Groups works to educate, fight human trafficking in NC
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — North Carolina has become a hub for human trafficking as it ranks in the top 15 in the country when it comes to fighting the issue.
With these numbers, local leaders are getting involved. They’re saying human trafficking isn’t done in the way most people are told, such as being kidnapped and placed into a white van or even done in another country.
It could be done by someone you love and could be happening right under your nose.
There are more than one million human trafficking cases in the United States and North Carolina is among the most affected states as it’s a growing problem, and it’s not being done in the way you might think.
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“People often have this myth that it’s people being kidnapped, you know it’s a white van driving through the neighborhoods snatching children,” says Pam Strickland, founder and CEO of NC Stop Human Trafficking
That does happen at times, and it is what we usually see in movies, but Liz Liles, director of Daughters Worth, said that isn’t always the case.
“A lot of people who are being trafficked don’t even know they’re trafficking victims,” says Liles.
Strickland told WNCT that military bases have a part to play in the act as men are far away from home. Highways are also part of the issue as it happens along our busiest roadways.
“Things that make us a hot spot are things like the interstates that go through our state, the multiple military bases that we have, the fact that we’re a coastal state and so that provides easy access,” said Strickland.
But it’s mostly being done by the victim’s lover, friend, or their own mother.
“You have a mom who is telling their beautiful little girl ‘If you wanna have a space to lay your head tonight, you’re gonna have to go and do sex favors. We’re gonna have to do this in order to have rent,” said Liles.
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Drugs are sometimes involved.
“Once they’re dependent on that then they’ll say well if you want your next fix, you will have to go out and perform a commercial sex act,” says Strickland.
Whether it’s someone close, a stranger, or the victim is an adult or child. These advocates say social media is playing a big part in recent cases and are urging you to stay vigilant while warning children to also be cautious.
“We see a lot of young ladies who or women who have made connections with individuals online who are trusting this person through Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, and have built a relationship and believe this person is there to love them, to care for them,” says Liles “And then that entire relationship then goes sideways and things begin to happen.”
“Educate them about online safety. Today, so many of our kids are exploited online,” said Strickland.
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