End Slavery TN organizes free ‘Human Trafficking 101’ training session

Nashville, Tenn. (WTVF) – End Slavery Tennessee hosted a free Human Trafficking 101 training at the main branch of the Nashville Public Library. Members of the public sat through a presentation and Q&A session to learn about the issue in Tennessee.

Kelly Carey, CEO of End Slavery Tennessee, said it was an opportunity for the public to learn the signs and misconceptions of human trafficking.

“Human trafficking is therefore the exploitation of persons for the purpose of sex or labor services,” Carey said. This exploitation often targets the most vulnerable in our communities.

“With Covid, with the pandemic, with housing insecurity, with job insecurity – these things really affect trafficking and add to vulnerabilities,” Carey said. “So we’re seeing more people becoming vulnerable and potentially being trafficked because of those things.”

Carey said it is thanks to tough legislation that the fight against human trafficking in Tennessee has recently received national recognition. HOPE International, an organization that coordinates a national US network of protections to improve response to victims of trafficking, ranked Tennessee the highest and best performing state. 2022 Report Card on Child and Youth Sex Trafficking,

“We should feel really proud of those efforts because it really starts at that top level and when our legislators take it seriously and make sure we have the tough tools to crack down on smugglers,” Carey said. There are laws that actually help us non-legally.” -profit.”

But officials say human trafficking is the second fastest growing criminal industry after drug trafficking, and advocates say staying informed can make a difference in helping victims of trafficking.

Carey said, “It’s so important that the public really knows what trafficking looks like, to dispel misinformation about what it doesn’t look like, and then it’s most important that they connect people to resources and services.” can add.”

If you or someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, you can call the confidential National Human Trafficking Hotline 24/7 at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733.