Month-long campaign aims to educate community on human trafficking
NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Jan. 10, 2023) – It’s a busy but important time for Tusc Against Trafficking.
The coalition has been increasing its outreach in the community and on social media during National Human Trafficking Awareness Month here in January. Facilitator Kristie Campbell-Meiser says people sometimes believe that it’s only a problem in urban areas and doesn’t happen here, which isn’t the case.
“When we look at the data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline or even just from our local service agencies, we can see that there are victims of human trafficking here in Tuscarawas County, and they’re not a minuscule number. There is trafficking happening here, and that also means there are buyers.”
Meiser will be dispelling that myth and others on the Tusc Against Trafficking Facebook page throughout the month and during a free presentation at the New Philadelphia library next Wednesday at 6 pm. She says we can end human trafficking together by getting educated on what it looks like and how it happens.
“Every little bit helps and even if it’s somebody just checking out our Facebook page and started to follow us so that they’re getting that information and those updates, even that is a start.”
The county commissioners have issued a proclamation declaring January Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Tuscarawas County and encouraging residents to support the coalition’s efforts.