South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson opened the first Human Trafficking in the Carolinas Conference in Columbia, marking World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. The event is organized by the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force and the North Carolina Human Trafficking Commission and runs for two days, July 30 and 31.
The conference gathers more than 300 professionals, survivor leaders, and advocates from across the region to focus on ending human trafficking. Attendees include stakeholders from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and other areas who are meeting to discuss new trends and share strategies to fight trafficking and support survivors. The agenda features sessions for law enforcement, prosecutors, healthcare providers, service organizations, and community advocates. There are also presentations from international, national, and local speakers as well as survivor-led sessions.
“This conference represents a bold step forward in our fight to end human trafficking,” said Attorney General Wilson, Chair of the SC Human Trafficking Task Force. “Human trafficking is a crime that demands coordination, and this event gives us the opportunity to build a more unified response to protect victims and hold traffickers accountable.”
Featured speakers at the event include Dr. Robert Macy of the International Trauma Center; State Representative Brandon Guffey from District 48; and Megan Lundstrom of Polaris/National Human Trafficking Hotline. Other experts present come from organizations such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, A21, and the Human Trafficking Institute.
“We are honored to welcome so many dedicated professionals, leaders, and survivors to this conference,” said Monique Garvin, Acting Director of the SC Human Trafficking Task Force. “This convening not only signals our commitment to addressing human trafficking on a deeper level, but it also creates a space for enhanced collaboration in our region and beyond that promotes awareness and action. Together, we are building a network equipped to prevent exploitation, support survivors, and combat this crime.”
The conference aligns with World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30—a day recognized globally for raising awareness about human trafficking.
More information can be found at the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force website: www.scag.gov/human-trafficking.
