The MoDOT signs a national commitment to fight against human trafficking

JEFFERSON CITY – In an effort to combat human trafficking, the Missouri Department of Transportation signed a national commitment to "stop trafficking in human beings"

. Steve Meystrik, interim director of corporate services at MoDOT, said that in 2017, Missouri had the 16th highest number of human trafficking cases reported [

]. 19659002] "It's basically the exploitation of human beings by force or coercion," he said. "It is a form of modern slavery that we hope to end the war."

Meystrik said signing this pledge made perfect sense for the department.

"Traffickers use our highways, our waterways, our skies and our railways to transport their victims, which seems natural to us"

According to Meystrik, in the fall, every MoDOT leases it. employee will be trained on how to identify and report human trafficking.

"We have more than 5,000 employees at the state level," Meystrik said. "We have employees throughout the state of Missouri, so it 's an opportunity to train people who will have the opportunity to learn more about what' s going on. they can do. "

Victims of human trafficking advocacy groups said they were pleased with the MoDOT decision. Nanette Ward, a founding member of the Missouri Central American Coalition for the Suppression of Human Trafficking, said that 5,000 new eye-catching human trafficking pairs would make a huge difference.

Ward says that human trafficking is dangerous because, although it is present almost everywhere, it can be very difficult to spot.

"It's such an overwhelming crime that it can happen just below our borders. nose and we are not able to see it for what it is, "she said. "There is nothing physical to show that the relationship is trafficker and victim, so that's the behavior of the victim you are looking for."

Meystrik says victims of human trafficking show similar behaviors, MoDOT employees will be taught

"An individual does not know where he is, is afraid to look himself in the eyes, incapable to speak for himself, the person with whom he is does not allow him to be alone or to speak for himself.Meystrik and Ward have said that if you suspect that someone is a victim of the human trafficking, do not confront the alleged trafficker, you should instead call the National Information Line on Trafficking at 1-888-373-7888 or the local police.