Saturday, July 12, 2008

Public Meeting Called to Discuss Sex Slavery in Ohio


Cleveland, Ohio

From NBC4i:

Central Ohioans may feel removed from the practice of human trafficking, but Ohio isn't immune to sex slavery. Ohio ranks fifth in the nation for the underground crime, most notably due to the state's highway system.

An estimated 17,000 men, women and children are trafficked into the U.S. each year.

Congresswoman Deb Pryce and other Ohio lawmakers are leading the charge to stop it and now, a safe house is becoming a home to help teens who were forced into prostitution. Between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Thursday, there is a free public meeting at the Xenos Christian Fellowship to talk about some of the plans being made to help what is known as human trafficking.

One of the items on the agenda will be the in-depth description of Gracehaven -- a home planned for some land just north of Columbus that will serve as a home for juvenile prostitutes. Police statistics are almost impossible to determine, but from people who work with human trafficking, it is estimated that on any given day, there may be between 40 and 50 prostitutes working in Columbus who are under the age of 18.

"Slavery is unfortunately still very much alive and well here in the United States," said Dr. Jeffrey Barrows, Gracehaven president. That is why there is such a push for Gracehaven -- a planned home and hope to be built for young victims of human trafficking.

Read the full article

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