MEDIA RELEASE: Secretary Pate encourages other states to adopt human trafficking awareness initiative

BOULDER, CO – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate urged states around the country to adopt a program similar to his Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking (IBAT) initiative. He made the remarks during one of the keynote addresses at the National Association of Confidential Address Programs (NACAP) conference in Boulder, Colorado on Wednesday.

Secretary Pate launched IBAT in January 2022. Since then, nearly 600 Iowa businesses and organizations have joined the cause to fight against the growing problem of human trafficking in the state. Members commit to ‘learn something’ and ‘do something’.

IBAT is an extension of Iowa’s Safe at Home address confidentiality program, which was approved unanimously by the Iowa Legislature in 2015. Safe at Home helps survivors of trafficking, domestic violence, sexual abuse, assault, and stalking shield their addresses from public records.

“We’re building an army to combat human trafficking in Iowa, and I want to extend that outreach across the country,” Secretary Pate said. “Iowa businesses and organizations are raising awareness and making a difference. Other states can replicate the successes we’ve having and help put an end to this form of modern-day slavery.”

Secretary Pate is a founding member of NACAP. The organization was established in 2016 and includes membership from more than 30 states.

For more information about the Iowa Businesses Against Trafficking initiative, visit IBAT.Iowa.gov.

A soundbite from Secretary Pate is available for your use at this link.

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