SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Community leaders and advocates gathered at Union Baptist Missionary Church for a forum aimed at raising awareness about human trafficking, a crime experts say is far more common in Hampton Roads than many realize.

The event was hosted by the Suffolk Sheriff’s Office and featured presentations from FreeKind and The Safe House Project. Speakers stressed that trafficking often preys on vulnerabilities such as poverty, food insecurity and a desire to belong.

“Sex trafficking is really a crime of accessibility and suggestibility,” said Brittany Dunn of The Safe House Project.

According to organizers, Hampton Roads ranks among the top 20 regions in the country for human sex trafficking cases. Roughly 34% of identified victims in the area are minors, and nearly 40% of ch

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