The FBI announced this month that 105 children involved in sex trafficking had been rescued in over 76 cities. Through the reported national 72-hour operation, 150 pimps were arrested for the exploitation of minors. Typical victims were found in the age range of 13 to 16. The youngest victim was reported to be 13 years old. Between 70 and 90 percent of the survivors were sexually abused at a very young age, the FBI stated. Traffickers usually target the youth that have family problems with minimal support and low self-esteem.
In response to the recent arrests of human traffickers in the Greater Cincinnati area, The Salvation Army Anti-Human Trafficking Program staff and volunteers coordinated efforts to provide services to identified survivors with the Cincinnati FBI Office, Cincinnati Police Department, and Sharonville Police Department. The Anti-Human Trafficking Program, End Slavery, provided services for shelter, abuse treatment, counseling, case management, education assistance and other support systems to help with their recovery. Food, clothes, and other needed essentials were provided to the survivors as well.
Although this operation allowed us to connect with rescued victims, many victims remain in their trafficking situations. If you are interested in volunteering with the Anti-Human Trafficking Program or End Slavery Cincinnati there are many opportunities. This summer we launch our Street Outreach Program. A trained team of volunteers and End Slavery Cincinnati Staff go out to the streets of Cincinnati to connect with women being exploited in the commercial sex industry and to offer support. As a team, we distribute gift bags which include basic essentials for victims and outreach efforts to spread awareness and understanding. We offer encouragement and a source of hope letting trafficking victims know that we are here to serve them. In conjunction to the development of our program, we have been working alongside outside organizations such as Off the Streets, Taymar's Place, and others to support exploited women in getting the resources they need.
For more information on volunteering, you can visit our
website. Also, make sure to check out upcoming human trafficking awareness and education
events.
The Salvation Army Anti-Human Trafficking Program encourages all residents to contact the 24 hour local hotline to report suspicious behavior, to receive crisis intervention, to access referrals and resources for survivors, and to get more information about human trafficking in the area. The hotline number is 513-800-1863.
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