North Carolina has the dubious distinction of being one of the top 10 states in the country for these heinous crimes with the Charlotte region being a focal point. According to this article from WRAL from 2017 written for Project No Rest, one of the Ada Jenkins forum panelist groups, "the geographic location of N.C., in part, contributes to the high number of victims and survivors living in the state. North Carolina lies in the center of the triangle encompassed by Washington, D.C., Charlotte and Atlanta, all of which are hubs of human trafficking. North Carolina also lies at the crossroads of several major interstates, including Interstate 40 that crosses the state from west to east and several interstates running north to south across the state. These highways facilitate sex and labor trafficking."
Below are the stats from the National Human Trafficking Hotline for North Carolina for 2017. These stats for 2017 are 30% higher than those referenced in the WRAL article just one year earlier and and double what they were just 5 years ago. (Click the above link for more detailed breakdowns of these statistics.)
As a sign this issue is seen as a priority at the highest levels in the state, just this past week NC Attorney General Josh Stein unveiled a new program to raise awareness. In this article from the Caldwell Journal this past Wednesday, Stein unveiled a new Awareness Sign. These signs will be placed in public facilities across the state.
If you are interested in learning more about this subject there will be other opportunities beyond the meeting at the Ada Jenkins Center. The NC Human Trafficking Commission is sponsoring a series of forums across the state with one coming to Charlotte in July.
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