CLEVELAND — Ohio is considered to have one of the worst human trafficking problems in the nation, according to the Human Trafficking Task Force. Megan Klint is the executive director of Cleveland Hope Exchange, a nonprofit promoting hope and raising awareness of human trafficking. She said labor and sex trafficking are all prevalent in the state and that cyber trafficking is huge right now during the pandemic.
“It’s happening in plain sight right in our city in our backyard in the place that we call home. So, the more people that know about the issue the better that we can address it and stop it,” said Megan Klint.
The latest statistics from the National Human Trafficking Hotline in 2019 show Ohio with the fifth-highest number of reported cases in the country. Many of the victims are children.
“So, right now on an average, there’s about 3,000 children at risk in Ohio for trafficking alone. About 1,000 of them are trafficked in a year.”
Recently, Greyhound bus services announced a program giving free rides to young adults between 12 and 21 years old who are runaways. Klint said many runaways often become victims of trafficking, so it’s important for advocates to be on the lookout at bus stations.
“Statistics show that children that runaway are actually approached by a trafficker within 48 hours of leaving and one of those being the bus stop.”
Cleveland Hope Exchange is holding virtual events throughout the month to help educate the public on human trafficking and how you can be an advocate.
“The digital space is where people are learning and growing and I really believe that it’s being used as the force for good and we all can make a difference if we work together.”
