Identified as the third largest criminal activity in the world by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), human trafficking has become the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world, according Equality Now, a non- government organization who works for the protection and promotion of human rights.
On Wednesday, January 24, 2018, the Prince George’s County Family Justice Center, an initiative of the Circuit Court, will host Neighborhood Watch Community Forum: Breaking the Silence on Human Trafficking in Prince George’s County. Panelists will include Tina Frundt of Courtney’s House, a nonprofit drop-off center that assist victims of sexual trafficking. The event will be held at University of Maryland Prince George’s Hospital Center, 3001 Hospital Drive, Cheverly, MD 20785 from 7 to 9 p.m.
“I would like to thank Denise C. McCain, director of the Prince George’ County Family Justice Center, and Tina Frundt, a survivor of sex trafficking and founder of Courtney’s House, for facilitating this event and creating a space for the community to come together and discuss this heinous epidemic that threatens the lives of many people around the world,” says the Honorable Sheila R. Tillerson Adams, Administrative Judge of the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County.
During the event, attendees will learn about commercial sex trafficking and indicators of sex trafficking in our region. Armed with this insight, attendees will become better equipped in identifying potential victims of commercial sex trafficking and offer resources to assists victims of this growing problem.
“Contrary to popular opinion, human trafficking doesn’t have a look,” adds Ms. McCain. “As an advocate for victims of sexual abuse, victims of commercial human trafficking are often disregarded and are less likely to come forward in fear of retaliation yielding a cycle of re-victimization and terror. With this event, I hope community members will walk away with a keen awareness of commercial sex trafficking as they’re on the front line in riding our community of this atrocious crime.”
The Prince George’s County Family Justice Center (PGCFJC), an initiative of the Circuit Court, is a multi-disciplinary service center. The PGCFJC provides a full array of co-located services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and elder abuse. Identified as a best-practice, this new and innovative model enables local government and private community based organizations to collaborate and provide coordinated case management services designed to address the immediate and more systemic social welfare needs frequently encountered by survivors in the aftermath of abuse.
To learn more about the Prince George’s County Family Justice Center services, visit the website at www.princegeorgescourts.org/358 ##