More than 300 human trafficking victims were reported in Mississippi in 2024, the majority being victims of sex trafficking, and officials statewide are actively working to raise awareness about human trafficking and key signs and indicators that someone is a victim of the grave crime.
January is recognized nationally as Human Trafficking Awareness Month and Jan. 11 is observed as National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. The Mississippi State Department of Health is joining state and local partners all month long to raise awareness, promote prevention efforts, and highlight resources for victims. Tips are being shared across the agency’s social media platforms and through various outreach campaigns.
“Human trafficking – the recruiting, harboring, transporting, or providing a person for labor services or commercial acts through force, fraud, or coercion – is a serious public health and human rights issue that affects individuals and families across Mississippi,” the MSDH stated. “It can happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, income, or nationality and can occur in both rural and urban communities, often going unrecognized. Victims may not self-identify due to fear, trauma, or manipulation.”
The MSDH Office Against Interpersonal Violence works year-round with law enforcement, healthcare providers, community-based organizations, and victim service providers to ensure a coordinated, trauma-informed response.
The agency said victims may be people encountered in everyday settings and that traffickers often use manipulation and control to limit a victim’s freedom. Some common warning signs include a lack of identification, documents, limited control over personal finances, signs of physical abuse, unusual fearfulness, unwillingness to communicate, lack of proper care, or being underage for certain lines of work.
The MSDH urges people if they believe someone may be a victim of human trafficking not to hesitate and call the 24/7 National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888 or by texting 233733. Law enforcement can also be contacted.
Attorney General Lynn Fitch, who has made combatting human trafficking a top priority of her office and partners with MSDH, will host her annual Human Trafficking Summit next month. It will take place on Feb. 6 at Pine Lake Church in Brandon.
“It’s for everyone in the community. Faith-based organizations, businesses, [and] other agencies can come and see here’s what happens, here’s how these predators come in on these victims and what we can do as a community,” Fitch said. “We can build their freedom bags for them, we can help them have different items they might need, we can talk about counseling, help sexual assault nurses and all of the facilities that provide shelter for these victims.”