The Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a seminar on human trafficking at 6 p.m. on April 19 at Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton. The event is open to the public.

“Does human trafficking only occur in larger cities or small rural areas?

What demographics make up a human trafficking?

“These questions will be answered by attending the seminar,” Bourbon County Sheriff Bill Martin said in an interview.

The presentation will by the chairwoman of the Kansas Human Trafficking Advisory Board, Jennifer Montgomery. The board advises the Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office on the issues of human trafficking.

The following is from the attorney generals website:

“Human trafficking is the criminal activity of holding another person for the purposes of exploitation through forced labor and sex trafficking. Many experts view human trafficking as the second greatest criminal enterprise in the world, second only to the illegal sale of drugs.  Even here in Kansas, men, women, and children are forced to work for long hours under deplorable conditions for little or no pay without the freedom to leave.

By utilizing a four pronged approach of Prevention, Protection, Prosecution and Partnership, the Kansas Human Trafficking Advisory Board is exploring:

• Development of a public awareness campaign focusing on the hidden issue of human trafficking;

• Identification of victims of trafficking;

• Provision of comprehensive and culturally competent services to victims of human trafficking;

• Appropriately addressing the needs of domestic victims of human trafficking;

• Securing adequate resources and support needed to develop a task force to effectively investigate cases of human trafficking;

• Development of a statewide structure for collaborative efforts across disciplines and jurisdictions to ensure prosecution of human traffickers.”