Commissioner Diaz sponsoring legislation to crack down on human trafficking

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY – In an effort to help crack down on human trafficking in Miami-Dade County, Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz and Commissioner Sally A. Heyman are sponsoring legislation to enforce a recently adopted state law imposing a $500 fine on businesses that fail to post human trafficking public awareness signs at adult entertainment and certain massage or bodywork services establishments.

The legislation is scheduled for final consideration by the full Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday, Feb. 2.

The proposed public awareness signs, which would appear in English, Spanish and Creole, would state:  “If you or someone you know is being forced to engage in an activity and cannot leave — whether it is prostitution, housework, farm work, factory work, retail work, restaurant work, or any other activity — call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888 or text INFO or HELP to 233-733 to access help and services. Victims of slavery and human trafficking are protected under United States and Florida Law.”

Human trafficking involves the exploitation of men, women and children for forced labor or commercial sex and often subjects them to force, fraud, and coercion. The National Human Trafficking Resource Center, a national hotline funded by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, received 1,428 phone calls and reported 364 human trafficking cases in 2014 in Florida alone.

“Tragically, human trafficking isn’t something that’s only happening in a faraway place; it’s happening right here in Miami-Dade County, and we need to encourage victims to come forward so we can go after the perpetrators of these heinous crimes of exploitation,” Commissioner Diaz said.