(Credit: BCAT)
NOVA, Bucks County’s comprehensive crime victim services agency and the Bucks County Coalition Against Trafficking (BCAT), a project of NOVA, will hold a panel discussion on ways to combat human trafficking on January 29 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Bucks County Community College, Lower Bucks Campus Common Area, located at 1304 Veterans Highway, Bristol, PA 19007.
To register, visit https://novabucks.org/calendar-event/panel-discussion-combating-human-trafficking/
Community members are invited to join members of law enforcement, victim advocates, and others to learn how to join the fight against human trafficking in Bucks County. The panel discussion will offer an overview from experts in the subject of human trafficking, present key indicators of trafficking, and describe what trafficking looks like in Bucks County and the greater Philadelphia area.
Featured panelists include:
The panel discussion will be followed by an interactive Q&A session. Light refreshments will be provided.
“We encourage members of the Bucks County community to join us to learn more about resources dedicated to both ending human trafficking and supporting victims,” said Jamie Pfister, training coordinator for NOVA. “The more the community is aware of human trafficking, the more we can do to help stop this crime from happening.”
According to the Department of Homeland Security, human trafficking is the “…use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor” either commercial or sex work. Human trafficking is happening much closer to home than most people realize and recent portrayals in the media and news reports of human trafficking have sparked increased discussion of this crime across the country.
The United Nations reports that human trafficking is a $8-10 billion-dollar criminal industry. In the U.S., the Urban Institute estimates that money made in the commercial sex trade in several major U.S. cities range from $39 to $290 million annually. Most victims of human trafficking identify as female, both adults and those under the age of 18. Boys, men, and members of the LGBTQ+ community can become victims of human trafficking, as well. What these facts don’t tell is the toll borne by the victims, many of whom are physically and sexually abused, not permitted access to money or identification documents and lacking in knowledge about their whereabouts.
About NOVA
NOVA supports, counsels and empowers victims of sexual assault and other serious crimes in Bucks County and works to prevent and eliminate violence in society through advocacy, training, community education and prevention programs. Founded in 1974, NOVA is a non-profit 501(c)(3), community-based organization operating out of three offices in Fairless Hills, Jamison and Perkasie. Services are made possible through the financial support of federal, state and local government grants and contracts, corporations, foundations and private donations. All contributions are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. For more information, visit www.NOVABucks.org.
