Human Trafficking and How the Pandemic Plays a Role

If you or someone you know is a victim of trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888. 

The pandemic has halted and changed our many ways of living across our state and the world. Despite these drastic changes to our lifestyles and traveling opportunities, there is one issue that has not gone away during this pandemic – and that is human trafficking. Human trafficking is a clinical phrase for modern slavery, and it happens right here in Illinois.

This is an issue that has been recognized by the United Nations and it's noted in several of the categories listed under the UN’s sustainable development goals – including gender equality, good jobs and economic growth and peace and justice. To learn more about human trafficking in Illinois and how the pandemic plays a role in it, The 21st was joined by the founder of Millikin University’s Human Trafficking Research Lab, the director of human trafficking services at the Center for Prevention of Abuse in Peoria and as well as a survivor of human trafficking. 

Guests:

Laura Dean, Ph.D, Founder of Millikin University’s Human Trafficking Research Lab 

Sara Sefried, Director of Human Trafficking Services at Center for Prevention of Abuse (Peoria, IL)

Anonymous, survivor of human trafficking (Staying at Grounds of Grace’s Grace House in Springfield)

Prepared for web by Zainab Qureshi

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