Local law enforcement agencies and advocates for survivors of human trafficking announced a new joint initiative on Wednesday called the North Star Task Force: Survivor-Informed Trafficking Awareness and Response.
The task force’s mission, according to a press release, is “to lead with survivor-informed practices, raise awareness, and deliver a coordinated response to human trafficking in northern Arizona.� The announcement comes amid Human Trafficking Awareness Month, which is January.
kAm%96 >6>36C @C82?:K2E:@?D @7 E96 E2D< 7@C46 2C6 E96 r@4@?:?@ r@F?EJ pEE@C?6J’D ~77:46[ u=28DE277 !@=:46 s6A2CE>6?E[ r@4@?:?@ r@F?EJ $96C:77’D ~77:46[ }p& !@=:46 s6A2CE>6?E[ }@CE9=2?5 u2>:=J w6=A r6?E6C 2?5 pAA=6;24<’D #2?49[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E AC@G:5:?8 D6CG:46D E@ DFCG:G@CD @7 6IA=@:E2E:@? 2?5 23FD6]k^Am
kAm“pD 2 DFCG:G@C\=65 @C82?:K2E:@?[ pAA=6;24<’D #2?49 :D 9@?@C65 E@ 36 2 7@F?5:?8 A2CE?6C @7 E96 }@CE9 $E2C %2D< u@C46[ H96C6 DFCG:G@C G@:46D H:== 8F:56 E96 H@C<[â€� tI64FE:G6 s:C64E@C $2G2??29 $2?56CD D2:5 :? E96 AC6DD C6=62D6] â€�%9:D :?:E:2E:G6 >2C<D 2 EC2?D7@C>2E:G6 D9:7E :? 255C6DD:?8 9F>2? EC277:4<:?8 3J A=24:?8 =:G65 6IA6C:6?46 2E E96 962CE @7 564:D:@? >2<:?8]â€k^Am
kAmpD =682==J 567:?65[ 9F>2? EC277:4<:?8 :D E96 FD6 @7 7@C46[ 7C2F5 @C 4@6C4:@? E@ @3E2:? =23@C @C 2 4@>>6C4:2= D6I 24E 7C@> 2? :?5:G:5F2=] p=E9@F89 E96 E6C> >2J DF886DE >@G6>6?E @C EC2?DA@CE2E:@?[ E92E :D ?@E A2CE @7 E96 7656C2= 567:?:E:@? @7 EC277:4<:?8]k^Am
kAm%96 7F== D4@A6 @7 EC277:4<:?8 24E:G:EJ :D 5:77:4F=E E@ BF2?E:7J 3642FD6 >2?J DFCG:G@CD 2C6 27C2:5 E@ 4@?E24E =2H 6?7@C46>6?E] w@H6G6C[ 244@C5:?8 E@ |:496==6 #F4<6C[ 5:C64E@C @7 9F>2? EC277:4<:?8 D6CG:46D 2E }@CE9=2?5[ >@C6 E92? cd_ 25F=E DFCG:G@CD @7 EC277:4<:?8 92G6 D@F89E D6CG:46D :? E96 u=28DE277 2C62 D:?46 a_`g]k^Am
kAmâ€�%96 7:89E 282:?DE 9F>2? EC277:4<:?8 C6BF:C6D 2 4@==64E:G6 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ\5C:G6? 677@CE[â€� r@4@?:?@ r@F?EJ pEE@C?6J p>>@? q2C<6C DE2E65 :? E96 E2D< 7@C46 AC6DD C6=62D6] â€�(6 2C6 4@>>:EE65 E@ 9@=5:?8 EC277:4<6CD 244@F?E23=6 :? E96 =682= DJDE6> E@ AC@E64E 2?5 DFAA@CE DFCG:G@CD @7 E96D6 4C:>6D]â€k^Am
kAm%96 =2F?49 @7 E96 E2D< 7@C46 4@>6D E96 52J 27E6C E96 u=28DE277 r:EJ r@F?4:= 2AAC@G65 2 8C2?E 28C66>6?E H:E9 E96 pC:K@?2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 !F3=:4 $276EJ 7@C Scag[edg :? 7F?5:?8 7@C 2?E:\EC277:4<:?8 677@CED] pAAC@I:>2E6=J hdT @7 E92E 7F?5:?8 H:== 8@ E@ E96 u=28DE277 !@=:46 s6A2CE>6?E Wu!sX[ 2?5 E96 C6>2:?56C E@ }@CE9=2?5 u2>:=J w6=A r6?E6C W}uwrX]k^Am
kAm#F4<6C D2:5 E96 8C2?E H@F=5 36 â€�2 D:8?:7:42?E DE6A 7@CH2C5 :? 3@=DE6C:?8 2?E:\EC277:4<:?8 677@CED 24C@DD @FC 4@>>F?:EJ]â€k^Am
kAmâ€�%9:D 7F?5:?8 H:== 6?92?46 4@==23@C2E:@? 36EH66? =2H 6?7@C46>6?E[ <6J D6CG:46 AC@G:56CD =:<6 }@CE9=2?5 u2>:=J w6=A r6?E6C[ 2?5 255:E:@?2= =@42= A2CE?6CD[â€� #F4<6C D2:5] “u@C }uwr[ :E >62?D 8C62E6C 42A24:EJ E@ DFAA@CE DFCG:G@CD E9C@F89 4C:E:42= D6CG:46D[ :?4=F5:?8 6>6C86?4J D96=E6C[ 4@@C5:?2E:@? @7 42C6[ 25G@424J[ 2446DD E@ DFCG:G@C\:?7@C>65 AC@8C2>D 2?5 4@F?D6=:?8]â€k^Am
kAm$8E] y6CCJ #:?E2=2[ AF3=:4 :?7@C>2E:@? @77:46C H:E9 u!s[ D2:5 D@>6 @7 E96 8C2?E 7F?5:?8 H:== 36 FD65 E@ C6:>3FCD6 E96 56A2CE>6?E 7@C 4@DED :?4FCC65 5FC:?8 2? 2AAC696?D:@? @A6C2E:@? :? a_ac]k^Am
kAm“sFC:?8 E92E @A6C2E:@?[ EH@ u=28DE277 C6D:56?ED H6C6 2CC6DE65 7@C 49:=5 D6I EC277:4<:?8 H9:=6 2EE6>AE:?8 E@ 92G6 D6I H:E9 J@F?8 E66?286 8:C=D :? 6I492?86 7@C 5CF8D[ 2=4@9@= 2?5 >@?6J[� #:?E2=2 D2:5]k^Am
kAmp?J A6CD@? J@F?86C E92? E96 286 @7 `g H9@ :D A6CDF2565 E@ A6C7@C> 2 4@>>6C4:2= D6IF2= 24E :D 2FE@>2E:42==J 4@?D:56C65 2 G:4E:> @7 D6I EC277:4<:?8 F?56C =2H]k^Am
kAm%96 8C2?E H:== DFAA@CE 4@DED @7 7FEFC6 @A6C2E:@?D[ ?6H 6BF:A>6?E \\ :?4=F5:?8 F?56C4@G6C G69:4=6D \\ 2?5 ?6H D@7EH2C6 E92E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ #:?E2=2[ “H:== 2DD:DE FD :? @3E2:?:?8 5:8:E2= 6G:56?46 @7E6? 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 E96D6 EJA6D @7 4C:>6D]â€k^Am
kAmxE H:== 2=D@ 2DD:DE H:E9 E96 4@DED @7 @?8@:?8 EC2:?:?8 2?5 4@?76C6?46D “E@ 6?DFC6 H6 2C6 <6AE FA E@ 52E6 @? 36DE AC24E:46D :? 9F>2? EC277:4<:?8 :?G6DE:82E:@?D 2?5 ?6H EC6?5D :? G:4E:>:K2E:@?[� #:?E2=2 25565]k^Am
kAmu!s s6E64E:G6 q6E92?J wJ56 DA@<6 E@ 4:EJ 4@F?4:= 23@FE E96 8C2?E @? %F6D52J[ 6IA=2:?:?8 E92E :?G6DE:82E:?8 EC277:4<:?8 ?646DD:E2E6D 2 8C62E 562= @7 AC@24E:G6 677@CE]k^Am
kAm�%96 G:4E:>D @7 EC277:4<:?8 C2C6=J 6G6C C6249 @FE E@ =2H 6?7@C46>6?E[� wJ56 ?@E65]k^Am
kAm%96 >6>36CD @7 E96 4@F?4:= 2== 6IAC6DD65 2AAC64:2E:@? 7@C E96 4@>3:?65 H@C< @7 =2H 6?7@C46>6?E 2?5 DFCG:G@C DFAA@CE @C82?:K2E:@?D] r@F?4:=>6>36C z92C2 w@FD6 D2:5 2?E:\EC277:4<:?8 H@C< :D â€�23D@=FE6=J ?646DD2CJ 2?5 ?66565 :? @FC 4@>>F?:EJ]â€k^Am
kAmr@F?4:=>6>36C |:C2?52 $H66E 25565[ “xE’D 2 3:886C AC@3=6> E92? E9:D @?6 8C2?E[ 3FE :E’D 2 8@@5 DE2CE]Qk^Am
kAmr@F?4:=>6>36C p?E9@?J v2C4:2 2D<65 :7 =23@C EC277:4<:?8 H2D 2 AC@3=6> 96C6 2D H6== 2D D6I EC277:4<:?8] wJ56 4@?7:C>65 E92E E96 A@=:46 56A2CE>6?E 925 D66? 2E =62DE @?6 42D6 @7 4@6C465 =23@C :?G@=G:?8 2? F?5@4F>6?E65 :>>:8C2?E]k^Am
kAm“xE 92AA6?D C:89E 96C6 F?56C?62E9 @FC ?@D6D[� wJ56 D2:5]k^Am
kAmx? C6DA@?D6 E@ 2 D6A2C2E6 :?BF:CJ 7C@> E96 k6>mpC:K@?2 s2:=J $F?k^6>m[ #:?E2=2 D2:5 E96 56A2CE>6?E :D AC:@C:E:K:?8 D6I EC277:4<:?8 7@C :ED 4FCC6?E 6?7@C46>6?E 677@CED 3FE >2J 7@4FD >@C6 @? =23@C EC277:4<:?8 :? E96 7FEFC6]k^Am
kAmu!s 42>6 F?56C 962GJ 4C:E:4:D> :? a_aa H96? 56E2:=D @7 2 a_`h F?56C4@G6C @A6C2E:@? 282:?DE D6I EC277:4<:?8 H6C6 C6G62=65 3J !9@6?:I %' DE2E:@? pqr`d] sFC:?8 E92E @A6C2E:@?[ u!s @77:46CD G:D:E65 >2DD286 A2C=@CD :? u=28DE277 2?5 2==@H65 E96>D6=G6D E@ 36 E@F4965 D6IF2==J] %96 :?4:56?E =65 E@ 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2K52:=JDF?]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^4C:>6\2?5\4@FCED^7=28DE277\A@=:46\49:67\A=2465\@?\25>:?:DEC2E:G6\=62G6^2CE:4=605fcadb4a\`c`g\``65\2e2f\df3_e_a46bdg]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmE6>A@C2CJ =62G6k^2m 7@C E96 A@=:46 49:67 2E E96 E:>6[ s2? |FDD6=>2?[ 2?5 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2K52:=JDF?]4@>^?6HD^=@42=^4C:>6\2?5\4@FCED^2\A2E9\7@CH2C5\7=28DE277\4:EJ\>2?286C\8C68\4=:7E@?\5:D4FDD6D\7A5\2F5:E\A@=:46\49:67\=62G6^2CE:4=60d3ghbgg2\`6e6\``65\gd5_\4f25c`hcf`g`]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm5:D>:DD2= @7 D@>6 AC@D64FE:@?Dk^2m E92E @C:8:?2E65 H:E9 E96 F?56C4@G6C @A6C2E:@?]k^Am
kAm$:?46 E92E E:>6[ “u!s 92D DEC6?8E96?65 :ED :?E6C?2= AC@465FC6D C6=2E65 E@ 9F>2? EC277:4<:?8[â€� #:?E2=2 D2:5] â€�$E2CE:?8 :? pAC:= a_ab[ u=28DE277 !s 3682? E96 AC@46DD @7 EC2:?:?8 2== >6>36CD :? rtp$t Wr:E:6D t>A@H6C65 p82:?DE $6IF2= tIA=@:E2E:@?X EC2:?:?8]â€k^Am
kAm|6>36CD @7 E96 56A2CE>6?E 4@>A=6E65 @G6C c__ 9@FCD @7 DA64:2=:K65 EC2:?:?8 @? 9F>2? EC277:4<:?8 :? a_ac[ #:?E2=2 D2:5] s6E64E:G6D 2C6 ?@H EC2:?65 “E@ 6DE23=:D9 AC@323=6 42FD6 E@ >2<6 2CC6DED H:E9@FE AFEE:?8 G:4E:>D :? GF=?6C23=6 D:EF2E:@?D[â€� #:?E2=2 DE2E65[ 2?5 “E@ :>>65:2E6=J 4@??64E 2?J DFCG:G@CD E96J 4@>6 :? 4@?E24E H:E9 E@ E96 2AAC@AC:2E6 C6D@FC46D]â€k^Am
kAmx? E96 AC6DD C6=62D6 2??@F?4:?8 E96 }@CE9 $E2C %2D< u@C46[ u!s !@=:46 r9:67 $62? r@??@==J D2:5[ “~FC 56A2CE>6?E C6>2:?D 565:42E65 E@ AC@G:5:?8 EC2:?:?8 E@ @77:46CD[ A2CE?6C:?8 H:E9 4@>>F?:EJ @C82?:K2E:@?D 2?5 DFAA@CE:?8 DFCG:G@CD H:E9 C6D@FC46D 2?5 A2E9H2JD E@ C64@G6CJ] (6 2D< @FC 4@>>F?:EJ E@ DE2J :?7@C>65[ C64@8?:K6 E96 D:8?D @7 EC277:4<:?8 2?5 C6A@CE DFDA:4:@FD 3692G:@C]â€k^Am