Shared Hope International, a Vancouver, Washington-based organization dedicated to preventing human trafficking, today recognized Texas as a top state in the fight against this brutal crime. Texas has long been a leader in such efforts and this year was one of only six states to receive the grade of “A” for 2015. The grades are based on state laws put into place to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute offenders.

“Human trafficking is a horrific crime that targets vulnerable men, women, and children in our communities, and I’m proud Texas is a national leader in prosecuting offenders and assisting victims,” said Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. “The prevention task force led by my office has sent a clear message that human trafficking will not be tolerated in Texas, and I commend our legislature for passing laws to aggressively fight this inexcusable offense. I also commend the dedicated efforts of law enforcement in our office and across the state to help stop human trafficking.”

Much of that legislation has come from recommendations from the Texas Human Trafficking Prevention Task Force in collaboration with legislative partners. The Texas Attorney General’s Office has been at the forefront of this fight and has tirelessly worked with legislators, law enforcement authorities, and non-profit organizations to combat human trafficking in Texas.

Human trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transporting, or procurement of a person for labor or services for the purpose of involuntary servitude, slavery, or forced commercial sex acts. The U.S. Department of State estimates that more than 20 million adults and children are currently victims of forced labor and prostitution worldwide, including in the United States.

For more information about the Office of the Attorney General’s battle against human trafficking visit the agency’s website at https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/cj/human-trafficking.

To view the report card from Shared Hope, please visit: http://sharedhope.org/PICframe5/reportcards/PIC_RC_2015_TX.pdf