Attorney General Josh Hawley extended his initiative to combat human trafficking to the Missouri business community by launching the first statewide Business Council Task Force against Human Trafficking on Tuesday.
"The data tells us that much of the illegal trafficking behavior that is purchased and sold on the internet happens during business hours," Hawley said. "Our goal is to help every business take a bold stand against trafficking to say that trafficking will not happen in their business."
Use of company computers, phones and time for the prohibited acts are tied to the importance of employers engaging and standing against human trafficking, he explained.
In May, Hawley held his first meeting with advocates who work in social service, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judicial officers and in victim services. All agreed human trafficking is a hidden issue domestically and internationally.
Last year, Missouri recorded 421 calls and 135 human trafficking cases, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Those statistics include cases involving people who have been trafficked for sex, labor and unspecified cases.
Through a four-part video series, businesses that join the council will have access to free online training materials to help employees educate themselves on the subject - learning to identify the signs, prevention tactics and what they can do to help.
As of Tuesday, Missouri American Water, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Missouri Municipal League, Schnucks Markets, Truman Medical Center, and the Missouri Hotel and Lodging Association have pledged to stand against human trafficking in their businesses.
"We're going to spend a lot of time pushing this message out encouraging employers small, medium and large to take a look at the training videos and resources offered to be a part of the process of preventing human trafficking," said Dan Mehan, president and CEO of the Missouri Chamber. "With our network throughout the state, we thought it would be a natural partnership to help get the word out."
Via internet and local chamber federations, these training programs won't be bound by geographic lines, accessible to all chambers even in rural areas, he explained.
Missouri American Water President Cheryl Norton said by serving 160 different communities, 700 employees and more than 45 different states across the country, her company has an opportunity to spread awareness on a wide scale.
"I see this training as potentially one that could be spread out amongst all of American Water, not just in the state of Missouri," Norton said. "We're excited to be able to provide the tools to our employees so they can understand what they're seeing and to be able to act on that really making a difference in the communities they live and work in."
Asked about potential opposition to businesses associating themselves with human trafficking, Hawley said he believes people want to be involved in the fight against trafficking, and so far he has encountered only enthusiasm from the business community.
"We want to work with the attorney general to help educate mayors, aldermen, city clerks, city administrators and managers, and police chiefs get trained on this," said Ramona Huckstep, policy and membership associate at Missouri Municipal League.
MML represents 650 cities, towns and villages in Missouri, working in partnership with the Missouri Association of Counties and the Missouri School Boards Association - essentially having 9,000 people who would work on issues like this.
Every Missourian can watch the video training segments, as well as report suspicious behavior to local authorities or the Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-844-487-0492, Hawley said.
"This isn't a fight for someone else," Hawley said. "It's one that affects every single Missourian and one that every Missourian can participate in to something for the cause of justice, for the cause of liberty, and for the cause of safety and protection in our society and state."