ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Local groups and the city of Rochester are taking a renewed stand against human trafficking.

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month in the city. 

The Rochester Regional Coalition Against Human Trafficking is starting a campaign this month with the message, "Yes. Here." 

Students from Rochester Institute of Technology created images for the campaign that will appear on RTS buses.

Organizers say understanding the signs of human trafficking is the first step to stopping the problem.

"Well first we have to make people aware, that's the key to understanding what the issue is," said Celia McIntosh, Chair of RRCAHT. "To make them aware, it hopefully increases people in the community to have an open mind and to know this exists here."

Statistics show more than four million people worldwide are forced into sexual exploitation.