn Bender (Centers Against Violence), and Rosa Scarangello (Youth Health Service).

ELKINS — Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco signed a proclamation to recognize the month of January as Human Trafficking and Stalking Awareness Month during a ceremony at City Hall.

Joining Marco at the proclamation signing were members from Centers Against Violence, West Virginia Prevention Solutions, Randolph-Tucker Children's Advocacy Center, Legal Aid of West Virginia and Youth Health Service.

Representing Centers Against Violence were Ryan Schauman, Katelyn Bender and Tekoa Jones. Kaite Marcum and Matt Scott attended on behalf of Legal Aid.

Rosa Scarangello (Youth Health), Stormie Meloy (Randolph-Tucker CAC), and Scott Baker (WV Prevention) also attended the signing.

The proclamation signed by Marco listed a host of facts and figures related to human trafficking and stalking. The proclamation also pointed out that the issue is a problem across the country and that more awareness and education is crucial to help eradicate the problem.

President Joe Biden recently proclaimed January as “National Human Trafficking Prevention Month,” reaffirming his administration's commitment to protect and empower survivors of all forms of human trafficking, to prosecute traffickers, and to bring an end to human trafficking in the United States and around the world.

Since 2010, each president has dedicated the month of January to raise awareness about human trafficking and to educate the public about how to identify and prevent this crime. Every Presidential proclamation for January ends with a call to action for all Americans to recognize the vital role everyone can play in combating all forms of human trafficking.

Human trafficking includes both forced labor and sex trafficking. There are estimated to be more than 27.6 million people subjected to human trafficking around the world.

The month of January also marks the 19th straight year that National Stalking Awareness Month is recognized in the United States. Stalking is a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.

Unlike other crimes that involve a single incident, stalking is a pattern of behavior. It is often made up of individual acts that could, by themselves, seem harmless or noncriminal, but when taken in the context of a stalking situation, could constitute criminal acts. Legal definitions of stalking differ depending on where you live.

An estimated 13.5 million people are stalked in a one-year period in the United States. Close to one in three women and one in six men have experienced stalking at some point in their lifetime. The vast majority of stalking victims are stalked by someone they know.

For anyone seeking help with human trafficking or stalking, contact one of the aforementioned agencies: Centers Against Violence, West Virginia Prevention Solutions, Randolph-Tucker Children's Advocacy Center, Legal Aid of West Virginia or Youth Health Service.