VIDEO: Attorney General Moody Announces New Efforts to Help Survivors of Human Trafficking

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody today announced two new efforts to help survivors of human trafficking in Miami-Dade County. Standing with Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court and Comptroller Juan Fernandez-Barquin and local support organizations, Attorney General Moody announced that Project Protect is expanding into Miami-Dade County. This program provides free-of-charge doorbell surveillance cameras to survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence and sexual violence. According to the Safe House Project, 80% of trafficking victims are revictimized after finding freedom. Project Protect aims to help survivors feel safer at home.

January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and Attorney General Moody is also recognizing Airbnb for providing a $100,000 contribution to the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking.  

Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “Florida is leading the nation in efforts to end human trafficking, and with today’s announcements there are now more resources available to protect trafficking victims and train more Floridians to help spot and report suspicious activity.”   

Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court and Comptroller Juan Fernandez-Barquin said, “Project Protect will give our Domestic Violence team members and local partners another tool to help victims feel more secure at home. In 2023 my office processed 8,313 injunction petitions and Project Protect will help stop the cycle of violence in our community.”

Airbnb U.S. Southeast Head of Policy Viviana Jordan said, “Airbnb is proud to contribute to helping to fund the vital work the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking is doing to combat trafficking in communities across our state, and help empower those on the front lines. We look forward to seeing this grant support the Alliance’s vital mission to educate and train as many businesses and individuals across Florida to spot the signs of human trafficking and prevent future exploitation.”

According to the U.S. Department of State, there are an estimated 27.6 million victims of human trafficking worldwide at any given time.

According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, an average of 24 people per minute become victims of physical violence, sexual assault or stalking by an intimate partner in the United States. Countless cases go unreported, and in 2023, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement logged 3,389 arrests for violation of a domestic violence injunction.

Attorney General Moody’s Project Protect program provides doorbell cameras to survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence, stalking and sexual violence free of charge in five Florida counties. The video cameras provide 24-hour audio and visual surveillance for a residence. Informational materials about Project Protect are placed in Clerk of Courts offices in participating counties. Clerk of Courts staff can connect survivors with local victim advocates who assist each survivor through the process of receiving a free doorbell camera. For more information on Project Protect, click here.

Attorney General Moody is also thanking Airbnb for the organization’s commitment to combating human trafficking. Airbnb is giving $100,000 to the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking, the direct support organization for the Statewide Council on Human Trafficking. The $100,000 contribution from Airbnb will go toward ensuring that anti-human trafficking training modules remain free of charge for those interested in joining the fight to stop trafficking. 

Ending human trafficking is one of Attorney General Moody’s main missions. Attorney General Moody serves as Chair on Florida's Statewide Council on Human Trafficking. To learn more, click here.

The Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking is a nonprofit organization created by the Florida Legislature to provide funding, support and assistance to the statewide effort to end human trafficking. To learn more, click here.

By knowing the signs of trafficking, Floridians can help save lives. To learn how to spot and report suspicious activity, visit YouCanStopHT.com.

Report human trafficking to authorities by dialing 1(855) FLA-SAFE.

Floridians suffering in a domestic violence situation should call law enforcement or the domestic violence hotline at 1(800) 500-1119. 

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