Victims’ rights advocacy group, Marsy’s Law for Georgia, awarded Deborah Tuff and the Gwinnett County communications team with Champion Awards today for their role in producing the anti-human trafficking series, “Upfront Gwinnet: Trapped and Trafficked.”
The award-winning, four-part series details the underworld of human-trafficking in Gwinnett County. Tuff, who is the Gwinnett County Chief External and Government Affairs Officer, interviews survivors and law enforcement officers to expose the hidden truths of how vulnerable targets become victims and those who help them recover once liberated.
The Upfront Gwinnett docu-series has won two Emmys for its series “Fighting Fentanyl” and “The Hidden Homeless.” “Trapped and Trafficked” will be Emmy-eligible in 2027, but has already won two Gold Awards of Excellence and a Silver Telly Award.
“I don’t do this for the accolades,” said Tuff. “I just wanted to expose the truth about human-trafficking that often happens right before our eyes and help the survivors find peace once they have escaped their abusers.”
While Atlanta celebrates the World Cup with residents, visitors and fans from around the world during the month of June and July, law enforcement and frontline workers have increased their education efforts to heighten awareness and find signs of human trafficking. Because Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is the most traveled airport in the United States, Atlanta is a potential hub for human trafficking during any major tourist event.
“With the World Cup coming to Atlanta, we felt this was the perfect time to highlight what Deborah Tuff and the Gwinnett County Communications Department has accomplished with their video series,” said Marsy’s Law representative Brad Alexander. “The public can never be too informed about the dangers of human trafficking. Now is definitely the time to say something if you see something.”
The FBI designated Atlanta as a major hub for child sex trafficking in 2024, with the average age of victims being 14 and 15 years old. The most vulnerable populations for human trafficking are runaway and homeless youth. Tips for suspected human trafficking can be submitted on the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) website, by calling 888-373-7888 or texting 233733.
World Day Against Trafficking in Person is observed on July 30, but the fight to save victims and prevent trafficking is every day.
In April for National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, Marsy’s Law for Georgia recognized the Georgia Office of Victim Services Director Keir Chapple and Henry County Sheriff Reginald Scandrett. Past recipients of the Marsy’s Law Champion Award include U.S. Sen. John Lewis, U.S. Sen. Reverend Raphael Warnock, Rep. Lucy McBath, Cobb County District Attorney Flynn Broady, former Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan and Georgia’s First Lady Marty Kemp. Additional recipients will be announced throughout the year. To nominate a crime victims’ advocate for consideration, please contact Frances Chang at fchang@c21pr.com.
