September 2018 Update on Ohio's Anti-Human Trafficking Efforts

HT Task Force with space

September 2018 Human Trafficking Update

A brief overview of current news and updates on Ohio's anti-trafficking movement


news

On September 17, a fourth person pleaded guilty to his role in the human trafficking scheme that recruited adults and children from Guatemala and forced them to work on egg farms in Marion.

As part of an undercover investigation by the Mahoning County Human Trafficking Task Force, 12 men were arrested for traveling to a vacant home in Mahoning County with the intent to engage in a sexual encounter with a minor.

An Athens man was indicted on 29 criminal charges, including trafficking in persons, for allegedly holding his wife in a state of involuntary servitude.


tools & technical assistance

Individuals with Disabilities May Face Increased Risk of Human Trafficking
Polaris released a blog post on the increased risk of human trafficking faced by individuals with disabilities and how it impacts the recruitment process and support services for survivors.

Federal Human Trafficking Report
The Human Trafficking Institute released the 2017 Federal Human Trafficking Report which serves as an objective summary of what the U.S. federal systems did in 2017 to address human trafficking.

Chasing Shadows
The Thomas Reuters Foundation released a detailed report on how technology is used to exploit victims of human trafficking, as well as how it can be leveraged to fight human trafficking.


meetings & events

Human Trafficking - Ready, Set, Go!
October 4, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. @ Columbus Metropolitan Library, Hilltop Branch, 511 S Hague Ave. Columbus, OH
The Ohio Alliance to End Sexual Violence and the Ohio Domestic Violence Network are hosting a free human trafficking 101 prevention training.

2019 Greater Cincinnati Human Trafficking Conference
Proposals due October 8 @ 9 a.m.
2019 Annual Conference on January 25, 2019
End Slavery Cincinnati is accepting proposals from diverse, skilled and experienced presenters to participate in End Slavery Cincinnati's 2019 Annual Conference.

Cleveland Walk For Freedom
October 20, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. @ Lincoln Park, 1200 Starkweather Ave. Cleveland, OH
Walk For Freedom is a global fundraising and awareness event in which communities across the world will gather to raise awareness of human trafficking. Learn more and register for the Cleveland event here.

Labor Trafficking Conference
October 24-25 @ The Galt House, 140 N Fourth St. Louisville, KY 40202
The Bakhita Empowerment Initiative and the Southeast Regional Human Trafficking Advisory Group are hosting a labor trafficking conference featuring guest speakers Katherine Chon, founding director of the Office on Trafficking in Persons, and Andres Cediel, co-writer and co-producer of the Frontline Investigative Documentary "Trafficked in America," which focused on the labor trafficking of Guatemalan adults and children who were trafficked on egg farms in Ohio.

Pound & Pour
November 1, 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. @ Elks Lodge, 302 W North St. Lima, OH
The Northwest Ohio Rescue & Restore Coalition is hosting a fundraiser to benefit survivors of human trafficking.