FRANKFORT, Ky. — Attorney General Daniel Cameron today announced his Office of Trafficking and Abuse Prevention and Prosecution launched a statewide human trafficking awareness and training campaign titled “Your Eyes Save Lives.” The campaign combats human trafficking by raising awareness of the signs of human trafficking and empowers citizens, law enforcement, and community leaders to report suspected trafficking.
“The Your Eyes Save Lives campaign moves the Commonwealth one step closer to ending human trafficking by enlisting the help of every Kentuckian to recognize and report suspected trafficking,” said Attorney General Cameron. “We all have a vital role to play in eradicating this scourge, and this campaign provides the tools necessary to see the signs of human trafficking and make the call to report it. Last year, 136 cases of human trafficking from Kentucky were reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, and the Commonwealth’s Cabinet for Health and Family services reported 206 incidences of human trafficking against a minor. Human trafficking is happening in our communities, but it is often unreported or underreported because of lack of awareness, misidentification, and stigma. Our hope is that the Your Eyes Save Lives campaign will change that.”
The statewide media campaign, launched on National Human Trafficking Awareness Day and during National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, utilizes traditional and digital communication platforms like billboards, social media, radio, and print publications to reach citizens in all 120 Kentucky counties, while targeting regions at an increased risk for human trafficking. The campaign aims to shatter victim stereotypes and raise awareness about the signs of trafficking and reporting methods.
The Attorney General’s campaign will also include resources to assist community educators, law enforcement officers, and faith-based leaders in recognizing the signs of human trafficking.
Funded by a grant from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, the initiative complements the passage of House Bill 2 by the General Assembly during the 2020 Legislative session, which armed the Attorney General’s office with new ways to crack down on human trafficking.
The new law, which took effect on July 15, 2020, makes it easier for the Attorney General to prosecute traffickers and aids the office in raising awareness about human trafficking by requiring airports, truck stops, bus stations, and train stations to post signs displaying the National Human Trafficking Hotline number.
“This program is an incredible tool in our fight against human trafficking,” said House Majority Caucus Chair Suzanne Miles, who sponsored HB 2. “We know that education and information build community awareness, and I appreciate the Attorney General and his staff for their work on this issue and commitment to seeing HB 2 implemented.”
“The ‘Your Eyes Save Lives’ campaign continues the work we began last year in passing House Bill 2 by arming Kentuckians with the information and tools necessary to do their part to help end human trafficking,” said Representative Jason Petrie, who co-sponsored House Bill 2. “I appreciate the Attorney General’s efforts to address human trafficking in securing DOJ funding and launching this vital awareness and training campaign, and I look forward to continuing the work that must be done to address human trafficking in Kentucky.”
“It’s common to assume that human trafficking is only an international problem, but the truth is it’s, unfortunately, happening right here in our community,” said Senator Wil Schroder, who carried House Bill 2 before the Senate last year. “I look forward to continuing the fight against human trafficking in Kentucky with Attorney General Cameron. “
During a Dec. 16, 2020, virtual training, the Attorney General’s Office updated 130 multi-disciplinary team members regarding policy reform enacted by House Bill 2, which aligned Kentucky’s human trafficking statutes with existing federal laws. Under the Your Eyes Save Lives campaign, the office will continue to provide training regarding these changes to prosecutors, law enforcement officers, advocates, and educators.
“I appreciate the hard work of TAPP Executive Director Heather Wagers for her work to ensure this campaign aligns with our ongoing efforts to mobilize Kentuckians to report trafficking and to prosecute those responsible for this heinous crime,” added Attorney General Cameron. “I’m also appreciative to the Department of Justice and the COPS office for supporting our efforts by awarding this funding.”
To download a PSA about the Your Eyes Save Lives Campaign, click here. Learn more about the campaign by visiting YourEyesSaveLives.ky.gov.