Anti-Trafficking Symposium Presented by Goodwill Ambassador, ICE, and Federal Officials

The “Anti-Human Trafficking Symposium: Transforming the Coalition” co-sponsored by Georgetown University and Delotte on January 30, 2013 included keynote speakers, actress Mira Sorvino as the United Nations goodwill ambassador on human trafficking and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director, John Morton. The symposium gathers government, academic, non-profit and business leaders to revamp the fight against the illegal billion dollar industry that traffics human beings for sexual exploitation and forced labor.

Other keynote speakers included Luis CdeBaca from the U.S. Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons’ ambassador at large; Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West; and Alice Hill, senior counselor to the secretary of homeland security as well as two panels covering trends and challenges.  Coverage by Georgetown University includes web casts from Sorvino, Morton, and CdeBaca.

Key points discussed in the symposium paved the way ahead:

1. Combatting Trafficking
2. Trends and Challenges
3. New Technology

Delotte captures the highlights of the “Anti-Human Trafficking Symposium: Transforming the Coalition” they co-sponsored with Georgetown University, citing that over 300 people attended the event, several thousand viewed it on Georgetown's website (GULive) and C-SPAN, and some viewed the transcript of Mira Sorvino's speech." 

They also provide a more complete listing of keynote speakers and panelists for those that may be interested in hearing more from the presenters at the symposium:

• ICE Director John Morton and the Public Sector Panel discussed law enforcement challenges in working trafficking cases and the need for a victim-centered approach.
• Assistant Attorney General Tony West re-defined human trafficking efforts as the great civil rights movement of our time.
• U.N. Goodwill Ambassador to Combat Human Trafficking Mira Sorvino brought to life the importance of survivors' voices in the fight against human trafficking.
• A panel of government officials discussed trends and challenges with AHT prevention, prosecution and protection of victims
• Palantir demonstrated the use of data patterns to locate and apprehend human trafficking culprits and identify victims.
• DHS Blue Campaign Chair Alice Hill stressed the need for partnerships in the fight against human trafficking, specifically in training government officials.
• The Private Sector Panel discussed the opportunity for government to have open forums, increasingly accessible data, and awareness campaigns for private companies.
• Ambassador Lou CdeBaca compelled us to hold government and each other accountable to make a difference in the fight against human trafficking.

Modern Slavery News Round-Up

Northern Ireland in bid to outlaw paying for sex
Paying for sex could become illegal in Northern Ireland if proposed changes in the law are introduced. The crackdown on prostitution is part of a range of measures contained in draft legislation aimed at tackling human trafficking and exploitation in the region. While activities such as kerb-crawling, pimping and brothel-keeping are illegal in the UK, selling or paying for sex is permitted.

Nepalese foreign work ban for young women
Many women worldwide leave their homelands for domestic work in other parts of the world. In the case of Nepal, an estimated 1,000 women make such journeys from their homes to the Middle East. However, due to cases of pregnancy, sexual abuse, rape and other forms of violence, the Nepalese government has instituted a ban that prohibits women under 30 from leaving the country in search of domestic work. Though the intent to protect these women is good, some fear that backlash will result in the form of lies about actual age, false passports, or other ways around the ban. 

Four men sent to prison for trafficking in women
Four men were sentenced to between eight and 14 years in prison for their involvement in 13 cases of human trafficking in which 14 women and one child were sold, Shanghai Xuhui District People's Court announced [August 17th]. A Yunnan Province Man, Huang Debin, was sentenced to 14 years for luring women to Suqian, Jiangsu Province, where they would be sold to men who had trouble finding wives, according to a news release from the court.

City lacks resources to help trafficking victims
Even after nearly a year of a statewide awareness campaign about human sex trafficking, there aren't resources in Chattanooga to help victims of the crime. During a news conference in Chattanooga in October, state officials, including Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director Mark Gwyn, called for action after a joint study with Vanderbuilt University revealed that 85 percent of Tennessee counties had reported a human trafficking case. Chattanooga had as many as 100 cases, according to figures released at the news conference.

Money laundering and human trafficking
The U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) recently launched Project STAMP (Smuggler Trafficker and Assets, Monies, and Proceeds) to combat human trafficking, and other illegal activities through anti-money laundering regulations. The project relies on stringent regulations and collaboration with private financial sectors to combat human trafficking int he U.S. Money laundering is a crime where perpetrators conceal the source of profits obtained through illegal activities like human trafficking. To continue carrying out illegal activities, traffickers often commit money laundering to disguise profits acquired by exploiting women and children.

By Whitney Joseph