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LEWISTON — A vigil to remember the lives of Mainers lost to human trafficking will be held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, at Dufresne Plaza, 72 Lisbon St., in recognition of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
The vigil is organized by Safe Voices and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Services. The public is invited to attend. The vigil will be followed by a hot cocoa social at Safe Voices, 100 Lisbon St.
Vigil speakers will include representatives from both Safe Voices and SAPARS, FBI Special Agent Adam Morin, and Detective Ashley Wade, Domestic Violence Detective with the Lewiston Police Department, as well as statements from trafficking survivors.
Safe Voices is a local nonprofit organization that serves survivors of domestic violence and abuse, as well as human trafficking, sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. SAPARS works to prevent sexual violence and serves survivors of rape, sexual assault, child sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, stalking and sexual harassment. Safe Voices and SAPARS services are available to anyone in Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin counties.
“Human trafficking is happening, not only all across our country but right here in our own communities,” said Elise Johansen, Safe Voices’ executive director. “Maine law enforcement handles over 300 trafficking cases every year, and those are just the ones that are reported.”
Johansen emphasized that sex trafficking can happen to anyone regardless of their gender, biological sex, race, socioeconomic background, national origin, sexual orientation or ability. However, some populations are disproportionately victimized by this crime including children, women, LGBTQ+ people and people of color. Additionally, people struggling with vulnerabilities such as homelessness and those living in poverty are targeted by traffickers.
For information, or if you are concerned for yourself or someone you know, call Safe Voices at 1-800-559-2927 or SAPARS at 1-800-871-7741. Safe Voices and SAPARS services are free and confidential. Safe Voices also offers free training, including in-depth trafficking-specific training.
