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Florida Invierte en Asistencia a las Víctimas de Trafico de Personas y Servicios de Prevención del Abuso
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Florida Invests In Support for Human Trafficking Victims and Abuse Prevention Services MIAMI, FLA. – On February 13, the governor of Florida held a press conference with victim advocacy organizations to highlight investments in the Florida Families First Budget to support victims of human trafficking. The recommended budget includes $1.5 million to provide trafficked youth with a safe home, $2.5 million to enhance the efforts of the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence to fight abuse and nearly half-a-million to support state and local law enforcement in the areas of high tech crime and Electronic Surveillance Support Teams. The Governor also highlighted the Department of Juvenile Justice’s “Victim Identification Pilot Project,” – a program that’s the first-of-its-kind in the nation that identifies trafficking victims and coordinates support services. Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery that affects more than 27 million people worldwide, including an estimated two million children who are trafficked for child labor and sexual exploitation. In the United States, the Polaris Project advocacy group estimates approximately 100,000 kids are currently trapped in the commercial sex trade of human trafficking. To better protect children, the governor signed the Safe Harbor Act and HB 7049 to help fight human trafficking by increasing the prosecution of criminals who exploit children and also provide better services to the victims who are rescued from this heinous crime. Last year, the Department of Juvenile Justice took steps to support children by creating the “Victim Identification Pilot Project” to identify victims of sex trafficking and coordinate with the Department of Children and Families to get children in a supportive environment where they feel safe. The program is the first-of-its-kind in the nation and was implemented in Broward County and later in Miami-Dade County. DJJ Secretary Walters has announced the pilot’s further expansion to Orange County this year. |