For Azra Grudic fighting human trafficking is a full-time job. Azra says the hardest part of her job may be convincing people that human trafficking is going on right in front their eyes” The biggest misconception is that it happens at some other location and other countries not here in Spokane, when I first started working and doing my job I would have to explain what human trafficking is and then they’d recognize that they have clients that are victims,” said Grudic, an Anti Trafficking Specialist for Lutheran Community Services.

Human trafficking is considered any force, fraud or abuse used to control people, usually with a financial benefit for the one using that force. The coercion can come about through physical or psychological intimidation.

“Any type of commercialized sex with a person under the age of 18 is trafficking,” Grudic says. “If you have a 17-year-old girl on the street doing prostitution, she is a victim of trafficking. “That’s why it’s so it’s important for the community to recognize it’s happening here,” added Grudic.

Monday night, Grudic led vigil for victims of human trafficking that started out at city hall. The council read a proclamation decrying human trafficking. About 30 people then carried candles from city hall to the Women’s Hearth Center. About 100 people packed  the Hearth to remember, pray and honor victims of human trafficking.

“An event like tonight we want to pay respect to the victims, we want them to know that we care and that programs like ours can help them. And to let them know there are resources for them but also to have the community to come together to raise awareness about the issue,” says Grudic.

Grudic says most of the time victims of human trafficking are found by members of the community. “Because the chances are it’s a person from the community that will see something strange and recognize a victim of human trafficking and will contact us because can’t be all over the place,” said Grudic.

If you think you may be a victim of human trafficking contact Lutheran Community Services 24 hour hot line 24 Hour Sexual Assault Crisis Line: (509) 624-7273
24 Hour Crime Victim Crisis Line: (866) 751-7119