OGDEN — Sexual abuse survivors deserve support and a better tomorrow, according to Elizabeth Smart, and making resources more accessible is a key step. Smart, who survived her own abuse ordeal after being kidnapped from her Salt Lake City home in 2002, joined several others Tuesday to advocate for victims of sexual abuse and trafficking.
The discussion, held at Shepherd Union on the Weber State University campus in Ogden, focused on pressing for the creation of a three-digit emergency phone number for survivors. Smart likened the urgency and necessity of such a number to universally known safety measures, stating, "It should be like 9-1-1. It should be like stop, drop and roll."
The event was hosted by Why Awareness Matters Safety, or WAM Safety. Wendy Jensen Nicholls, who leads WAM Safety, also voiced support for a new emergency number. Nicholls highlighted the difficulty of navigating existing resources without specialized knowledge, describing the current system as confusing and stressful for families. She emphasized the simplicity a three-digit number would offer.
Utah lawmakers considered a measure aimed at creating this number, HB411, during the 2026 session, but it stalled. Proponents now plan to refile a bill during the 2027 session. Utah Sen. Heidi Balderree, a Republican from Saratoga Springs, plans to sponsor the renewed measure and addressed Tuesday's gathering.
Sen. Balderree explained that the proposed three-digit number would function similarly to other emergency and information hotlines: 9-1-1 for first responders, 9-8-8 for suicide prevention, and 8-1-1 for locating underground utility lines. She noted that while longer, 10-digit help numbers exist, individuals being trafficked might not have consistent phone access. A more easily remembered three-digit emergency number could increase their chances of accessing help "in the chance that they have a few seconds or a minute" to make a call, Balderree said.
House Speaker Mike Schultz, a Republican from Hooper, briefly addressed the group, expressing general support for efforts to combat abuse and trafficking. Schultz stated a belief that more needs to be done to confront the issue, recognizing that such incidents are more prevalent than many realize. He commended Nicholls and other advocates for speaking out.
Original legislation, HB411, would have directed the Utah attorney general and the Utah Department of Health and Human Services to petition the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch efforts for a three-digit National Human Trafficking Hotline. Nicholls confirmed that similar efforts for a three-digit trafficking hotline are underway in many states across the country. Callers to such a number would be connected with a "trauma-informed expert" who could then guide them to appropriate resources and support. This system aims to consolidate various support services into a single, accessible point of contact.
Smart and other speakers at the event also shared their personal stories of surviving sexual abuse and being trafficked. Nicholls stressed the local relevance of these issues, stating that such incidents happen in Utah, within local communities, and are not confined to other countries.
