Ahead of Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta on Sunday, U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., introduced a resolution designating Jan. 1 – Feb. 1, 2019, as “National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month” to raise awareness of, and enforcement against, human trafficking and modern slavery. Isakson also highlighted the ongoing work in Georgia to improve awareness of this problem, which typically sees an increase during high-profile events such as the upcoming Super Bowl in Atlanta, by nonprofits, state leaders and corporations such as Delta Airlines and UPS.

“I’m very excited to welcome Super Bowl LIII and people from all over the country to the city of Atlanta this weekend. With any big event, there unfortunately tends to be an uptick in cases of human trafficking,” said Isakson. “Our state and federal agencies have been preparing for this scenario and empowering individuals and organizations to recognize the signs of trafficking while continually working to spread awareness to help innocent victims. Sadly, instances of human trafficking occur throughout the year, and our work in the Senate continues to raise awareness and help prevent modern-day slavery.”

In Georgia, Governor Brian Kemp, Attorney General Chris Carr and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger recently held an event in Atlanta along with nonprofit Street Grace and other partners called #StopTraffick to raise awareness of human trafficking in metro Atlanta and the state. The message included a fleet of 72 school buses to represent the 3,600 children that are sold into modern-day slavery in Georgia each year. As a major transportation hub, Georgia also sees additional cases of human trafficking.

Isakson also met this week in Washington with Delta Airlines, a partner in the fight against human trafficking. Seventy-one percent of labor trafficking victims report being trafficked into the United States on an airplane. Earlier this month, the airline announced enhancements to raise awareness among travelers in airports and, for the first time, via in-flight entertainment screens. A new campaign titled #GetOnBoard was developed with the nonprofit Polaris, which operates the National Human Trafficking Hotline, and includes enhanced signage in airports and an inflight video that puts a face and story to modern-day slavery. 

The Senate resolution specifically highlights that the National Human Trafficking Hotline has identified over 45,000 cases of human trafficking since 2007. It also calls on the United States to hold accountable all individuals, groups, organizations, and countries that support, advance, or commit acts of human trafficking and modern slavery; and that the United States must work to end human trafficking and modern slavery in all forms in the United States and around the world through education.

Isakson has taken steps in the Senate to address the very serious problem of human trafficking. The Senate resolution highlights laws enacted in the United States to prosecute perpetrators and to assist and protect victims, including the Isakson-supported Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015.

Additionally, in 2018, the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 was signed into law and incorporates the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, which was cosponsored by Isakson.

Attorney General Carr is the nationwide spokesperson for the National Association of Attorneys General’s Demand an End campaign, initially created in partnership with the Office of the Georgia Attorney General, Street Grace and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Demand an End focuses on demand as the driving force behind sex trafficking. With support from the attorney general’soffice, the Georgia legislature has successfully strengthened laws in the past several years that target the buyers’ role in this modern-day slavery.

The attorney general’s office also held a recent training session at UPS headquarters in Atlanta with the transportation industry to educate drivers who are on regular routes on how to identify the signs and warnings of human trafficking.

As part of its Super Bowl LIII preparations, the Department of Homeland Security operates the Blue Campaign, which provides resources to help raise awareness about human trafficking. Department of Homeland Security displays awareness materials to help individuals and communities identify and recognize indicators of human trafficking. During the Super Bowl, Blue Campaign materials have been on display on local public transportation, including light rail and city buses, and on multiple digital platforms. Homeland Security Investigations has also worked with local, state, and federal partners (including Customs and Border Protection, Transportation Security Administration, and the FBI) and service providers to combat human trafficking in the region.