As part of January being National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the Central Iowa Service Network Against Human Trafficking is hosting events regarding the issue on campus next week.

Luis CdeBaca, an ISU grad who now leads the Department of Justice Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking, will speak at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union with the lecture titled “On the Front Lines of of the U.S. Fight Against Child Abuse, Human Trafficking and Sexual Assault.”

CdeBaca has been the Ambassador to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons in the State Department for five years and has served under three presidential administrations to help combat human trafficking.

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad called on the legislature during his Condition of the State to pass legislation protecting children and family members from human trafficking.

Chief Justice Cady told the legislature on Wednesday, “We can no longer view human trafficking as a problem for major cities in America. It exists as a dark underworld in many communities across Iowa and is associated with some of Iowa’s most iconic places and events. There is no justice when children are abused and exploited. A prompt, comprehensive and coordinated effort is needed to identify victims of human trafficking and provide the services and protection they need,” according to an email from George Belitsos, co-chairman of the Central Iowa Service Network and former director of the Youth and Shelter Services of Ames.