OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Osceola County hosted a training session on Thursday, To give the community the tools to combat human trafficking, which remains a critical issue around the nation
According to the United Nations’ International Labour Organization, human traffickers victimize an estimated 27.6 million people worldwide. Florida currently ranks third in the United States for reported human trafficking cases, making community awareness especially critical.
The training was hosted in collaboration with the Health Leadership Council.
Attendees were equipped with practical knowledge and tools to recognize, prevent and respond to human trafficking situations.
They were taught the warning signs and indicators of human trafficking. They were also taught how traffickers target vulnerable individuals, as well as, safe, effective ways to report concern and were given resources available for victims and their families.
“So whether we’re out at the grocery store, whether we’re enjoying our theme parks or just enjoying our day to day activities, we may be able to recognize the signs and help connect folks to the resources,” Vice President of Strategic Initiatives of The Osceola Chamber Sue Ring told News 6.
One More Child, a nonprofit that helps struggling families and children, conducted the presentation.
“Well, as a survivor of human trafficking myself, this carries a whole different kind of weight of importance to me,” One More Child Anti-Trafficking Team Supervisor Olivia Littleton said.
“Knowing that people that are in exploitation will no longer have to figure out a way out by themselves, but that we’re equipping an entire community of people that will be ready to listen to them, believe them, and connect them to the right places.”
The session was designed for anyone who wants to make a difference whether they are a community member, social worker, educator or concerned neighbor.
“We are working really hard at changing the narrative and busting the myths about human trafficking. It does not look like the movie ‘Taken,’ right? It looks like individuals that are in our community. But we really need to start seeing the signs and connecting them to resources because human trafficking is happening here,” Littleton explained.