A somewhat hidden threat to many throughout Wisconsin is the underground world of human trafficking and stalking. Over the past several years more and more information has become available on the topic, and now the City of Manitowoc has brought the issue to the forefront.
During their meeting on Monday (January 18th), the Manitowoc City Council declared January Human Trafficking and Stalking Prevention Month.
Mayor Justin Nickels read the declaration at the meeting which read in part, “The buying and selling of human beings should be prevented at all times. The United States Constitution’s 13th Amendment prohibits any form of slavery, of which human trafficking constitutes. And whereas human trafficking and stalking pose grave imminent physical danger to victims, perpetrates gender-based violence, and the prevalence of victimization is hidden under additional criminal illusion.”
Mayor Nickels also said that there were 146 victims of human trafficking in Wisconsin 2019, with potentially many more, and that internationally, 108,000 victims were identified that year alone. Nickels also said that millions of people have been the victim of a stalker in the U.S. as well.
Rosie Pagel from InCourage addressed the council, saying “On behalf of InCourage, thank you for establishing January as Human Trafficking and Stalking Prevention month. Prevention efforts start with recognition, of which human trafficking and stalking are often underrepresented, and consequently misunderstood and underserviced. As a community, we can learn more, say more, and above all give more to our victim-survivors in Manitowoc County.”
To learn more about human trafficking and stalking, or to receive help for domestic violence, sexual assault, or other problems, visit InCourageWI.org
