TOPEKA -- On Monday, the second-annual national Human Trafficking Awareness Day, Attorney General Steve Six formed the Kansas Human Trafficking Advisory Board to explore the issues of human trafficking in the state of Kansas.

Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery and is the second-greatest criminal enterprise in the world, second only to the illegal sale of drugs. Human trafficking exists in every country in the world, even in the United States.

Men, women and children are forced to work for long hours under deplorable conditions for little or no pay without the freedom to leave. Trafficking victims work in agriculture, domestic service, food production, food service, construction and the sex industry.

This new team of advisors will be composed of law enforcement personnel, prosecutors, court personnel, advocates, victims of human trafficking and other pertinent parties who have expertise in this field. The advisory board will be chaired by Assistant Attorney General Christine Ladner. She has years of experience prosecuting child abuse cases, including human trafficking cases.

By utilizing a four-pronged approach of prevention, protection, prosecution and partnership, the Kansas Human Trafficking Advisory Board will explore:

* Development of a public awareness campaign focusing on the hidden issue of human trafficking.

* Identification of victims of trafficking.

* Provision of comprehensive and culturally competent services to victims of human trafficking.

* Appropriately addressing the needs of domestic victims of human trafficking.

* Securing adequate resources and support needed to develop a task force to effectively investigate cases of human trafficking.

* Development of a statewide structure for collaborative efforts across disciplines and jurisdictions to ensure prosecution of human traffickers.

"We must increase institutional awareness and assist victims of human trafficking through careful coordination of law enforcement and victim service agencies," Six said. "This timely coordination is crucial for successful prosecution of human traffickers, as well as for providing care and rehabilitation of human trafficking victims."