Tennessee State Department launches anti-trafficking initiative

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – The Tennessee State Department is launching a new program to combat human trafficking.

Tennessee Businesses Against Trafficking is an initiative that aims to teach businesses across the state to recognize when there is a potential case of human trafficking.

Created through legislation passed last year, the program will provide training to businesses in how to spot such cases.

Secretary of State Tre Hargett gave an example of what the program will be teaching. 

He said, “If you see somebody who has trouble making eye contact and just something doesn’t seem right, that might be a sign of it as well. If you’re in the hospitality industry and you see somebody who does not have any belongings or very few belongings when they come into a hotel, that can be a sign. But there are a lot of different things that people can look for, and we’re going to be training them effectively, but it’s also about knowing what to do when they see it.”

Interested businesses can sign up for the program on the Tennessee Secretary of State’s website.