State of Montana Newsroom
Gov. Gianforte, AG Knudsen Encourage Montanans to Join the Fight to End Human Trafficking
HELENA, Mont. – After proclaiming January as Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in Montana, Governor Greg Gianforte today teamed up with Attorney General Austin Knudsen to encourage Montanans to join the fight to end human trafficking.
“Generating an estimated $150 billion worldwide per year, human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery whereby traffickers, which are often organized criminal enterprises, profit at the expense of adults or children by compelling them to perform labor or engage in commercial sex,” the governor and attorney general wrote in a letter to Montanans.
Gov. Greg Gianforte establishes the month of January as Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month in Montana alongside Attorney General Austin Knudsen (seated left), Lowell Hochhalter of the LifeGuard Group (standing left), Sammy Higgs of the HER Campaign (standing middle), and Colonel Steve Lavin of the Montana Highway Patrol (standing right).
“During the month of January, we encourage you to be a part of the solution to end human trafficking by learning to identify signs and committing to report suspected human trafficking activity to law enforcement,” the governor and attorney general continued. “An informed, engaged citizenry is one of the best tools we have to put an end to these despicable crimes.”
The Montana Department of Justice (DOJ) tracked a 485 percent increase in human trafficking cases from 2015 to 2021. In 2015, DOJ tracked seven human trafficking cases, compared to 41 in 2021.
The governor’s proclamation can be found here, and the governor and attorney general’s letter to Montanans can be found here.
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