Awareness key in fight against human trafficking

“Be aware. Look around. Listen,” said Fiedler, who now serves as the coordinator for the Iowa Office to Combat Human Trafficking. He was the featured speaker at an event sponsored by the Baldwin and Maquoketa Woman’s Clubs to raise awareness of human trafficking.

While people often think it’s the kind of thing that doesn’t happen in a small town, Fiedler dispelled that myth, sharing stories of cases he’s investigated.

After Fiedler’s presentation, he took some questions, as did Jackson County Sheriff Brent Kilburg.

One of the major messages was for parents to be aware of their childrens’ online activities. Parents should check phones, know their kids passwords, teach them never to disclose personal information, don’t let them have their phones late at night in their bedrooms – if they use it as an alarm, buy them a separate alarm.

“This can start innocently,” Fiedler said, noting that the pandemic created an even more ripe climate for human traffickers as people turned to online communication.

Often, predators pose as younger people and befriend potential victims online, forming a relationship that can turn dangerous. He shared several stories of young teens connecting with people who lure them into a meeting and then force them to become sex workers.

“These people know how to build trust, build relationships,” he said.

Some of the signs that might mean someone is being trafficked include:

• Someone not free to leave, come or go

• Does not speak for herself or himself

• Has bruised or untreated medical conditions

• Has long or unusual working hours

• No control over own identity documents

• Owes a large debt, unable to pay

• Much older boyfriend or girlfriend

• Unpaid or paid very little

• Underage

• Lack of clothing or sexualized clothing

• Seems intimidated or threatened

It is always better to err on the side of caution and report things that don’t seem right to law enforcement, Kilburg said.

“We would rather have you call,” he said.

After the presentation, the audience watched documentary film “I am Jane Doe,” narrated by actress Jessica Chastain.

The film, which is rated PG-13, chronicles the battle that several mothers across the country are waging on behalf of their middle school daughters who were trafficked for commercial sex on Backpage.com, which was closed by the United States Department of Justice in April 2018.

The two local women’s clubs that sponsored the event are under the umbrella of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC). Over the next two years, the theme of GFWC/IOWA is to raise awareness of human trafficking and mental health. Former local resident and retired judge Nancy Tabor is the Iowa GFWC president, and she is a strong proponent for educating communities about these issues.  

More information

For more information on human trafficking, visit:

• stophtiowa.org

• uscis.gov/humanitarian/victims-of-human-trafficking-and-other-crimes

• iamjanedoefilm.com