By Jennifer Ogunsola
Communications Manager
Hartsfield-Jackson officials and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens were joined by Georgia’s First Lady Marty Kemp, Attorney General Chris Carr and a host of state, county and local partners to launch the new multijurisdictional human trafficking collaborative, “Not in My County.” The collaboration between ATL and the Airport community brings dedicated resources to fight human trafficking throughout the region.
“The fact that we are home to the world’s busiest airport certainly makes us a landing spot for traffickers and their victims,” Mayor Dickens shared with the crowd during the Jan.31 press event.
“While admitting that it breaks his heart that Atlanta is considered one of the nation’s top cities for child sex trafficking,” Dickens added, “The truth is that this is a problem much bigger than any one local jurisdiction, and it will require the collaboration of government and law enforcement on every level.”
Atlanta’s underground commercial sex industry accounts for an estimated $300 million annually. As the busiest airport in the world, ATL leaders along with the Airport community understood the importance of creating a collaborative. The “Not in My County” collaborative, which will convene once a month, boasts over 35 members–which includes state, county, and local agencies–to address the region at large about sexual exploitation, forced labor, and the planned work to combat it.
“Human trafficking is a scourge on our planet, and this exploitation of people devastates lives worldwide,” said Airport General Manager Balram “B” Bheodari. “At Hartsfield-Jackson, we remain committed to eradicating it by stopping those who traffic men, women, and children in our backyard.”
Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp, who has been both vocal and engaged in eliminating human trafficking throughout the state, discussed her work as co-chair of the Georgians for Refuge, Action, Compassion, and Education (GRACE) Commission, created to combat the threat of human trafficking in Georgia. She added that it’s one of her and Governor Brian Kemp’s top priorities.
“We are truly united in the fight to make Georgia a safe haven for survivors and a hostile environment for criminals,” expressed Kemp, who announced that the General Assembly will consider legislation to add human trafficking to the list of offenses requiring a superior court judge to grant bail.
The first lady also shared that the state is opening a second receiving facility for survivors.
“These facilities are literally the envy of the nation, providing young adults and children, who have become victim to trafficking, a place for wrap-around services,” she said. “They fill up quick, which is a humbling and constant reminder that we cannot pat ourselves on the back. We must continue to raise a voice for those who are voiceless.”
Other distinguished guests and collaborative partners working hard to reduce and eliminate trafficking throughout the state including Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, Clayton County Board of Commissioners Chairman Jeff Turner, APD Police Chief Rodney Bryant, Fulton County Sheriff Pat Labat, APS School Board Member Erika Mitchell, and youthSpark Executive Director Jennifer Swain.
This human trafficking collaborative is much-needed to develop a unified and comprehensive plan to end human trafficking, and Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr shared that last month, the state indicted 15 defendants, including nine individuals charged with solicitation in Fulton County.
Transportation Security Administration Federal Security Director Robert Spinden, Customs and Border Protection Port Director Paula Rivera, Woman at the Well Transition Center Executive Director Donna Hubbard and human trafficking survivor Dorsey Jones, were also on hand to pledge their commitment and stand arm-in-arm in the fight to end human trafficking.
