Arm Yourself Against Human Trafficking At the Ocean County Library Manchester Branch

TOMS RIVER – January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Anyone of any age, anywhere, can become a victim. Learn its effects during “Human Trafficking: The Basics,” 7 PM Monday, January 22, in the Ocean County Library Manchester Branch.

Members of the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking will describe how the criminal enterprises grew to global proportions, how to identify it, and how to raise awareness.

Data compiled by the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking indicates that it entraps an estimated 25 million people worldwide, that 75 percent of victims are women and children, and that it generates about $150 billion in illegal profits each year.

The National Human Trafficking Hotline has fielded 5,544 reports from New Jersey since 2007. Of the 567 reports received in 2021, 151 were verified and involved 466 victims.

Please register at https://bit.ly/OclManchesterTrafficking to attend this free program. It is strongly recommended that elementary- and junior high school-age students be accompanied by adults.

For more information, stop by the Ocean County Library Manchester Branch, 21 Colonial Drive, call (732) 657-7600, or visit www.theoceancountylibrary.org/events.

Keep up with Library programs and events at www.theoceancountylibrary.org, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Spotify, and Pinterest.