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In present-day America, much of the general public doesn't think or talk about human trafficking. However, the lack of necessary public attention doesn't make trafficking cease to exist or go away.

Instead, the failure to publicly address and systemically take on human trafficking only emboldens perpetrators, while leaving victims feeling helpless and stuck.

The past several years have seen an uptick in overall attention directed toward this issue; however, there is still much room for improvement.

Thankfully in Texas, state officials are hard at work to combat human trafficking.

A closer look at Texas' anti-human trafficking efforts

The Lone Star State has launched a vital Stop Human Trafficking campaign.

People who are interested in learning more and getting involved in the anti-human trafficking movement can donate to this campaign to help survivors. They can also just learn more information from the state's Human Trafficking Resource Center website.

As part of the Stop Human Trafficking campaign, the Texas Health and Human Services, along with Gov. Greg Abbott, recently came out with a specialty license plate reading "Stop Human Trafficking."

Abbott shared some deeply critical remarks about why this license plate matters. According to the governor, the license plate is designed to raise awareness about human trafficking in general.

Texans who choose to purchase this license plate will have their funds go towards support and services for young survivors of trafficking. Monday, February 20 is when the "Stop Human Trafficking" license plate will be available for purchase from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.

In further remarks, the Texas governor stressed the importance of all Lone Star State residents taking a stand in the fight against trafficking. Abbott then reiterated that Texas will continue its work of doing the following:

• Shining a light on human trafficking and its horrors
• Providing support to those who have survived human trafficking
• Providing educational tools and information to the general public about human trafficking

A call to action

Despite the uncomfortable, dark nature of human trafficking, no one benefits from sweeping this issue under the rug or ignoring it.

Data consistently documents that as time passes, human trafficking is getting more, not less, frequent. To make matters worse, many traffickers are turning to the internet to recruit new targets.

Some common strategies traffickers use to lure people in include the following:

• Posting fake job ads
• Pretending to be romantically interested in the target
• Filling a need or void in the target's life with hidden strings attached
• Framing the act of trafficking as the victim doing a "favor" for the perpetrator

The United States prides itself on being the land of the free. Yet, far too many people in the United States remain enslaved at this very moment.

Anyone who wishes to report what they believe to be human trafficking can contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline via phone at 1 (888) 373-7888 or by text at 233733.