By SDCN Staff
Oceanside, CA–The North County Transit– San Diego Railroad Board of Directors has adopted a proclamation recognizing January as Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month, underscoring its commitment to combating human trafficking throughout San Diego County.
Human trafficking—which includes both forced labor and sex trafficking—robs millions of their dignity, freedom, and safety. As of early 2025, an estimated 27.6 million adults and children worldwide were subjected to human trafficking at any given time, including within the United States. California remains a critical focus area, accounting for 14.4 percent of all reported cases nationally in 2024, the highest of any state.
“NCTD is committed to ensuring our services remain safe, vigilant, and supportive environments for everyone in the community,” said North County Transit Board Chair Priya Bhat-Patel. “By adopting this proclamation, we affirm our responsibility to support prevention efforts and partner with agencies working to protect victims and hold traffickers accountable.”
As a public transportation provider, the district plays a unique role in identifying and reporting potential trafficking activities and ensuring that vulnerable individuals can receive help. With millions of passenger boardings each year, transit systems provide critical visibility into communities and populations that may be at risk.
To strengthen these prevention and response efforts, North County Transit is spearheading the Southern California Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention (SC-HTAP) Coalition, a task force composed of local, state, and federal agencies – including the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, U.S. Department of Justice, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, and nonprofit service providers. This multi-agency effort will focus on training frontline transit employees, raising awareness, and encouraging coordinated reporting and response efforts.
Throughout January, NCTD and SC-HTAP will conduct training sessions, community presentations, and public outreach campaigns designed to educate the public about indicators of human trafficking, promote available victim support services, encourage reporting to law enforcement and national hotlines, and strengthen regional coordination to prevent and disrupt trafficking activities.
These efforts reinforce federal, state, and regional initiatives aimed at prevention, victim protection, and offender accountability. By adopting this proclamation, NCTD affirms its commitment to fostering a safe system for riders and employees, advancing prevention initiatives, and collaborating with partner agencies to protect communities across San Diego County.
