Current Press Release

TOMS RIVER – January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Just one unguarded moment can victimize people of any age, anywhere. Learn its effects, and ways to prevent it, when the Ocean County Library presents “Human Trafficking 101,” 6:30 PM Thursday, January 18, in the Toms River Branch.

Susan Flynn of the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking will describe how it became one of the world’s largest criminal enterprises locally and globally, who is impacted, how to safeguard against it, and what people can do to raise awareness.

Data compiled by the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking indicates that it entraps an estimated 25 million people worldwide, that 75 percent of victims are women and children, and that it generates about $150 billion in illegal profits each year.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline has fielded 5,544 reports from New Jersey since 2007. Of the 567 reports received in 2021, 151 were verified and involved 466 victims.

Please register at https://bit.ly/oclHumanTrafficking101 to attend this free program. It is strongly recommended that elementary- and junior high school-age students be accompanied by adults.

For more information, stop by the Ocean County Library Toms River Branch, 101 Washington Street, call (732) 349-6200, or visit www.theoceancountylibrary.org/events.

Keep up with Library programs and events at www.theoceancountylibrary.org, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, and Pinterest.

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