In 2025, one North Carolina nonprofit received 565 calls related to human trafficking, the most it has ever seen. Wilmington alone recorded 126 calls, a troubling milestone in a region that is increasingly targeted due to its location near major highways and ports.

North Carolina now consistently ranks among the top 10 states for reported human trafficking cases. But awareness and education still lag behind the crisis.

Experts say most people misunderstand how trafficking happens. It is not always dramatic or violent. Victims are often groomed through relationships, housing insecurity, or work-related promises. Youth are especially vulnerable, and without prevention education, they may not even realize what is happening until it is too late.

We are calling on the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Governor Josh Stein, and the General Assembly to:

• Implement mandatory human trafficking prevention education in all K-12 public schools, starting by middle school
• Fund community-based awareness programs for after-school groups, teen shelters, and youth-serving nonprofits
• Partner with survivors and anti-trafficking organizations to create culturally responsive and age-appropriate content
• Ensure school staff receive training to recognize red flags and respond appropriately when a student may be at risk

If we want to stop trafficking, we have to start by helping young people understand what it looks like, where it happens, and how they can seek help without fear.

This is not about fear. It is about equipping students and families with life-saving knowledge.

Sign this petition to demand that North Carolina make trafficking prevention education a priority in schools and youth programs statewide.