Preventing Human Trafficking in South Carolina is a main focus area within the State’s plan to address the crime. The Task Force believes that prevention is one of the most important tasks of our collective. The more educated our communities, the closer we become in preventing individuals from being victimized. We would rather prevent all men and women, adults and children from experiencing the trauma of being exploited at the hands of another. This will take combined efforts from law enforcement, health care providers, community advocates, and others throughout South Carolina. It will also take various approaches including promoting the National Human Trafficking Hotline, awareness posters, billboards, and special events that generate dialogue in our communities.
April 2025 marks the 10 year anniversary of the passage of legislation (Section 16-3-2100) mandating the posting of information about the National Human Trafficking Hotline in certain establishments across South Carolina. The State Task Force consulted with its Survivor Advisory Subcommittee for the redesign of the posters that will be distributed statewide.
The legislation specifies the language that must be posted and the list of establishments that are required to post. Two versions of the poster containing the required information are available for download.
Under the state law, the following establishments are required to post notices:
Thank you to everyone who participated in #SCWagsforAwareness in January. Congratulations to K9 Bobi of the Richland County Sheriff’s Office for his blue ribbon win for best photo during the campaign, and to Heather Pagan of Lighthouse for Life as the Best in Show winner.
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In partnership with SC ETV and Public Radio (SCETV), the State Task Force developed TraffickProofSC, a series of free, age-appropriate, educational videos and curricula catered to middle and high school students. This initiative serves as the first statewide human trafficking prevention education curricula highlighting the importance of educating youth and their families on the realities of human trafficking.
Recognizing key indicators of human trafficking is one of the first steps in prevention. As such, the TraffickProofSC curriculum teaches students how to identify different types of human trafficking and associated warning signs, methods used by traffickers to exploit victims, and what to do if they think someone is exploited. Educators and students are also provided with tools and resources available to assist those who are or may be vulnerable to being trafficked.
The curriculum includes:
Educators and CAC staff interested in becoming a facilitator of TraffickProofSC can request a training through the SCETV link below. Those who participate will receive instruction on how to deliver the content and be provided with a facilitator’s guide to assist them with training topics and class activities.
SCETV Link
If you would prefer to have a Task Force staff member facilitate the curriculum at your middle or high school, please complete the request form linked below.
Link to Form
If you would like to also receive the new TraffickProofSC newsletter, please sign up below.
Newsletter
Learn about Human Trafficking Facts versus Myths, our Regional Task Forces, and the three requirements for human trafficking: Force, Fraud and Coercion.
Learn how to define human trafficking, identify potential victims, and report human trafficking incidents to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
Examples of Highly Vulnerable Populations
Learn how to define sex trafficking, how to recognize the types of sex trafficking, and the common signs of a sex trafficking victim.
Types of Sex Trafficking
Learn how to define labor trafficking, how to recognize the types of labor trafficking, and the common signs of a labor trafficking victim.
Types of Labor Trafficking
Understand how traffickers can use the internet to exploit victims and learn how caregivers can implement safety mechanisms to prevent youth from being victimized.
Safety Recommendations
Understand human trafficking trends within the temporary guestworker system as well as the potential signs of a labor trafficking victim.
Visa types at risk for exploitation
Download Human Trafficking & Temporary Guestworker Visas Fact Sheet
Aprenda cómo definir la trata de personas, identificar posibles víctimas, y reportar incidentes de trata de personas a la Línea Nacional de Trata de Personas.
Comprender cómo los traficantes pueden usar Internet para encontrar, capacitar y aprovecharse de sus víctimas. Aprender cómo los cuidadores pueden implementar mecanismos de seguridad para evitar que los jóvenes sean víctimas.
Conozca sobre la trata de personas para trabajo forzoso, incluyendo las señales de alerta y los lugares más comunes en los cuales sucede.
The South Carolina Office of the Attorney General, in partnership with the National Human Trafficking Hotline, posted three billboards (two sex trafficking and one labor trafficking) in the Myrtle Beach area. The goal is for the Task Force to sponsor more billboards throughout the state while targeting key areas for increased awareness efforts. The latter areas will be identified through data collection and research conducted by the Task Force’s Data Management workgroup.
Call: +1-888-373-7888
Text: 233733 (BeFree)
