By TR Robertson
Hundreds of concerned citizens attended the 19th Annual Human Trafficking Awareness information presentation and walk on Saturday beginning at the United Methodist Church of Vista at 490 S. Melrose Dr. The event was hosted by the Soroptimist International of Vista and the North County Inland Soroptimist organization. Information tables were set-up featuring material and pamphlets from groups like the Soroptimist organization, the Alabaster Jar Project, One Safe Place, Operation Hope, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Lifeline Community Services, Fresh Wind Ministries, and several others. Information about assistance from the various Crisis Responses Teams available, Resource Centers, the Family Justice Center, youth programs, family assistance, Neighborhood Food Distribution Programs, reporting human trafficking and human smuggling and other important programs was available for those attending.
After a welcoming and guest introduction by Vista Deputy Mayor Katie Melendez, Vista Mayor John Franklin gave a Proclamation to the Soroptimist International of Vista declaring January Human Trafficking Month. The Mayor spoke about the importance if the increased drug arrests in Vista and the continued scrutiny of homeless encampments to stop the selling and distribution of illegal drugs. He said chronic homelessness and addition are major factors in dealing with the over 6,600 individuals living in unsheltered situations in San Diego County. The Mayor next introduced the guest speaker at the days event, San Diego District Attorney Summer Stephan.
The District Attorney began by saying Human Trafficking is the second largest criminal industry in the United States just behind illegal drug sales. She said she has been working with groups like Soroptimist International for 34 years in increasing awareness about these issues and working within the system to pass laws to help deal with those that are profiting from these illegal activities. She said she wanted to present a short history about human trafficking in California, beginning in the year 2000. The District Attorney said no laws existed up to that time that directly dealt with human trafficking and human rights violations. A federal law was passed in 2000 dealing with the victims of human trafficking. It was not until 2005 that state laws in California were passed dealing with these issues. She said one of the hardest things to deal with are the effects of psychological deceptions the traffickers use on their victims. She said recent studies show that there are between 4-8,000 victims in San Diego and the average age is 16. She said she was instrumental in forming the Human Trafficking Task Force focusing on the criminal buyers as well. In 2024 a law was passed for victimization of a young person under the age of 16 for human trafficking and making this a felony. Another study shows that many victims do not identify themselves as victims. The hard work of the Task Force and Summer Stephan has led to a 27% increase in victims reporting on the San Diego victim’s hotline.
After the presentations all of those in attendance were led in a 1 ½ mile walk (round trip) south on Melrose Dr. to Sunset Drive and back, taking Stop Trafficking signs with them.
Important contact info:
Soroptimist International of Vista – www.soroptimistvita.org
San Diego and North County Food Bank – www.SanDiegoFoodBank.org www.NorthCountyFoodBank.org
San Diego Access and Crisis Line – 888-724-7240 – www.sandiegocounty.gov/mcrt
San Diego Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – 988
Operation Hope – www.operationhopeshelter.org
Alabaster Jar Project – www.alabasterjarproject.org
Fresh Wind Ministries – www.empoweringlivesofwomen.org
Blue Campaign – www.dhs.gov/bluecampaign – 866-347-2423
One Safe Place – www.onesafeplacenorth.org – 760-290-3690
National Human Trafficking Resource Center Victims Hotline – 888-373-7888
