It happens in airports and stores.

It happens with seemingly innocent text messages or emails.

It happens in any neighborhood.

And, it happens frequently here in Alabama.

We’re talking about human trafficking – the second largest criminal activity in the world and the fastest growing.

Even though overall awareness in the United States has increased, human trafficking continues to go underreported due to its nature of isolation, the misconception of the definition of human trafficking, and the lack of awareness of its signs and indicators.

To build awareness in these areas, the Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force is sponsoring Alabama Human Trafficking Awareness Day today. The ninth annual Alabama Human Trafficking Awareness Day aligns with the national observation.

Human trafficking occurs when an adult or child is recruited, harbored, obtained, or exported through force, fraud or coercion for the purposes of sexual exploitation, forced labor, involuntary servitude, debt bondage and other methods of slavery.

Since 2019, municipalities across the state have declared themselves Trafficking Free Zones as defined by the U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking.

To become a Trafficking Free Zone, cities commit to training their entire staff, law enforcement and first responders in human trafficking awareness; they commit to a Zero-Tolerance HR Policy regarding soliciting commercial sex, requiring immediate termination; they are asked to educate schools and the community through educational events and awareness and prevention programs.

Alabama Trafficking Free Zones now include Alexander City, Bessemer, Birmingham, Camp Hill, Center Point, Cullman, Dadeville, Gardendale, Homewood, Hoover, Irondale, Lakeview, Mountain Brook, Northport, Opelika, Oxford, Pinson, Rainbow City, Semmes, South Vinemont, Trussville and Vestavia Hills.

Several organizations and businesses in Alabama have also taken steps to become Trafficking Free Zones, including: BH Photography, the Birmingham City Council, Coastal Alabama Community College, the District Attorney’s Office 7th Judicial Circuit of Alabama, Fowler-Davis, LLC, the Jefferson County City Council, the Jefferson County Mayors Association, Trafficking Hope, the World Games 2022 Birmingham and the UAB School of Medicine.

Municipalities that have declared or will be declaring January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month through proclamations are Albertville, Ashland, Birmingham, Brent, Brundidge, Center Point, Chelsea, Collinsville, Cullman, Daleville, Dora, Elba, Enterprise, Fairhope, Fort Deposit, Fort Payne, Geraldine, Hamilton, Helena, Holly Pond, Killen, Kimberly, Madison, Magnolia Springs, Montevallo, Montgomery, Mountain Brook, Northport, Phenix City, Ragland, Rainbow City, Satsuma, Semmes, Trussville, Tuscaloosa, and Vestavia Hills.

An Alabama Human Trafficking Summit is planned for Jan. 26-27 at the Renaissance Hotel
in Montgomery. For information, visit https://www.enditalabama.org/summit.