INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Indiana officials have launched a statewide awareness and education campaign against child sex trafficking as the NCAA Final Four men’s basketball championship is held in Indianapolis this weekend.
Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller is calling it the “Indiana’s Not Buying It” campaign in an effort to decrease the demand for commercial sex, which he says increases human trafficking of young and vulnerable children.
“This campaign is a message to men who purchase sex that we are no longer buying any excuses,” said Zoeller, who also co-chairs the Indiana Protection for Abused and Trafficked Humans Task Force.
Demand for commercial sex increases when large numbers of men gather for sporting events that have a party atmosphere such as the Super Bowl or the NCAA Tournament, Zoeller’s office said in a statement.
The campaign includes a public-service announcement starring Indiana sports celebrities including Indiana Pacer coach Donnie Walsh and player Lavoy Allen, Indianapolis Colt Matt Hasselbeck and IndyCar driver Ed Carpenter. There also are 35 billboards statewide and ads on the Indianapolis public transit system.
As the Final Four approached, the task force launched training and awareness efforts in central Indiana that included distributing materials at truck stops, rest areas and taxi services aimed at providing resources to victims. Materials also were made available at restaurants, bars and tourism areas. The task force also worked with staffers at more than 30 hotels in Indianapolis and surrounding areas to train workers to spot signs associated with trafficked victims
Indiana is the third state to adopt the campaign sponsored by the human trafficking prevention group StreetGrace. Georgia and Arizona earlier adopted the effort.
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Online: https://www.INNotBuyingIt.org
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