South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson opened the first Human Trafficking in the Carolinas Conference in Columbia, marking World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. The event, held July 30-31, is organized by the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force in partnership with the North Carolina Human Trafficking Commission. More than 300 professionals, survivor leaders, and advocates from across the region are attending.
“This conference represents a bold step forward in our fight to end human trafficking,” said Attorney General Wilson, who chairs the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force. “Human trafficking is a crime that demands coordination, and this event gives us the opportunity to build a more unified response to protect victims and hold traffickers accountable.”
Participants include stakeholders from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and other states. The conference aims to address emerging trends and encourage collaboration among law enforcement officers, prosecutors, healthcare workers, service organizations, and community advocates. The two-day program features sessions led by international and national speakers as well as survivor-led discussions.
Among those speaking at the conference are Dr. Robert Macy of the International Trauma Center; State Representative Brandon Guffey of District 48; and Megan Lundstrom, CEO of Polaris/National Human Trafficking Hotline. Additional presentations come from experts representing organizations such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, A21, and the Human Trafficking Institute.
“We are honored to welcome so many dedicated professionals, leaders, and survivors to this conference,” said Monique Garvin, Acting Director of the SC Human Trafficking Task Force. “This convening not only signals our commitment to addressing human trafficking on a deeper level, but it also creates a space for enhanced collaboration in our region and beyond that promotes awareness and action. Together, we are building a network equipped to prevent exploitation, support survivors, and combat this crime.”
The timing of the conference aligns with World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30—a day recognized globally for raising awareness about human trafficking issues.
More information about ongoing efforts can be found at www.scag.gov/human-trafficking.
