January 05, 2023 - Harrisburg, PA
Executives from the Pennsylvania departments of Transportation (PennDOT) Health (DOH), Labor and Industry (L&I), and Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), and the Office of Victim Advocate were joined by other advocates to discuss human trafficking, outline efforts to combat it, explain how to report potential cases, and offer resources for survivors. Human trafficking is the exploitation of people using force, fraud, or coercion for the purposes of commercial sex, forced labor, or domestic servitude. According to the International Labor Organization, there are approximately 28 million victims of human trafficking globally with 17.3 million people experiencing forced labor in private sector industries and 6.3 million experiencing forced commercial sexual exploitation. January is recognized as Human Trafficking Awareness Month, with January 11 marking #WearBlueDayPA to raise awareness of trafficking. “Human trafficking is happening across the world, and unfortunately, right here in Pennsylvania,” PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said. “We’re collaborating at state, national, and local levels to combat this problem and urge the public to join us in the fight.” Speakers include: PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian L&I Secretary Jennifer Berrier Acting Secretary of Health and Pennsylvania Physician General Dr. Denise Johnson Lieutenant Adam Reed, Director of the PSP Communications Office Executive Director of the PA Commission for Women Moriah Hathaway Commonwealth Victim Advocate Suzanne Estrella
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