On Tuesday, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved an innovative policy aimed at combating human trafficking. Proposed by Supervisors Jim Desmond and Nora Vargas, along with District Attorney Summer Stephan, this landmark legislation seeks to expand awareness education in schools, equipping future generations with the knowledge to recognize and prevent trafficking, thereby endeavoring to make San Diego a safer place for all.
However, this significant undertaking is far from a localized issue; San Diego has gained notoriety as one of the nation's 13 hotspots for human trafficking. An article on KPBS reported that the underground economy fueled by sex trafficking in the region brings in over $800 million a year, affecting around 8,000 victims annually, with an average age of 16.
According to the approved policy, the curriculum will cover kindergarten through 12th grade, seeking to greatly and urgently expand the scope of current education, which is only offered to 7th and 8th-grade students. With this far-reaching legislation, San Diego County aims to provide students, parents, teachers, and school staff with increased access to educational materials. The policy also supports collaboration with educational institutions, officials, and the state Legislature to mandate enhanced human trafficking awareness education.
The alarming reality revealed by a recent study stating that 90% of San Diego high schools have documented cases of human trafficking calls for immediate attention to this urgent issue. District Attorney Summer Stephan shared worrying statistics with the board, highlighting a disturbing trend of increasing numbers of young people being entrapped by trafficking.
