Human rights advocates and every S.C. resident have some good news to celebrate this week.

After years of work and lobbying, South Carolina’s human trafficking law (sponsored by Surfside Beach Rep. Nelson Hardwick) went into effect Tuesday. We supported the bill, which increases penalties for traffickers and makes the offense easier to prosecute, in numerous editorials in recent years as local advocates and volunteers tirelessly pushed the legislature to action.

And while we complain so often about the intransigence and inaction of our political leaders, It’s encouraging to see that such a grass-roots effort really can bear fruit. Determined voices clamoring for change do receive the attention they deserve and change does come.

Good job all around.