For Immediate Release
DHS Press Office
Contact: 202-282-8010
WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced a new partnership between the DHS Blue Campaign – the unified voice for DHS’s efforts to combat human trafficking – and the South Carolina Office of the Attorney General. The DHS Blue Campaign works in collaboration with law enforcement, government, non-governmental and private organizations to protect the basic right of freedom and to bring those who exploit human lives to justice.
“The DHS Blue Campaign welcomes the South Carolina Office of the Attorney General as a partner in the fight against human trafficking,” said Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. “Working with state and local governments across the country helps save lives and protect innocent people, and we are pleased that the State of South Carolina is fully embracing this effort.”
Through this partnership, the South Carolina Office of the Attorney General will provide Blue Campaign training and awareness materials throughout the state to raise public consciousness of human trafficking. These materials will help individuals and communities recognize indicators of human trafficking as well as provide information on how to report suspected cases.
The partnership will help South Carolina implement newly-passed legislation in the state, requiring several types of businesses and establishments within the state, including emergency rooms, urgent care centers, hotels, airports, train and bus stations, adult businesses, rest areas, and truck stops, to publicly post information for possible victims of human trafficking.
“Combating human trafficking and raising public awareness requires a joint effort by all who are involved,” said South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson. “That is why the Office of the South Carolina Attorney General is happy to be working with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to inform the public and support the victims of this horrible crime.”
Earlier this month, DHS announced the expansion of the DHS Blue Campaign’s public awareness efforts to major airports, truck stops, and motorist gas stations across the country to better enable Americans to recognize and report potential instances of human trafficking.
In June, the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, and Labor announced Phase II of the Anti-Trafficking Coordination Team Initiative, a strategic plan to develop high-impact federal investigations and prosecutions of suspected human traffickers. Last year, DHS also established partnerships with the City of Phoenix and the Arizona Human Trafficking Council of the Governor’s Office for Children, Youth and Families to provide training and awareness materials ahead of Super Bowl XLIX in February 2015.
For more information, visit www.dhs.gov/bluecampaign.
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