Georgia

Known today as the “Peach State,” Georgia, founded in 1733, is one of the original 13 states. It was named in honor of England’s King George II. During the Civil War, the fall of Atlanta was a crucial turning point in the defeat of the South. Today, Atlanta, which became Georgia’s capital in 1868, is a thriving city with major national corporations, and it is considered the economic and cultural center of the Southeast. The state flower is the Cherokee rose.

Human trafficking is a serious issue that affects people all around the world, including in Georgia. It is a form of modern slavery in which individuals are exploited for labor, sexual exploitation, or other purposes.

In Georgia, human trafficking can take many forms, including forced labor, domestic servitude, and sexual exploitation. It often affects vulnerable populations, such as immigrants, children, and people who are homeless or in poverty.

Georgia has been identified as a hub for human trafficking, due in part to its large immigrant population, international airports, and tourist industry. The state has taken steps to address the issue, including passing legislation to strengthen penalties for traffickers and to provide support and services to victims.

If you suspect that someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, there are steps you can take to help. You can report the situation to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or by text at 233733. You can also contact local law enforcement or a trusted organization that provides services to victims of human trafficking. It is important to remember that the safety of the victim should be the top priority and to handle the situation with care and sensitivity.

 

 

Leader of Waycross-area drug trafficking conspiracy sentenced to decades in federal prison
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Leader of Waycross-area drug trafficking conspiracy sentenced to decades in federal prison

WAYCROSS, GA:  The leader of a south Georgia fentanyl- and heroin-trafficking operation linked to drug overdose deaths has been sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison. Eric Lashawn Hayes, a/k/a “Pee Wee,” 39, of Blackshear, Ga., was sentenced to 262 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm in…

Human trafficking is big business in coastal Georgia | local news
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Human trafficking is big business in coastal Georgia | local news

Joe Leek couldn’t believe his ears as he listened to Susan Norris speak at a recent conference of the Rotary Club of District 6920. Norris, founder and CEO of Rescuing Hope and author of “Rescuing Hope: A Story of Sex Trafficking in America,” spoke about the proliferation of human trafficking for labor and sex slavery…

Exploiting Prison Workers for Cheap Sheets
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Exploiting Prison Workers for Cheap Sheets

It took Johnny Perez over four years of making hundreds of bedsheets every day at a factory to reach the top pay tier: about 32 cents an hour, nearly double his starting wage. He was one of the highest-paid workers at Coxsackie Correctional Facility—a textile manufacturer run by the New York State prison system. When…

Clayton County man found guilty of selling teen girl for sex in human trafficking case
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Clayton County man found guilty of selling teen girl for sex in human trafficking case

Three others have previously been convicted in the case, which involved a 15-year-old victim being sold for sex in Clayton County in 2018. CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — A Clayton County man has been convicted of selling a teen girl for sex in 2018, the fourth and last defendant in a trafficking case in which the…

OSU students holding fashion show to combat human trafficking
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OSU students holding fashion show to combat human trafficking

A student organization at Ohio State University is holding a fashion show Sunday evening to combat human trafficking in Ohio. The Unchained OSU Fashion Show, organized by a student group of the same name, will use fashion to tell the story of a survivor of human trafficking and raise funds for a special scholarship for…

‘A lot of abuse for little pay’: how US farming profits from exploitation and brutality
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‘A lot of abuse for little pay’: how US farming profits from exploitation and brutality

Two dozen conspirators forced workers to pay fees for travel and housing while forcing them to work for little to no pay. In June, a farm worker from Mexico, who requested to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, was transported through a trafficking network from Monterey to work on farms in Georgia. They paid the…

TN AG Skrmetti Joins Bipartisan Effort Calling on Congress to Improve Federal-State Coordination
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TN AG Skrmetti Joins Bipartisan Effort Calling on Congress to Improve Federal-State Coordination

Nashville – Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, in partnership with 35 other state attorneys general, sent a letter to Congressional leaders informing them of an issue of grave concern with the National Human Trafficking Hotline. The letter requests assistance from Congress to preserve the critical joint federal-state effort to end trafficking. Since 2007, Polaris has…

Unfair competition under the USMCA: The case of migrant workers on US farms – Brookings
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Unfair competition under the USMCA: The case of migrant workers on US farms – Brookings

The protection of labor rights is central to sustainable and inclusive supply chains under the USMCA— wherever the work takes place. The USMCA offers new mechanisms to address the unfair competition created by the suppression of workers’ rights, so long as the abuses occur in Mexico. Yet there are serious violations of labor standards in…

Former NFL Player Charged With Trafficking Women, Racketeering – People.com
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Former NFL Player Charged With Trafficking Women, Racketeering – People.com

Former NFL player Eric D. Johnson was among eight defendants indicted this month on a slew of charges in Georgia as part of a multi-county crackdown on human trafficking and violent gang-related activity, authorities said. Johnson, 46, and seven other alleged “LOTTO” gang members are facing charges of trafficking of persons for sexual servitude, violation…

Survivors, local businesses collaborate at anti-human trafficking forum in Atlanta
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Survivors, local businesses collaborate at anti-human trafficking forum in Atlanta

ATLANTA (WUPA) – Survivors have joined forces with state and local agencies and businesses in the fight to end human trafficking. Polaris and IHG Hotels and Resorts hosted an anti-human trafficking forum at the Kimpton Shane Hotel in Midtown Atlanta on Wednesday, in order to collaborate on solutions. “Today, we had survivors who are leaders…