CHARLOTTE, N.C. — January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month and is intended each year to raise awareness about human trafficking and how to prevent it.
On Tuesday, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein visited Uptown Charlotte to put a spotlight on state and local efforts to prevent human trafficking.
“Human trafficking is real, it’s in our communities, it’s across our state and we have to do everything we can to help survivors," Stein said.
Stein was joined by Christine Long, Executive Director for the North Carolina Human Trafficking Commission, as well as District Attorney Spencer Merriweather, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings, and other local leaders.
In 2021, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received over 50,000 total signals. In North Carolina, the hotline reported 223 cases involving 340 victims for that year.
The hotline receives tips about sex trafficking, labor trafficking, sex and labor trafficking, and situations where the type of trafficking is not clear. The most recent data also puts the Tar Heel state in the top 15 states in the U.S. for human trafficking cases.
Officials say Charlotte can be a hot spot for this type of crime.
“Look at how many more special events come to Charlotte," CMPD Police Chief Johnny Jennings, said. "That brings more people and more opportunities, but at the same time it’s a growing issue that we have to get our hands around."
While large gatherings are magnets for sex traffickers, human rights advocates say it happens regularly.
Interstates are also a crucial factor in facilitating trafficking crimes.
“This is a crime that happens up and down the East Coast," Stein said. "Folks just need to keep an eye open and see what looks weird. Does this person look like they don’t have an ID, they're not able to make decisions for themselves, they don't have money or a credit card, they’re completely under the power of another person?"
Across North Carolina, leaders have been working to combat the issue.
In Charlotte, CMPD officers receive training to help spot victims and respond to a trafficking crime when it occurs.
Charlotte also has a human trafficking task force.
“One of the things, when we work with survivors so often, is an immense amount of shame, of fear and deep-rooted emotions," Charlotte Metro Human Trafficking Task Force President Hannah Arrowood said. "So helping them recognize they can be beyond what has happened ... And helping them recognize there is a city to help walk them through the journey of healing."
Arrowood said the data shows the average age of victims is 13 years old.
Right now, officials say the crime is happening on social media more than ever before. Attorney General Josh Stein said predators can reel in kids on social media and he urged parents to have open conversations with their children about the dangers of online predators.
“What are responsible practices? What website can you visit? What behaviors should you permit when you’re online? Who should you talk to? Do you understand that you don’t know the other person on the other end?” Stein said.
Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather said they are committed to fighting human trafficking. He also mentioned the Umbrella Center, a family justice center that is currently in development. The goal of the center is to provide a unified support system for victims of abuse.
In the meantime, people can also call the National Human Trafficking Hotline, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is available in over 200 languages. To reach the hotline, people can call 888-373-7888, text at 233733, message in a chat, or submit information through an online anonymous tip form.
Contact Lexi Wilson at lwilson@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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