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Gov.
Kasich, Atty General DeWine...
Executive
Order signed to Fight Human Trafficking
Ohio Human
Trafficking Task Force Created to Coordinate Services and Treatment for
Victims March 30, 2012
COLUMBUS—Today
Gov. John R. Kasich signed Executive Order 2012-06K creating the Ohio
Human
Trafficking Task Force, which will coordinate statewide efforts to
identify and
rescue victims, create a coordinated law enforcement system to
investigate and
prosecute crimes of human trafficking, and provide necessary services
and
treatment for victims.
Joining
Gov. Kasich for the Executive Order signing ceremony were two human
trafficking
survivors—Governor’s Courage Award Winner Theresa Flores and Rahab’s
Hideaway
Founder Marlene Carson. Flores
unveiled
a public service announcement she and Gov. Kasich made in an effort to
enhance
awareness of human trafficking. Also
in
attendance were Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, Representative
Teresa Fedor
(D-Toledo), and Governor’s Cabinet members who will serve on the Task
Force.
During his
State of the State address in February, Gov. Kasich first announced his
intention to work with Rep. Fedor to find solutions to fight human
trafficking
in Ohio.
Attorney
General DeWine Praises Creation of Human Trafficking Task Force
Attorney
General Mike DeWine praised today’s signing by Gov. John Kasich of an
executive
order creating the Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force to combat human
trafficking in the state.
“The
governor’s action today will help us make strides against the brutality
that is
human trafficking,” said Attorney General DeWine, who attended the
signing.
“The message is clear: Ohio is unified in our effort to end human
trafficking.”
In August
2011, Attorney General DeWine reconvened the Ohio Human Trafficking
Commission
to work on ways to stop human trafficking and help its victims.
Participants
include law enforcement, social service agencies, religious
organizations,
state agencies, and education professionals from across the state.
The Human
Trafficking Commission will work closely with Gov. Kasich’s new task
force to
ensure that comprehensive services are available for victims.
Anyone with
information about human trafficking should call BCI at 1-855-BCI-OHIO
(224-6446).
Warning
signs of human trafficking to watch for include:
If you are
going into a nail salon, for example, look for sleeping bags that
indicate
employees are living in the same place where they work and that
backrooms
appear to be living space. You might notice workers at this salon are
driven to
the store in groups all at once.
When a
worker answers casual questions, those answers seem scripted or
rehearsed.
Workers may
appear exceptionally young or fearful or particularly submissive.
If you are
staying in a hotel or if you work at a hotel, you might see an older
male
checking in with a young female or females. You might see a young girl
refer to
that older man as her boyfriend or as “daddy,” sometimes street slang
for pimp.
Look for a tattoo of a man’s name, a slang name, or “daddy” on the
girl’s neck,
leg, or shoulder. Does the guest have multiple cell phones, laptops,
etc.?
Are the
guests at the hotel frequent customers on weekends, but have a local
address
and identification?
Small
children serving in a family restaurant.
Security
measures that appear to keep people inside an establishment – barbed
wire
inside of a fence, bars covering the insides of windows.
Not allowing people to go into public
alone, or speak for themselves.
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