Los Angeles City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto and Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman joined Los Angeles Police Department authorities and the nonprofit Journey Out to announce a new initiative on Jan. 27 aimed at disrupting sex trafficking on Western Avenue, particularly near Koreatown and the Wilshire Center area.

The initiative also supports survivors and aims to hold traffickers accountable. Western Avenue between Santa Monica and Olympic boulevards has long been identified by the LAPD as a hub of illegal activity, including sex trafficking.

Launched during National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the new Western Avenue initiative brings together law enforcement, prosecutors, social service providers and community partners in a crackdown along the corridor. Authorities will also provide support to victims while ensuring those committing crimes are brought to justice.

“Human trafficking has long been a problem along Western Avenue in our city, underscoring the need for a comprehensive approach, and sustained and coordinated action,” Feldstein Soto said. “The sex trafficking of minors is among the most egregious and reprehensible crimes that inflicts long-lasting harm on communities, families and victims. I am grateful for this coalition that brings together service providers, law enforcement, city agencies, community leaders and others to confront this problem with the urgency it demands.”

“We should all be alarmed that human trafficking involving commercial sexual exploitation is so prevalent in our county that we can list multiple corridors in Los Angeles, Long Beach and Pomona where it openly occurs,” Hochman said. “We will continue our three-pronged relentless approach to tackling this important issue: prosecuting human traffickers [and] pimps to attack the supply side, prosecuting sexual exploiters [and] Johns to reduce the demand side, and offering rehabilitative services for sex workers to end their victimization.”

The Los Angeles-based nonprofit Journey Out fights for the freedom and survival of victims impacted by sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. For 24-hour confidential and live assistance, victims and witnesses can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888)373-7888. The hotline can also be reached by texting 233733.