Human Trafficking

Since 2007, over 40,000 cases of potential human trafficking were reported and found in all 50 states, D.C. and U.S. territories. Ohio is ranked 4th in the country for the number of cases that are reported each year. IJPC knows that human trafficking happens in our community and we are working to create more modern day abolitionists through our education and advocacy programs.

Our Position:

IJPC opposes all forms of trafficking human beings for the purpose of using them for commercial sex, hard labor, domestic service, hospitality service, factory work, peddling and begging networks, and military service. Human trafficking is defined as the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, debt bondage, sex acts, sale of body organs or slavery.

We believe that human trafficking is a violation of a person’s human rights and an affront to the inherent dignity of every human being. Though outlawed long ago and considered something of the past, human trafficking is nothing less than modern day slavery. Traffickers prey on the most vulnerable members of society, exploiting their circumstances and desire for a better life by tricking them with promises of safety, shelter, employment, or education.

Our Work: 

IJPC works to bring visibility to the issue of human trafficking by educating young people, elected officials and the general public about the realities and needs of trafficked people in order to create systemic change. We work so that individuals can educate themselves and others about the identification and prevention of human trafficking and advocate for victims. We administer community presentations that integrate facts, stories, and ways that individuals can take action.

In 2014, the Committee Against Human Trafficking, led by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, developed the foundations of IJPC’s educational curriculum that has since inspired thousands of people to get involved in the movement to end human trafficking. If you would like to have IJPC give a presentation to your group, please contact Samantha. IJPC cooperates and collaborates with organizations like End Slavery Cincinnati that work to reduce various forms of trafficking through advocacy and work directly with victims and survivors of trafficking.

Take Action

Tell the Ohio Senate to support SB 13 to protect victims of child sex trafficking (updated 4.7.20)

Currently, Ohio is only state left in the country that does not consider 16 and 17-year-olds as victims of child sex trafficking. Advocates in Ohio are trying to pass Senate Bill 13 to provide extended protection under the law to 16 and 17-year-olds who are thought to be victims of child sex trafficking. The bill passed the Ohio Senate unanimously in July of 2019, but is now stuck in an Ohio House committee.

To be part of the movement to protect kids in these circumstances, sign IJPC’s informal petition in support of Ohio SB 13.

Call on the media to tell survivors’ stories with dignity (updated 5.9.19)

As the issue of human trafficking enters the public consciousness, members of the media have a responsibility to report thoroughly and responsibly, and to protect those who have already been victimized. In human trafficking, language can affect how people think, feel, and react. Some commonly used terms can perpetuate stereotypes, confuse terms, and at times prevent victims from receiving the support and assistance they need.

Sign this petition from the My Story, My Dignity campaign to call on the media to give every survivor’s story the dignity it deserves.

Resources:

• If you or someone you know needs help, call the confidential National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) toll-free hotline, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1.888.3737.888 to speak with a specially trained NHTRC Call Specialist. Support is provided in more than 200 languages. To report a potential human trafficking situation, you can also call the hotline. If you are in the Greater Cincinnati area, you can call the Greater Cincinnati Human Trafficking Hotline at 513.800.1863 which is also 24 hours a day, confidential and has options for tele-interpreters.
• IJPC is happy to provide a presentation about human trafficking to your civic group, class, church or organization. Please fill out this form to request a presentation. The goal of the presentation is that the audience will be able to define what human trafficking is, recognize the signs of human trafficking, and inspire people to take action and work against human trafficking.
• IJPC has recently published a messaging toolkit for the media and for the public. Use it to learn the Who, What, Where, Why, When and How to take action to end human trafficking.
• End Slavery Cincinnati compiled a list of films (free and need to pay for) that explain various facets of Human Trafficking curriculum. We highlighted a few in a blog post but the full list is available here.