Sadly, there are those in our society who seek to buy and sell children for sex. When they do, they destroy a child’s life, their youth and their innocence.

Human trafficking is considered the fastest-growing illegal industry in the world, and the average victim is a 6th to 8th grade girl. 

In Georgia, we have chosen to say no more – not on our watch.

Since taking office in November 2016, I have worked every single day to protect Georgia’s children by putting traffickers behind bars.

I’m grateful that in 2019, with the help of Governor Brian Kemp, Georgia First Lady Marty Kemp and leaders in the Georgia General Assembly, we took historic action to create the state’s first-ever Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.

With the addition of this Unit, we are working more closely, effectively, and aggressively with our chiefs of police, sheriffs, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, district attorneys, and U.S. Attorneys to build these cases and to ensure that justice is served.

Our work is moving the needle significantly. In 2021, we initiated 25 cases, arrested 9 individuals, investigated and prosecuted 51 defendants, and rescued and assisted 107 victims – that is 107 lives forever changed.

Those who are caught engaging in this heinous crime will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Last fall, we obtained 20 and 30-year prison sentences for two individuals convicted of trafficking a 16-year-old victim in Cobb County.

In January 2022 alone, we indicted nine men for soliciting sex from an underage female.

But our work does not end once a trafficker is put behind bars. As someone who has witnessed firsthand the physical, emotional and mental challenges victims face once rescued, I’m fighting every day to create a safe harbor for those who have been sexually exploited.

In partnership with First Lady Marty Kemp’s GRACE Commission, we are working to ensure victims have the resources they need to recover and rebuild their lives.

As the state’s chief legal officer, I’m also continuing to defend Georgia’s Safe Harbor Fund, which serves as a critical tool in helping our state to connect victims with safe housing and other important rehabilitation services.

Each of these outcomes is made possible by our strong partnerships on the local, state and federal levels. This is something we plan to carry over as we prepare to launch a first-of-its-kind Gang Prosecution Unit on July 1, 2022.

We know that 80 percent of human trafficking cases are gang-related, and having this new Unit will provide us with an additional resource that will ultimately lead to better outcomes and a safer Georgia.

By leveraging our unique assets, there are many ways we can collaborate to shine a light on human trafficking and fight back.

The more people we have working together, the more lives we can save.

I’m confident that our unified stance on this issue sends a strong signal to buyers and sellers that Georgia will not tolerate those who abuse and exploit Georgia’s children.

Every single Georgian deserves to feel safe, and we have a duty to protect the most vulnerable in our state.

We will leave no stone unturned, and we will not let the people of Georgia down.