OCL to host 2 programs about human trafficking during January

2 Human Trafficking Awareness programs to be presented at Ocean County Library

TOMS RIVER  -  Ocean County Library will present two programs about human trafficking in January and will discuss ways that individuals can halt its spread.

The Barnegat Light Area Branch of the American Association of University Women has chosen to campaign against and raise awareness about human trafficking by sponsoring these programs. 

Human trafficking is modern-day slavery whose victims include men, women and children of all ages and ethnicity.  It is also a first-degree crime with a penalty of 20 years to life in prison.

There are two types of human trafficking: labor trafficking where people are forced to work for no pay; and sex trafficking.

Because of its geographical location, New Jersey has the potential to be a major entry, transit and destination for human trafficking. And because of the Super Bowl in February, many law enforcement officials fear an increase in sex trafficking in New Jersey.

New Jersey has passed a stringent new law that will aid law enforcement in the apprehension and conviction of those persons caught engaging in it, and have created a Human Trafficking Task Force and website to educate the public in ways to identify and help victims.

Learn more about human trafficking at these two Ocean County Library locations:

Wednesday Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Long Beach Island branch, 217 S. Central Avenue, Surf City, NJ  08008. Their telephone number is (609) 494-2480. The speakers will be Assemblywoman DiAnne Gove and Vilma Applegate, president of the Barnegat Light Area Branch of the AAUW.

Thursday Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Toms River branch, 101 Washington St., Toms River, NJ  08753. Their telephone number is (732) 349-6200 or (609) 971-0514. Senior Assistant Prosecutor Roberta DiBiase will speak at that session.

The program is free but people must register to attend. Register by telephoning the branch or on the library’s Website www.theoceancountylibrary.org .

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is January 11, 2014.

SIDEBAR INFORMATION (information provided by the NJ Human Trafficking Task Force information brochure at http://www.nj.gov/oag/dcj/humantrafficking/downloads/NJ-Human-Trafficking-Brochure.pdf) :

Nearly half (46%) of human trafficking involves prostitution. One-quarter (27%) involves domestic servitude. 10 percent involves agriculture; 5 percent factory work.

It is estimated between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked into the United States each year.

50 percent of people trafficked into the US each year are children.

800,000 people are trafficked worldwide each year.