(Phoenix, AZ) - Newly sworn-in Attorney General Mark Brnovich will make his first public comments on the fight against human trafficking in Arizona this week. Brnovich will join Cindy McCain Wednesday at an event to unveil an anti-human trafficking campaign sponsored by Clear Channel Outdoor.
The event will take place Wednesday, January 7th from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at 602 East Grant Street Phoenix, AZ 85004.
These efforts to raise awareness about human trafficking come just weeks before the Super Bowl comes to town. The influx of fans serves as an opportunity for traffickers, but also for law enforcement to seek the public’s help in combating this terrible crime.
The United States Department of Justice considers Phoenix one of the top human trafficking areas in the country. Most victims are forced into sex trafficking before they are 15 years old.
While the spotlight of the nation’s largest sporting event is on Arizona, Brnovich intends to make it clear that his office will be ramping up efforts to end this crime against humanity.
“Enslaving innocent children for sexual exploitation and profit is despicable,” said Brnovich. “This type of crime against some of our most vulnerable must never be tolerated.”
Attorney General Brnovich has hired Zora Manjencich to coordinate anti-human trafficking efforts for the Attorney General’s Office. Manjencich spent nine years at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office handling high-profile sex crimes in the East Valley. She tried and convicted a child predator who was featured on ‘America’s Most Wanted’ and earned the Crime Victims’ Rights Special Award.
Cindy McCain believes Brnovich’s presence at the event will highlight his commitment to thwarting human trafficking in Arizona, just three days into his term.
"Mark and I have discussed this issue in depth and I know he is committed to aggressively prosecuting those who dare to traffic our children for sex, “said McCain. “I am grateful for his commitment and look forward to working with him in the coming years to stop trafficking in our state.”