Murphy – Choices Pregnancy & Family Center recently hosted the first of what could be many classes on human trafficking and exploitation in western North Carolina.
Community leaders attending the meeting included Appalachian Mountain Health, Center Church, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, MountainView Church, the Nurse-Family Partnership and Murphy Police Department.
Guest speakers included Demetria Gilliam-Williams, executive director of Life 107. The nonprofit organization works to help those that have been impacted by sex trafficking and exploitation.
Life 107’s holistic recovery approach helps those affected by these crimes and makes people aware of the problem through education They help those at risk for exploitation as well as helping restore survivors of trafficking.
As a result of the information in the class, several attendees were able to identify tattoos on victims in airports. The tattoos let others know that a particular individual is for sale.
According to Shared Hope International, there are more than 100,000 domestic minors trafficking victims in the United States. The greatest vulnerabilities that lead to trafficking victimization include childhood abuse and maltreatment, substance use and economic instability.
According to Polaris Project, 40% of traffic survivors were victims of familial trafficking, when a family member exchanges a child for gain or profit.
Details: Call 828-835-3444 or visit life107.org.