SARA SEFRIED: CENTER FOR PREVENTION OF ABUSE
by Kristina Leahy
It’s a crime that hides under the surface of other crimes that occur in the city and the nation. The “Hidden Crime” that many don’t even realize is happening right under their noses.
Since the Center for Prevention of Abuse started its Human Trafficking Program in January 2018, there have been 65 individuals from the Peoria area who have come to the facility. The majority of those individuals were victims of sex trafficking.
Sara Sefried, the Director of Human Trafficking Services, said it is a challenge when people do not realize this issue happens locally.
“Often times when you think of trafficking, you think that it’s something that happens in another country, or that if it does happen within the United States, that it doesn’t happen in Peoria or central Illinois,” Sefried said.
Education on the topic has been one of the Center’s biggest goals.
Sefried explained most of the victims who come to the Center for Prevention of Abuse are females.
“Most of our victims have been females who had been manipulated, forced, or coerced in some way by an intimate partner or a family member into providing commercial sex services,” Sefried said.
She said there are cases where someone is violently abducted and then trafficked, but that is not always the case.
“It’s more likely that victims are going to be coerced or manipulated by someone they know,” Sefried said.
But how do traffickers choose their victims? Sefried said they look for someone who is vulnerable.
“Specific vulnerablities in certain people. So, they’re looking for individuals potentially who are experiencing homelessness, poverty, sometimes individuals who are battling addiction and substance abuse,” Sefried said.
“Our kids. So, our teenagers who just due to their age have a level of naivety or lack of life experiences.”
They look for individuals who they can exploit, manipulate, and trick into a commercial sex service or even labor trafficking.
While social media has some negative connotations, it can serve as a strong avenue for raising awareness about human trafficking, or even scary situations to let others know what happened.
Sefried agrees that sharing experiences on social media can help raise awareness. She also said that sometimes women can feel embarrassed to get help.
“I think other things that they can do is call law enforcement and report that suspicious activity,” Sefried said.
“Take note of your surroundings. So, physical indicators of the person who has approached you.
“What color hair, color eyes? What approximate age?
“What approximate height? What kind of vehicle were they driving?
“Can you take a picture of the license plate?”
She said taking these precautions and reporting suspicious activity can not only help you, but protect other citizens.
Illinois is ranked in the top 10 states for the number of calls made to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
“For me, that was a staggering statistic to learn,” Sefried said.
“Human trafficking occuring within our community isn’t something that is specifically unique. What is unique, though, is the fact that we have this organization who is able to provide free and confidential services to this specialized population of victims.”
The Center for Prevention of Abuse is proud of the training it provides to law enforcement.
“Our training is certified,” Sefried said. “People shouldn’t be afraid to call law enforcement for assistance with this, because they’ve been trained with what to look for and what to do.”
Sefried has also provided training in different industries that can be affected by human trafficking including utility workers, hotel and motel associations, and prevention and education in schools.
The Center for Prevention of Abuse is holding a two day human trafficking education conference, Light 2020, in April.
“We’re not only excited to be able shed a light on the issue of human trafficking, but also on the great work that organizations are doing throughout the state and throughout the country to provide services to survivors,” Sefried said.
The Center for Prevention of Abuse not only helps survivors of sex trafficking, but victims of domestic abuse, sexual assault, labor trafficking, elder abuse, and abuse to adults with disabilities.
“Everyone is susceptible to this crime,” Sefried said.
The National Human Trafficking Hotline is 1-888-373-7888, and free and confidential victim services are available at 1-800-559-SAFE (7233).
For more information on the Center for Prevention of Abuse, click HERE. https://www.centerforpreventionofabuse.org/
