Louisiana First Lady Donna Edwards
As thousands are in New Orleans for the Final Four NCAA Basketball Tournament, First Lady Donna Edwards is using the opportunity to raise awareness of human trafficking. She’s hoping that by raising awareness more individuals trapped in the coercion of commercial sex and/or labor will be saved. She stays human trafficking is all too REAL.
“REAL stands for ‘R’ recognizing the signs, ‘E’ educating others, ‘A’ acting immediately and ‘L’ listening and supporting victims. StopTraffickingLA.com,” said Edwards.
Research indicates often large sporting events attract those who are trafficking humans to bring in victims to cater to attendees.
Edwards said 25-million victims of trafficking have been identified across the globe and just last year 900 received services in Louisiana, but there are so many more that need our help. She said the problem often impacts children who are most vulnerable.
“60% of our children in foster care have some type of human trafficking connection. Whether they were trafficked by their own family, a foster family, or close relatives often,” said Edwards.
Edwards said we’re raised to believe it’s none of our business and to ignore it when we see anything out of the ordinary. The First Lady wants to change our mindset and said it’s time to take a more active role and help those who can’t help themselves.
“We can’t think that way anymore we have to say this is our business, these are brothers and sisters of ours and our neighbors, so we need to be aware of things that are happening around us,” said Edwards.
StopTraffickingLA.com
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