In an effort to address the pressing issue of human trafficking, the County Commissioners of Queen Anne's County have declared the month of January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month. In addition to the Proclamation, the Commissioners were given a presentation from Ms. Susan Ahlstrom, Human Trafficking Regional Navigator from For All Seasons, Inc
Every year, nearly 25 million individuals, including men, women, and children, fall victim to human trafficking, experiencing the deprivation of their freedom, human rights, and dignity. The UMD School of Social Work reports over 1,038 cases of Child Sex Trafficking screened by Maryland DSS CF's screening units since 2013.
Human Trafficking is a concern on the Eastern Shore, where traffickers employ violence, threats, deception, and manipulative tactics to coerce both young people and adults, irrespective of gender, into commercial sex acts or involuntary labor. This criminal industry ranks as one of the fastest-growing worldwide, second only to drug trafficking.
The State of Maryland has responded to this menace by enacting comprehensive anti-human trafficking laws, emphasizing criminal prosecution and victim support. Queen Anne's County recognizes the significant harm that human trafficking inflicts on communities and is committed to raising awareness to aid victims.
By designating January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month, Queen Anne's County aims to bring hope to victims and highlight the innate freedoms that every human being should enjoy. The county acknowledges that increased public awareness and education within organizations will create more opportunities to combat human trafficking.
The County Commissioners of Queen Anne's County urge all citizens to actively work towards the eradication of human trafficking, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts in tackling this pressing issue. To read the presentation, https://www.qac.org/DocumentCenter/View/19472/For-All-Seasons-Human-Trafficking-Presentation and to watch the entire meeting, visit https://www.youtube.com/live/YCJPNwsTm1k?si=5FAfL0EvYVHd_VvP