Friday is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day and Attorney General Alan Wilson released the state’s 2018 annual report on human trafficking.
News13’s Georgiaree Godfrey was at the press conference and learned more about the report and successful efforts in the state house to fight the crime.
Wilson said in a press conference Friday morning South Carolina has not only improved its legislation when it comes to human trafficking, but has also increased awareness in the state.
Thirteen new cases of human trafficking were charged in SC courts last year and another 60 cases were closed.
“South Carolina is a hub of human trafficking because of where it’s situated between two of the top 20 human trafficking hubs in the country, that being Charlotte and Atlanta, and then you look at our tourism along the coast,” Wilson said.
Wilson also announced Friday morning the state is making big improvements in the fight against human trafficking from increasing resources to strengthening legislation.
“Before 2012, there was no human trafficking legislation. Before 2015, the state grand jury had no ability to go after human traffickers,” he said.
The Attorney General’s Office houses all of the resources for survivors of human trafficking and works with dozens of non-profit organizations to fight for the victims.
“This is the most traumatic thing I’ve ever seen. The victims of this are the strongest survivors I’ve ever met in my life. Until we really address the fact that there are people out there willing to pay for commercial sexual encounters with minor and adults, it’s not going to go away. You can arrest traffickers and you can help victims all day long,” said Jennifer Thompson, CEO of Lighthouse for Life.
64 cases of human trafficking were closed last year and more than 20 are pending as we enter 2019.
