Missouri ranked a ‘hot spot’ for human trafficking
MISSOURI (KBSI) – Human trafficking is something that affects all areas around the globe.
Missouri comes in at 20 for highest human trafficking cases reported.
According to the Human Trafficking Hotline, close to 200,000 incidences of human trafficking happen each year in the U.S. In Missouri alone, the hotline received more than 1000 calls for help.
Human trafficking is the unlawful transportation or cohesion of somebody for forced labor or sexual exploitation. Audry Coffman is the executive director for the Stop Human Trafficking Coalition of central Missouri. She says the organization receives referrals on possible trafficked victims throughout Missouri and through the national hotline.
The organization provides food, clothes shelter and more.
“Missouri is a hotspot,” said Coffman. “You know any time you have major inner states connected you have people being transported North, South, East and West.”
Human trafficking is the unlawful transportation or cohesion of somebody for forced labor or sexual exploitation. Audry Coffman is the executive director for the Stop Human Trafficking Coalition of Central Missouri. She says the organization receives referrals on possible trafficked victims throughout Missouri and through the national hotline.
The organization provides food, clothes shelter and more.
“Basically, to meet their needs,” said Coffman. “So many times its safe housing. That could be emergency shelter. It could be transitional shelter. It could be apartment assistance if needed. It all depends on a person’s situation.”
They also offer a transportation program that allows victims to get a ride immediately if they are in danger and it assists in giving rides to and from work to any legal appointments or any medical appointments. The stop human trafficking coalition of central Missouri is located in Columbia, Missouri but they’re organization connects women from all over the state to resources or provides victims with transportation to their location. There are several ways you can show your support in January.
January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. If you’d like to show your support you wear blue on January 11.
“I think that a lot of people think that trafficking is only on the movies and what people need to understand is that its right here in our local communities from the smallest communities to the largest,” said Coffman.
If you or someone you know is being trafficked there is help. The National Human Trafficking Hotline number is 1-888-373-7888. The line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
