The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Child advocates discuss reality of modern-day slavery in Ohio

Victim of human trafficking ring shares her story

Dayton gets boost from committee for UAV testing
11:48 p.m.
Patrol searches Springfield dealership for stolen cards
11:43 p.m.
Police headlines: Two accused of child endangering
11:41 p.m.
Ad calls Brown career politician
11:39 p.m.
Local Focus: Clark County for May 25
11:27 p.m.
> More headlines

By Bridgette Outten, Staff Writer 11:14 PM Thursday, April 23, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — The phrase “human trafficking,” may call to mind images of girls smuggled from third-world countries.

But one of the main points officials presented to an audience of local law enforcement, social service and child advocates Thursday, April 23, is that smuggling — which is usually concluded after smugglers deliver people to some U.S. destination illegally — is not the same as human trafficking.

Another point: human trafficking happens in America. To Americans. And in Ohio.

“My hunch is that it could be happening here,” said Pam Meermans, director of Clark County Child Advocacy Center. “It’s been confirmed in Columbus and Dayton; if nothing else, they may be traveling through here.”

Human trafficking, also known as modern-day slavery, can include exploitation for commercial sex services — strip clubs, pornography, sex tourism (child), escort services, prostitution — or labor services.

Traffickers use threats, intimidation, coercion, fraud or force to keep victims in the system, said Kathleen Davis of the Polaris Project, an organization dedicated to combating human trafficking.

The laws concerning human trafficking in Ohio are fairly new, passed in 2000, Davis said.

With the new laws come more awareness of what human trafficking is and increased training about what the warning signs are and what can be done about it, officials said.

Statistics regarding Ohio cases are not yet readily available, but task forces in the area have been formed to address the issue, said Wendy Surikov, an FBI agent based in Cincinnati.

Officials were given tips on how to identify potential victims of human trafficking and urged not to assume that all prostitution is voluntary.

“We’re trying to reach out to local enforcement to train them to recognize it when they see it,” Surikov said in her presentation.

In addition to having presenters on the subject of human trafficking, the advocacy center also recognized the Rocking Horse Center for the 2009 CAC Partner Award and county Assistant Prosecutor Andy Wilson with the 2009 team member award.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0374 or boutten@coxohio.com.