Fight Against Atlanta's Human Trafficking Gains Support

Porter Novelli (PN), a public relations founded on “doing well by doing good,” announced its Atlanta office is partnering with Georgia Women for a Change (GWC) and Not For Sale Georgia to help in the fight against human trafficking.

Stephanie Davis of the Midtown-based Stephanie Davis & Associates, is the executive director of Georgia Women for a Change, a non-profit public policy institute with a gender lens, that represents Georgia activists on issues across a spectrum of issues including health care, economic justice and challenging violence against women and girls.

Not For Sale Georgia is an organization that brings public, private and not-for-profit organizations together to empower communities around the world to prevent human trafficking.

It is estimated there are more than 27 million people who are modern day slaves, and all of the assets that attract businesses to Atlanta – transportation hub, international destination – make the city attractive to human traffickers.

A 2010 study from Atlanta-based The Schapiro Group was conducted to deliver research that provides policymakers, law enforcement and social service agencies with important insights for combating the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Some of findings according to the "Adolescent Girls in Georgia’s Sex Trade: Tracking Study Results" showed:

• Each month approximately 200 to 500 girls are commercially sexually exploited throughout Georgia.
• The FBI has named Atlanta one of 14 cities in the nation with the highest rates of child sex trafficking.
• 12,000 men in Georgia buy sex with young females every month.

GWC has recently achieved success in lobbying the Georgia Legislature to pass the human trafficking bill, HB 200. PN will provide GWC with strategic counsel on message development and social media strategies to enhance community outreach.

“People who are victims of human trafficking are held against their will or are coerced into thinking that if they try to flee or escape great harm will come to them or their family,” said Davis. “With Porter Novelli’s help and expertise we can begin to change the focus from criminalizing victims to the real criminals: the men who pay for sex. Together, we can make Georgia a leader in the fight against human trafficking.”

PN also is helping with media relations and community outreach with Not For Sale Georgia.

“Porter Novelli has a history of taking on societal challenges including anti-tobacco, HIV/AIDS, obesity and others to drive awareness and true behavior change,” Brad MacAfee, managing director of the Porter Novelli Atlanta office, said in a news release. “We believe the social injustice around human trafficking deserves our attention and support. We are pleased to work with Georgia Women for a Change and Not for Sale Georgia in this effort.”

Porter Novelli is known for its pro bono work to those organizations that might not have the means themselves. PN Atlanta’s other pro bono clients are Jack and Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation and Junior Achievement of Georgia.