LANSING, MI - January 11th is Human Trafficking Awareness Day, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel sent out a press release highlighting resources available to those trafficked, as well as what’s been done to combat human trafficking.

Human trafficking can be found all around the country, including here in Michigan. Men, women, and children are forced into prostitution, domestic servitude, or other forms of labor for little to no pay. Human trafficking is considered to be a modern-day form of slavery, and is an industry that continues to grow nationally and internationally.

Nessel’s Human Trafficking Initiative helps to prosecute traffickers, while also providing trainings throughout the state. Since 2019, Nessel’s initiative has provided training to about 200 law enforcement professionals, 350 legal professionals, 300 victim service providers, 800 medical professionals, as many as 1,000 various other professionals, and approximately 300 members of the general public.

“Those victimized by traffickers face sexual, physical and emotional abuse – all for the purpose of control and submission,” AG Nessel said. “That is why it remains incumbent upon all of us to report trafficking and support those who feel helpless. I encourage everyone to take some time to review the resources available to better identify these instances of abuse.”

The initiative’s website provides resources such as red flags to look out for, how to report suspected trafficking, training, and much more.

If you are a victim of human trafficking or have identified someone you think may need help, you can contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 888.373.7888, or text 233733. The national, toll-free hotline is available to answer calls, texts, and chats from anywhere in the country, 24/7, and all calls are confidential.

The link for Nessel’s Human Trafficking Initiative can be found below.