Ohio Attorney General Yost Announces Human Trafficking Hotline

August 10 – Staff Report

COLUMBUS — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced the creation of the first-ever statewide human trafficking hotline during his opening remarks at the office’s fifth annual Human Trafficking Summit in downtown Columbus.

“It’s simple: The more we know, the more we can do to help,” Yost said. “We need to keep moving these efforts forward so that every day, those who buy sex or force someone to work know that we are here for them.”

The hotline number, 844-END-OHHT (844-363-6448), will forward incoming tips about suspected sex and labor trafficking directly to law enforcement. It will be made available to the public later in 2024.

The attorney general provided the phone number to the more than 700 people attending Wednesday’s summit — the same people who will play a critical role in its success.

“You give me hope,” Yost told the group gathered at the Hyatt Regency Columbus. “There is strength in numbers and you are not alone. And that means our survivors and our future survivors are not alone either.”

The summit brings together survivors, social workers, healthcare professionals, law enforcement officers, advocates, prosecutors, judges and other community stakeholders who are committed to ending sex and labor trafficking in Ohio.

As reflected in the range of professions represented, the summit focused on the vital role that a continuum of care – an integrated system of services and resources – plays in helping survivors achieve long-term healing on what AG Yost often calls the highway of hope.

Since taking office in 2019, Yost has made combating human trafficking a top priority of his administration.

In May, the office launched a “Human Trafficking 101” guide, intended to serve as a practical guide for local communities to combat human trafficking.

Also in May, Yost and members of his advisory council to the bureau’s Anti-Human Trafficking Commission testified in support of legislation that would allow trafficking victims to have certain offenses expunged from their records in order to help people in recovery gain better access to jobs, housing and other vital resources. The bill was signed into law in July.

This year’s keynote speaker at the summit, Marti MacGibbon, is a survivor of human trafficking, in her case international sex trafficking. She spoke Wednesday about post-traumatic growth and trauma recovery.

“Courage combined with love is unwavering,” MacGibbon said. “When we have the courage to confront evil and walk alongside those who have suffered it, the power of this work is profound and limitless.”

Hosted by the Attorney General’s Initiative Against Human Trafficking, the 2024 summit featured 26 unique workshops with 55 presenters.