Ron Welch
Muskingum County Prosecutor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Prosecutor Welch Addresses Advocacy Group About Human Trafficking Awareness
Human trafficking is a serious problem in Muskingum County, but everyday people can help fight it by knowing the signs of trafficking and what to do when they suspect someone is being abused in that manner.
On February 7, Muskingum County Prosecuting Attorney Ron Welch addressed the local chapter of Moms for America, an advocacy group focusing on cultural and social issues. Prosecutor Welch presented about human trafficking awareness and what people can do to help in the fight against it.
According to Prosecutor Welch, human trafficking is the illegal use of vulnerable people, such as a domestic violence victim, children, individuals addicted to drugs, or illegal immigrants, for profit.
Although human trafficking often includes the exploitation of victims for sex, it can also involve forced labor. To achieve this exploitation, traffickers use physical violence, threats against loved ones, and psychological manipulation to maintain their control over victims.
Prosecutor Welch explained to the group that human trafficking victims are often not allowed to speak for themselves or permitted to carry identifying information. People observing suspected signs of human trafficking in their community should take note of concerning signs and notify law enforcement of what they observed.
Prosecutor Welch says regular people can play a vital role in fighting to protect the vulnerable against human trafficking.
“Community education is one of the main ways law enforcement is able to fight human trafficking,” Prosecutor Welch said. “Each citizen educated on the issue of human trafficking provides another set of eyes looking out for victims. The fight to combat human trafficking cannot be won by law enforcement alone, it will take each community stepping forward and becoming a part of the solution.”
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