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Human trafficking seminar presents the reality of trafficking in the city and how to keep watch

Barcode with human silhouette and human trafficking text within
Barcode with human silhouette and human trafficking text within

PETERSBURG—Upon exiting the I-95 and entering the city, a huge billboard on Washington St. greets drivers, asking people to report incidents of human trafficking. Human trafficking is happening more often than you think, and it doesn't necessarily look like the things you imagine it to be: a white van abducting people, according to the city's commonwealth attorney.

At the human trafficking seminar put together by the alumni of the Petersburg chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Inc. on Saturday, several speakers presented their experience.

Why do human traffickers target Petersburg? Because the city has high crime, high teen pregnancy, single parents, and high unemployment. A lot of children are either latch-kid kids, whose single parent is out working all day and they are home alone, or they are homeless, making them vulnerable to human trafficking, shared Dr. Ronnie Watson, a retired principal.

During Watson's time as a principal, he ran into a former student who was homeless and prostituting on the street. He attempted to get her help, but the next day she disappeared. Watson has never seen her since. Others present shared their stories as well, including a guest whose cousin was abducted a couple years ago and hasn't been found since.

“That is why human traffickers can target us because sometimes these kids don't have a place to live. They don't have something to eat, or they don't have a person they can trust,” said Watson. Watson said that about one-sixth of the kids he worked at Vernon Johns Middle School dealt with some behavioral or mental issue, things that could make them more vulnerable to be trafficked.

The misconceptions of human trafficking is that it only occurs in high crime or high poverty areas, said Commonwealth Attorney Tiffany Buckner. Others also think of human trafficking as where someone gets abducted off the street.

“But the fact of the matter is….it begins right in their home with a message they receive on , via email, or someone who is portraying themselves as a friend to them, offering support that they may be missing. And it starts with pushing those boundaries,” said Buckner.

Buckner urged attendees to see human trafficking as a broader and more complex issue that includes forced labor and , that which involves exploitation and manipulation. Those that are trafficked are forced to do things against their will and receive little to no money, and often have little or no freedoms. It could happen in private residences, on farms, in hotels, in businesses.

“You also have to keep your eyes open because it may not look like what you think it should look like. But if you have this broad of what it could be, then you'll be more keen to that intuition.”

Buckner pointed to a recent report of child labors found working for the Hyundai-Kia supply chain factories in Alabama.

“And you think, how in America are people hiring children to do labor? It's happening,” she said.

Buckner stated that it also important to know what the law is. Virginia prohibits forced prostitution, forced, marriages, a parent or guardian consenting to prostitution, forced labor, the manufacturing of child pornography, and recruiting for prostitution, said Buckner.

There is also a new law in place for hotels that require owners to attend training on human trafficking, how to recognize and report it. Owners must also train their workers to do the same, within six months of a new hire.

If you know of someone who may be in a situation where they are being trafficked, call the Virginia Child Protective Services Hotline at (800) 552-7096. For adults, call the Virginia State Police Human Trafficking Unit at #77, or the Virginia Victims Assistance Network (VVAN): (833) INFO-4-HT.

Joyce Chu, an award-winning investigative journalist, is the Social Justice Watchdog Reporter for The Progress Index. Contact her with comments, concerns, or story-tips at  [email protected] or on Twitter @joyce_speaks.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Petersburg's human trafficking seminar highlighted the reality of trafficking

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PBJ Learning is a leading provider of human trafficking training, focusing on awareness and prevention education. Their interactive Human Trafficking Essentials is used worldwide to educate professionals and individuals how to recognize human trafficking and how to respond to potential victims. Learn on any web browser (even your mobile phone) at any time.

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This “Eyes on Trafficking” story is reprinted from its original online location.

ABOUT PBJ LEARNING

PBJ Learning is a leading provider of online human trafficking training, focusing on awareness and prevention education. Their interactive Human Trafficking Essentials online course is used worldwide to educate professionals and individuals how to recognize human trafficking and how to respond to potential victims. Learn on any web browser (even your mobile phone) at any time.

More stories like this can be found in your PBJ Learning Knowledge Vault.