The kickoff for “Shine a Light on Human Trafficking,” a new public awareness campaign, is Tuesday, September 24, 2013, 6:30 p.m. to dusk, at City Hall, The Galleria and numerous community centers and consulates’ offices throughout Houston and Harris County.
The public is encouraged to participate. Human trafficking is defined as the buying and selling of people for the purpose of forced, defrauded or coerced services, labor or sex. Described as “modern slavery,” the crime includes the victimization of adults and children.
Mayor Annise Parker will lead the campaign kickoff from the steps of City Hall, 901 Bagby, Houston 77002, with remarks by government officials and a lighting ceremony broadcast live by HTV and screened at the community venues. The live broadcast can be viewed on AT&T U-verse Channel 99, Comcast Channel 16, Phonoscope Channel 2, Suddenlink Channel 14 and TVMax Channel 98.
For a schedule of events during Human Trafficking Awareness month, visit http://www.shinealighthouston.org/ or call the City’s Department of Neighborhood (DON) Office of International Communities (OIC) at 832.393.1010.
This campaign is sponsored by OIC under the leadership of the Mayor’s Human Trafficking Task Force, in partnership with the Houston Police Department (HPD) and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO). The purpose of the campaign is to inform citizens about the crime of human trafficking and encourage them to report suspicious situations to authorities.
For sponsor information visit www.houstontx.gov/neighborhoods, HPD at http://www.houstonpolice.org/ and HCSO at http://www.harriscountyso.org/. For HTV visit www.houstontx.gov/htv.
