A seminar on human trafficking is scheduled for Wednesday at the First Community Bank Community Room on Main Street in Batesville.
Family Violence Prevention and Batesville Crisis Center are presenting the seminar, which will feature Beth Kratochvil, the director of Into the Light, an anti-sex trafficking organization that helps survivors and victims with crisis intervention and relationship-direct advocacy.
The seminar is scheduled for 10 a.m. until 12 p.m.
Kratochvil has over 25 years of experience as an educator and began her journey as a volunteer.
“I’ve seen the faces of victims and heard their stories,” Krotochvil said. “They are not just statistics; they are hurting people — people like you and me that need someone to hear them, believe them, and walk beside them. Together, we can end the blight of sex trafficking.”
Laurie Cartwright, the sexual assault awareness coordinator at the Batesville Crisis Center, and the center’s anti-human trafficking director, Marilee House, have worked hard to educate and present information to Independence County and surrounding areas.
“Our goal is to make sure people understand and know that human trafficking is real,” House said. “We are here to help and educate as much as we can.”
Since Cartwright has taken over as sexual assault coordinator, presentations and education have been a large part of her goal in bringing awareness to the area.
“I feel that bringing speakers into this area will help spread awareness,” Cartwright said. “The more we can make people aware of this threat, the more we can help alleviate these issues.”
Kratochvil’s mission is to provide refuge and restoration for minor survivors of sexual exploitation while bringing awareness and education to the issue of human sex trafficking.
“Awareness is the key to curbing the rise of trafficking in our area,” Kratochvil said. “Trafficking is happening around our state, including the 16th Judicial District. We are instrumental in crisis response. We also help medical professionals and educators understand and identify child sex trafficking.”
Kratochvil is passionate about human trafficking and hopes to spread awareness and let everyone know that human trafficking may be different in every area, but its effect is still real.
“Human trafficking in rural areas does look different than in large cities,” House said. “We hope to help educate and spread awareness about what trafficking looks like in rural and in higher trafficked areas.”
For more information on the seminar, contact Family Violence Prevention at (870) 569-4467 or Batesville Crisis Center at (870) 698-0006.
For more information on volunteering, shelter, or support groups, visit the Batesville Crisis Center’s Facebook page here or the Family Violence Prevention Facebook page here.
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