Photo courtesy of IMDB.com Ava Deluca-Verley in Ring of Silence (2019).

HANCOCK — Even in an area as isolated as the Upper Peninsula, human trafficking can be a problem.

People can see a dramatic depiction of a trafficking case and hear from experts about the situation locally at a free showing of “Ring of Silence” at Hancock Central High School Tuesday.

The Portage Health Foundation is hosting the film in conjunction with the Upper Peninsula Human Trafficking Task Force. The event is also sponsored by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Michigan and Dial Help.

“Like a lot of things, there’s a lot of aspects that people are not aware of, or don’t realize that’s happening here,” said PHF Executive Director Kevin Store. “This is another example we thought the community should be aware of, to have a conversation about how to better understand it, and what we can to prevent these things from happening.”

The event begins with a reception at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the high school auditorium, followed by the film at 6:15 p.m. The film, which takes elements from a number of real-life cases, follows a 17-year-girl who is approached by a 22-year-old man online. After winning her confidence, he gradually manipulates her into participating in his trafficking ring.

After the movie, a panel of experts will answer questions from 8 to 8:30 p.m.

Participating in the roundtable discussion will be Stephanie Graef, president of the task force.

Trafficking happens in all 15 counties of the U.P., though it largely goes unreported, Graef said.

Bringing the movie to the U.P. helps parents and youth understand what sex trafficking looks like, and how it’s happening to teens and young adults globally, Graef said.

“The internet age has changed everything,” she said. “The number one target of traffickers are our children … this movie rolls out on the big screen, play-by-play just how easily our youth are targeted, and sex trafficked.”

Some estimates put the percentage of trafficking in Michigan involving sexual exploitation at 90%, Graef said. That exploitation can come in many forms, Graef said, from forcing victims into prostitution to compelling victims to commit sex acts in exchange for basic survival necessities. Minors under the age of 18 engaging in commercial sex are considered victims of human trafficking, regardless of the use of force, fraud, or coercion, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said.

Less common, though still widespread, is labor trafficking. That can happen in a variety of settings, including domestic work in hotels, massage parlors, nail salons, small businesses, large farms, and factories, the MDHHS said.

Graef said panel experts are all trained in a trauma-informed, victim-centered approach. It includes varying levels of law enforcement, victim advocates and specialists from the U.P. Human Trafficking Task force who have working knowledge of both traffickers, consumers and those that have been trafficked.

Graef hopes Tuesday’s event can shine a light on the prevalence of trafficking and empower people to talk about and report it or any form of harassment and abuse. She also hopes people can recognize sexual assault and how it leads to trafficking, as well as how traffickers can prey on victims’ low self-esteem and depression.

Anyone who needs help or has information regarding trafficking can call or text the 24-hour confidential helpline at 906-299-9243 or email unite@upht123.org.

For more information on Tuesday’s event, go to phfgive.org/ringofsilence.