Columbus joins in boosting awareness of human trafficking

By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

The Columbus airport is joining its counterparts nationwide in training employees to recognize signs of human trafficking in an effort to curb exploitation.

Beginning this month, all 400 employees at Port Columbus International Airport will view a 30-minute video on spotting signs of trafficking. Workers include police officers, maintenance workers and people staffing information booths.

The awareness campaign in Columbus joins those at 13 airports across the country including JFK and LaGuardia in New York, Chicago-O’Hare and Los Angeles International Airport where the Department of Homeland Security has posted messages on video monitors and airport shopping bags. Other industries, including hotels and trucking, also are increasing efforts to detect trafficking.

In Ohio, airport workers will see a film that defines human trafficking, gives examples of cases in the state and lists tips for recognizing trafficking. Signs of trafficked individuals include people who:

Have few or no personal possessions and aren’t in control of their own money, financial records or bank account.

Aren’t in control of their identification documents and aren’t allowed to speak for themselves.

Can’t move freely in an airport or on a plane or are being controlled, closely watched or followed.

Other clues include people who can’t give details of their location or flight information, and have lost track of time.

“We certainly hope that it’s going to be productive and result in helping some of the victims out of this very horrible situation,” said Ron Borden, chief operations officer of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority.

The Homeland Security messages pose a number of scenarios. They include:

“Does she seem controlled and afraid?” asks a question superimposed over the photograph of a young woman.

“Is he forced to work for little or no pay?” says a second question over a picture of a teenage boy.

Law enforcement officers with the Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection also get regular training on how to recognize and prevent trafficking, as do TSA agents who screen travelers.

Other industries have ramped up trafficking awareness. Colorado-based Truckers Against Trafficking trains drivers to recognize the signs and encourages cooperation with police to stop it.

Polaris, a Washington, D.C., anti-trafficking organization, works with the hotel industry to prevent trafficking, including a current initiative with the American Hotel and Lodging Association to provide training for hotel employees in Baltimore. The hotel and lodging association is educating the employees on human trafficking, establishing procedures for reporting suspected cases and encouraging other companies to join the fight.