An Alabama resident is spreading awareness about human trafficking
Alabama advocates, survivors push for solutions to human trafficking: ‘Number is going up’ AL.com
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Sustainable Development Goals and Human Trafficking in Alabama
Introduction
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Dothan residents Marilyn McFalls and her two granddaughters are human trafficking survivors fighting for the protections of others like them.
Advocates and survivors say broken systems enable traffickers to target people who are unhoused, economically marginalized or traumatized. Experts say human trafficking needs solutions that are just as pervasive and resilient as the problem itself. In Alabama, advocates have been working toward solutions for decades, but say it can be tough for law enforcement, courts and communities to get on the same page.
“I see people like my grandchildren that, because of the sex trafficking that they endured, they’re stuck in the past. They’re stuck not being able to move on,” McFalls said. “It doesn’t end with just rescuing them from the trafficking. It’s a lifetime of rebuilding their self-esteem, their mental health and moving them forward in life.”
Rise in Human Trafficking Cases
Justin Bowlin, a Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office investigator, said he is seeing a rise locally in human trafficking cases both because the industry is profitable and because of the increase in awareness and resources for people to report.
“We do get calls often about potential cases. I do think that the number is going up because of the outreach that is being done. Awareness is getting out there,” Bowlin said.
In 2021, McFalls created Tassel to the Left, an advocacy program to help other victims of human trafficking and those in need of mental health resources, to continue to help herself and her granddaughters heal.
“When you put your tassel to the left, you graduate and you move forward in life. I endured sex trafficking myself. I endured abuse as a child myself. And so I’ve never believed in myself, I never believed that I could achieve the things that I have achieved. I graduated from high school, I graduated from college, I took nursing classes.”
Judicial Response
The National Human Trafficking Hotline said 26,872 people reported being a victim of human trafficking across the United States between January 2020 and August 2022.
Sex trafficking victims were almost always trafficked by someone they knew: 44% were family members, 39% were intimate partners, 6% were employers and 5% were illicit substance providers, according to experts.
Agnes Chappell, now retired, was a judge at Jefferson County Family Court for 19 years, where she heard child neglect and abuse cases.
“In at least one or two of those child neglect and abuse cases, it turned out that the child was being trafficked, sometimes by the parent, maybe being the mother, who’s trafficking her child to help pay her rent. So I have seen a couple of those cases,” she said.
In Dec. 2023, a Montgomery woman, Laporchie Howard, 27, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for the charge of sex trafficking a minor. The victim was a runaway who was invited to live at Howard’s apartment in exchange for commercial rape.
People who are homeless or don’t have stable housing, have mental health challenges or struggle with substance abuse are often at higher risk for trafficking.
“Runaways and those who are vulnerable, generally, can be easily trafficked,” Chappell said. “We realized that when you get hungry and you’re running away it’s like a [procurer] can sense that they see a child on
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Relevant to the Issues Discussed
1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?
- Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres
- Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking
- Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status
- Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children
3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?
- Indicator for Target 5.2: Number of women and girls subjected to violence or trafficking
- Indicator for Target 8.7: Number of victims of forced labor and human trafficking identified
- Indicator for Target 10.2: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, disaggregated by sex, age, and other relevant characteristics
- Indicator for Target 16.2: Number of children subjected to abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and violence
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres | Number of women and girls subjected to violence or trafficking |
| SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth | Target 8.7: Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking | Number of victims of forced labor and human trafficking identified |
| SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities | Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status | Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, disaggregated by sex, age, and other relevant characteristics |
| SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions | Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children | Number of children subjected to abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and violence |
Explanation:
The article discusses the issue of human trafficking, which is connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG 5 aims to achieve gender equality and eliminate violence against women and girls, which includes addressing human trafficking. SDG 8 focuses on decent work and economic growth, with a target to eradicate forced labor and human trafficking. SDG 10 aims to reduce inequalities and promote social inclusion, which includes protecting vulnerable populations from trafficking. SDG 16 aims to promote peace, justice, and strong institutions, with a target to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and violence against children.
The specific targets identified in the article include Target 5.2 (eliminating violence against women and girls), Target 8.7 (eradicating forced labor and human trafficking), Target 10.2 (promoting social inclusion), and Target 16.2 (ending abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and violence against children).
The article mentions indicators that can be used to measure progress towards these targets. For Target 5.2, the indicator is the number of women and girls subjected to violence or trafficking. For Target 8.7, the indicator is the number of victims of forced labor and human trafficking identified. For Target 10.2, the indicator is the proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, disaggregated by sex, age, and other relevant characteristics. For Target 16.2, the indicator is the number of children subjected to abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and violence.
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Source: al.com
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