Sex Trafficking Penalties

FILE - In this Sept. 24, 2014, file photo, a city employee sets up a display board in preparation for a news conference to announce the results of a task force's eight-month effort to target sex traffickers in the Long Beach, Calif. Officials in Los Angeles County, the nation's most populous, are adopting a get-tough tactic to deter men from soliciting sex from girls who are forced into prostitution - charging them with crimes that could mean prison time and registration as a sex offender. In California soliciting an underage sex worker carries a penalty two days to one year in jail and a $10,000 fine. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

 Jae C. Hong

CHICAGO (WAND) – The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association (IHLA) is recognizing Human Trafficking Prevention Month throughout January.

Human trafficking is a multi-billion-dollar industry that affects an estimated 27.6 million men, women, and children globally. It is also a serious public health issue that impacts communities throughout Illinois, according to the IHLA.

Governor JB Pritzker recently issued a proclamation designating January 11 as Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Illinois.

This initiative is part of ongoing efforts by state leaders to raise awareness, enhance education on prevention methods, and ensure that resources are accessible to individuals and communities affected by human trafficking.

Led by the IHLA, the hospitality industry has long prioritized working with local, state and national officials to combat human trafficking.

This effort includes advocating for and enacting legislation that mandates hotel employees receive training every two years on how to recognize the warning signs of human trafficking and best practices for reporting suspected criminal activity to law enforcement.

Key components of this initiative include establishing policies and procedures for identifying and reporting unusual behavior or booking patterns to the appropriate authorities, ensuring hotel staff are familiar with federal and state laws related to human trafficking in the hospitality sector, and displaying back-of-house signage to reinforce training programs.

The IHLA says the identification and protection of victims is still challenging due to under-reporting, lack of awareness, and inadequate resources for victim support services.

“We applaud Governor Pritzker for calling to attention to the issue of human trafficking and the role everyone can play to help raise awareness, prevent crime, and support survivors,” said Keenan Irish, Vice President of Government Relations & Member Engagement, Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association. “Hotel operators throughout Illinois are proud to lead the effort to combat this crime, and remain committed to working together with policy makers, law enforcement officials and other stakeholders to put an end to this heinous crime.”

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