NC chief justice turns focus on human trafficking

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North Carolina’s senior jurist is helping lead efforts to target human trafficking this month.

Thursday will be observed as Human Trafficking Awareness Day by the North Carolina Judicial Branch under a proclamation issued by Chief Justice Paul Newby, a news release says.

The event is part of the overall Human Trafficking Awareness Month, which will be observed through Jan. 31.

“We set aside this month to help North Carolinians recognize and prevent the cruel crimes involved in human trafficking in our state,” Newby said in the release. “Collaboration across state and local government and public awareness can help put an end to human trafficking in North Carolina.”

North Carolina has made significant progress over the last decade in reducing human trafficking, thanks largely to the efforts of the North Carolina Human Trafficking Commission, the release says.

In June 2023, a new law was enacted that gives human trafficking victims a statutory right to seek permanent no-contact orders against their trafficker. It also keeps victims from being denied money from the Crime Victims Compensation Fund based solely on their conduct while they were being trafficked and expands the definition of what is considered human trafficking and sexual servitude.

January has been recognized as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month by a presidential proclamation since 2010, the release says.