United Abolitionists is honored to announce its involvement in Florida’s first-ever comprehensive annual human trafficking report, titled “The TIPSTR Statewide Repository for Human Trafficking Data: 2024 Annual Report.”

Our Founder and President, Tomas J. Lares, was selected to serve on the Statewide Advisory Council for the project and contributed a written article to the final publication. This groundbreaking statewide report was produced by the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Risk to Resilience Research Lab at the University of South Florida, in accordance with state statute s. 1004.343(5), F.S.

What the Report Reveals

This data-driven report presents a sobering picture of the trafficking crisis across Florida and includes detailed insights into risk, response, and recommendations.

Key takeaways include:

• An estimated 200,000 Floridians were victims of sex trafficking in 2024, with half exploited as minors.

• Over 500,000 Floridians were affected by labor trafficking, many in underserved and rural areas.

• More than 300,000 commercial sex ads were posted in Florida within 90 days.

• Over 1,200 illicit massage businesses were identified operating in the state.

Statewide Report Focus: The 5 Ps

The report evaluates Florida’s response through five strategic focus areas:

• Prevention: Calls for screening tools for adults and dedicated human trafficking education in schools

• Protection: Encourages regional partnerships to close service gaps in housing, crisis care, and mental health

• Prosecution: Commends Florida’s shift toward a victim-centered legal approach

• Policy: Highlights Florida as a national leader in survivor-informed legislation

• Partnership: Recognizes the strength of efforts like BRIGHT Project, a statewide network connecting survivors to vetted services

UA’s Role in a Statewide Strategy

As an Advisory Council member, Tomas Lares contributed his decades of experience in survivor support, coalition building, and anti-trafficking advocacy to help shape the report’s recommendations. His article, included in the report, reinforces the critical importance of data, collaboration, and compassionate care in responding to modern-day slavery.

United Abolitionists’ frontline work continues to reflect these priorities, bridging gaps between law enforcement, survivor services, policy makers, and communities.

Read the Full Report