Stava-Murray Appointed to Human Trafficking Task Force

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. – State Rep. Anne Stava-Murray, D-Naperville, was recently appointed by Speaker of the House Emanuel “Chris” Welch to a Human Trafficking Task Force to address the growing problem of human trafficking across Illinois.

“With Illinois being a major interstate and international travel hub, thousands of victims of human trafficking could be present in the state on a given day, with Black women falling victim to this heinous crime at alarmingly higher rates than any other demographic,” said Stava-Murray. “The Human Trafficking Task Force will work to better understand current trends of trafficking cases in Illinois to ultimately strengthen the state’s anti-trafficking protections.”

The Human Trafficking Task Force will consist of 18 members, including representatives of the Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force, the Central Illinois Human Trafficking Task Force, the director of the Illinois State Police, the secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services and the director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. The Task Force to will conduct a study on the human trafficking problem in Illinois and will report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly and the governor.

During this past session, Stava-Murray supported a number of bipartisan bills that work to prevent human trafficking, including supporting a measure to extend confidentiality protections to survivors of human trafficking to protect their privacy and safety. She also helped pass legislation requiring various businesses that are common venues for human trafficking, such as airports, bus stations, and truck stops, to post notices with information regarding this crime, including the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline number.

“It is our responsibility on the task force to ensure that we as a state are doing everything we can to reduce human trafficking cases, find and protect missing individuals and ensure victims have support systems in place,”  said Stava-Murray. “I look forward to beginning this important work on the task force to make Illinois a safer place.”