The Mayor of Oakland, Sheng Thao, initiated the Human Trafficking Advisory Council yesterday, to tackle the human trafficking problem. The council includes city police departments, survivor advocacy groups, and community organizations according to the City of Oakland.
Focusing on disrupting the human trafficking trade in Oakland, the council is drawing on the unique expertise of various agencies, ranging from prevention to enforcement and healing. S.H.A.D.E., an organization within the council, offers support to survivors of sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and domestic violence.
There are the tangible results of the collaboration between the organizations and the Oakland Police Department (OPD). The OPD VICE/Child Exploitation Unit has completed 26 investigations and rescued several minors as a result.
In conjunction with Mayor Thao's community safety strategy, the Oakland Human Trafficking Advisory Council brings together multiple organizations and agencies in the fight against human trafficking. This union focuses on using its combined skills and expertise to respond comprehensively to the human trafficking crisis.
Elected officials, law enforcement agencies, and community-based organizations are part of the advisory council, collaborating to address societal vulnerabilities. The Oakland Unified School District, recognizing the vulnerabilities of school-age minors, also participates in the collective effort to curb human trafficking.
