Florida Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez on Friday held a roundtable discussion to highlight the dangers of human trafficking in the state.
The discussion, which included multiple government officials and experts on the issue, detailed that 40 percent of victims in Miami-Dade County are minors.
“Governor DeSantis and I understand the threat that this pervasive evil poses to Floridians and we will not stand idly by as human trafficking runs rampant in our state,” said Lieutenant Governor Nuñez. “From parents to teachers to business owners and community leaders, each one has a role to play. While today we were able to shed a light on this practice that is hidden in plain sight, our administration will continue to do what we can to hold traffickers accountable, give victims the chance to live their lives that were stolen from them, and eradicate this crime in Florida.”
According to numbers compiled by the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the state had 2,289 allegations of human trafficking throughout the state of Florida, affecting 1,750 children in fiscal year 2020 alone.
One report, released late last year, detailed that Florida was the only state to receive a passing grade for their anti-child and youth sex trafficking efforts.
The report included six categories: criminal provisions, identification and response to victims, continuum of care, access to justice for survivors, tools for victims through states’ criminal justice system, and prevention and training efforts.
“We are indebted to have leaders that not only support our efforts in human trafficking awareness, but have championed many legislative initiatives to combating this horrific crime throughout the State of Florida,” added DCF Secretary Shevaun Harris. “The Department continues to work tirelessly to end the trafficking and provide a robust array of services to survivors so they can reclaim their lives.”
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for the Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Florida Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez” by Florida – Lt. Governor Bio.
