Copyright American Press
The Alliance to Fight Human Trafficking in Southwest Louisiana held its annual breakfast last week at L’Auberge Casino and Resort. The alliance, which launched at the inaugural breakfast in 2023, was formed to target human trafficking in Southwest Louisiana – an area that is a target for human traffickers due to disaster recovery, casinos and a high number of construction projects, in addition to its location on the I-10 corridor between Houston and New Orleans. The alliance is composed of law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, local service agencies and nonprofits with the mission to “identify, investigate and prosecute those individuals responsible for human trafficking, all while providing quality social services to those who find themselves a victim to this horrendous crime,” according to the alliance’s strategic plan. Over the past two years, the Alliance has not only raised awareness, but has also advocated for tougher laws, expanded survivor housing, and training and education. This is in addition to establishing a tip line for victims and placing informative bathroom signs in businesses throughout the region. Human trafficking is not human smuggling, said Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy and Alliance Vice Chair Gene Pittman. Instead, he called it “modern slavery, which is forced labor, and forced and coerced sexual acts. “The biggest issue we have with human trafficking here in Southwest Louisiana is the fact that everyone thinks, ‘It’s not in my backyard,” he said. The Family and Youth Counseling Agency currently provides services to 30 human trafficking victims under the age of 18. And in Southwest Louisiana, 70 percent of trafficking cases. are familial abuse, abuse that is conducted by someone the victim knows. The guest speaker at the breakfast was Father Jeffery Bayhi, Founder of Metanoia Manor, a faith-based residential facility that offers refuge and education for female adolescent victims of human trafficking. When discussing the immoral severity of human trafficking, he did not mince words. “Make no mistake about it, the buying and selling of our own children, for reasons of sexual pleasure, that’s evil,” he said. “That is not of God, and it never will be.” The greatest impact that could be made to fight human trafficking is the unified establishment of resources, he said. Citing the United Nation, Bayhi said that the United States is responsible for 10 percent of the world’s trafficking victims. Five million people are bought and sold in the country every day, and 60 percent of those victims are under the age of 18. Nationwide, there are only 930 shelter beds available for trafficking survivors, and only 300 are for children. This can only be combated with a united front, he said. “Tell everybody about this. Go back to your church.Tell everybody about this. Go back to your community and say, we’ve got to do something. We’ve got a problem in southwest Louisiana and no one’s tackling it for our kids,” he said.” And if they’re not willing to step up for that, we don’t need them anyway. So, we’re here. We’re more than willing to help.” More information on the Alliance can be found at www.fightHTswla.org or by calling 337-431-1350. Victims or those who know of human trafficking activity in the area can call the Alliance tip line at 337-491-7952. The tip line is open 24 hours a day.
