Arizona

The “Grand Canyon State,” Arizona, was the 48th state to join the U.S. in 1912– the last of 48 contiguous (connected) states to join the Union. The state’s name comes from arizonac, from two Papago Indian words meaning “place of the young spring.” Arizona has a very dry climate and is known for its cactus plants. In fact, the state flower is the saguaro cactus blossom.

Human trafficking is a serious issue that affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds in Arizona and around the world. It is defined as the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit someone for labor, sexual exploitation, or other forms of exploitation. It can take many forms, including sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and domestic servitude.

In Arizona, the issue of human trafficking has received increasing attention in recent years. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, there were 278 reported cases of human trafficking in the state in 2020. The majority of these cases involved sex trafficking, followed by labor trafficking.

Victims of human trafficking in Arizona may come from a variety of backgrounds and may be exploited in a variety of settings, including hotels, restaurants, factories, farms, and private homes. Some of the most common indicators of human trafficking in Arizona include:

• Victims who are unable to move or leave their place of work due to fear or coercion
• Victims who are controlled by their traffickers through force, threats, or intimidation
• Victims who are not allowed to speak for themselves or who are not allowed to make decisions about their own lives
• Victims who are not paid for their work or who are paid very little
• Victims who are not allowed to leave their place of work or who are constantly accompanied by their traffickers

If you suspect that someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking in Arizona, it is important to get help as soon as possible. You can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or the Arizona Attorney General’s Office’s Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-855-500-FREE (3733). You can also contact local law enforcement or a trusted organization that provides services to trafficking victims.