CADIZ — January is Nationwide Human Trafficking Prevention Consciousness Month and the Harrison County Well being Division has spent the month elevating consciousness.
Deputy Well being Commissioner Katie Norris mentioned the division has been posting sources and details about human trafficking on its social media pages to lift consciousness. Norris additionally mentioned the well being division, licensing workplace, little one assist enforcement company and Ohio State College Extension places of work on the Harrison County Authorities Middle wore blue on Jan. 11 for Day of Sporting Blue.
“Human trafficking will not be essentially an enormous deal within the county, however it’s a huge deal within the state of Ohio,” Norris mentioned.
Norris mentioned that, in line with knowledge from the Ohio Legal professional Common’s web site, 1,397 folks in Ohio skilled human trafficking in 2020. He mentioned more moderen knowledge will not be accessible.
“Entails the usage of drive, fraud, or coercion to take advantage of one other particular person by way of commercialized intercourse or involuntary labor.” Norris mentioned.
She mentioned many individuals affiliate human trafficking solely with commercialized intercourse, however she mentioned labor trafficking can be quite common. Norris mentioned labor trafficking can happen in many alternative fields and, like intercourse trafficking, can occur to anybody anyplace.
He mentioned labor trafficking can happen in companies that look like authorized.
“Many individuals assume that human trafficking solely occurs in much less developed international locations, however in actuality, it occurs in every single place, together with the US and Ohio.” Norris mentioned. “It impacts all areas of life. Human trafficking can have an effect on any gender. Based on estimates from the Ohio Legal professional Common’s Workplace, about 25% of individuals affected by human trafficking in Ohio are males.
“It impacts households, communities and people throughout generations, and it would not single anybody out. It impacts folks of any class, faith, ethnic group, colour, age group; “Everybody will be affected.” Norris added.
Norris additionally mentioned human trafficking doesn’t at all times contain violence. He mentioned many traffickers use psychological means akin to manipulation and threats to coerce others.
“It may very well be somebody you understand or somebody you belief, and it would not have a bodily side.” she mentioned.
Norris additionally defined that human trafficking can happen in any space and that human trafficking doesn’t at all times contain taking folks to different international locations.
“It could occur in rural, city or suburban areas.” she mentioned.
Norris mentioned human trafficking is a well being downside in addition to a criminal offense.
“It clearly impacts folks’s entry to look after people who find themselves trafficked,” she mentioned.
Norris mentioned human trafficking can even unfold sexually transmitted infections and illnesses.
He additionally mentioned human trafficking has an enormous destructive influence on psychological well being.
“Human trafficking is linked to social determinants of well being, you understand, poverty, lack of social assist, generally and discrimination.” Norris mentioned.
He mentioned lots of the well being results are long-lasting.
“Our job in public well being is to advertise the rights and well-being of others, which is why we’re elevating consciousness about Human Trafficking Consciousness Month.” Norris mentioned.
You possibly can contact the Nationwide Human Trafficking Hotline by calling 1-888-373-7888 or sending a textual content message. “Be free” at 233733. An internet reside chat can be accessible at humantraffickinghotline.org. The hotline is free to make use of and is accessible 24/7. All conversations will stay confidential.
For extra data or sources on human trafficking, contact the Harrison County Well being Division at 740-942-2616 or healthdepartment@harrisoncountyohio.org or go to the Harrison County Well being Division Fb web page. The division is situated at 538 N. Foremost St. in Cadiz and is open from eight am to four pm Monday by way of Friday.