NILES — Human trafficking is an issue that communities across the U.S. battle.

With many common misconceptions about the crime, people may not know what human trafficking actually looks like and how to get help when they see something.

Cathy Knauf, the founder and director of Southwest Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force, is seeking to educate more people in the Berrien County area about the crime and what they can do to combat it.

In honor of Human Trafficking Awareness Month, Knauf will host an information session and presentation about the issue called, “It’s Happening Here,” from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 29, at the Niles District Library, 620 E. Main St. The event is free and open to the public.

“It is a pretty much Human Trafficking 101,” Knauf said. “It is an awareness event. We will go over the basics: Where they might see [human trafficking] in their daily lives, what the warning signs are and, if they do see a suspected victim or trafficker, what they can do.”

Unlike the movie “Taken” starring Liam Neeson, victims of human trafficking are typically not kidnapped and networked into a criminal operation. More likely, Knauf said, the victim will have fallen on hard times and is typically manipulated into human trafficking because they think it is a way out of their current hardship.

Another common misconception is that human trafficking pertains solely to people being trafficked for sex. However, Knauf said this is only one form of human trafficking.

Human trafficking consists of depriving a person of their freedom through the force of fraud or coercion. It is the second largest and fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world, and takes many forms, from the child lured into the industry through their home computer to the adult denied basic human rights at their job, Knauf said.

According to the Polaris Project, an organization with the aim to fight global human trafficking, there are more than 20 million human trafficking victims globally. Sixty-eight percent of human traffic victims are trapped in forced labor, while 26 percent of victims are children and 55 percent are women and girls.

Knauf said she intends to address misconceptions so that people can better understand what the problem looks like, and hopefully proceed with the steps to address it.

Like the title of the presentation, “It’s Happening Here” might suggest, Knauf said she also hopes to spread awareness about the prevalence of human trafficking in Michigan. The Polaris Project reported that, in 2017, there were 136 cases of human trafficking reported in Michigan. 

Knauf said the Niles District Library has been a partner for similar events in the past. Nicole Martin, who handles marketing and technology for the Niles District Library, said they wanted to partner with Southwest Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force with the hopes of bringing the issue to light.

With an issue that is this far reaching, Martin encouraged anyone to attend and learn how to join forces with the Southwest Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force to fight the problem.

“Because anyone can be affected by human trafficking. It is not always easy to tell,” Martin said.

She said she hopes those who attend leave with a better understanding of how to actively watch for potential human trafficking and report it.

The Southwest Michigan Human Trafficking Task Force has been in operation for six years. Educating people about the issue is a large part of their efforts. The organization has also helped to train local law enforcement on the issue by hosting training sessions.

Knauf encouraged residents to attend the presentation and join in the fight.

“We really need to take blinders off and make everybody say, ‘we are not going to tolerate this,’” Knauf said.