The Apathy Effect Exhibit was displayed in the Student Center Ballroom Tuesday Feb 12.
The exhibit was designed to show participants the stories of children who survived human trafficking and encourage empathy to stop child exploitation.
In addition to the exhibit, speakers including Eloy Eduardo Mongo Zarate, consul of legal protection at the Mexico Consulate in Salt Lake City; Allison M. Smith, Refugee & Immigrant Center-Asian Association of Utah and Russell Smith, director of SECURE strike force at the Utah Attorney General’s Office, spoke on the topic of human trafficking.
Although human trafficking often goes unreported, the US State Department estimates that between 600,000 and 800,000 people are trafficked internationally every year.
Mark Brende, the Coordinator of iEmpathize, who brought the exhibit to SUU, said that the an average citizen can help stop human trafficking by making sure every child has a “positive pull in their life,” someone they can look up to for guidance. He stressed that we have to teach children about human trafficking in order to stop it.
According to the Human Trafficking Hotline, signs of human trafficking include but are not limited to, “is not free to leave or come and go as he/she wishes,” “Is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid,” “Lacks medical care and/or is denied medical services by employer” or “Has few or no personal possessions.” For a complete list of red flags for human trafficking visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org.
Those wanting to learn more about Apathy Effect Exhibit and human trafficking can visit www.apathyeffect.com
If you suspect that you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking please contact the human trafficking hotline at 1 (888) 373-7888.
Story by Mitch Quartz
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Photo Credit Mitch Quartz
