Conference Call and Web Chat on Human Trafficking

Conference Call and Web Chat on Human Trafficking

The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (WHIAAPI) will host a conference call about the Obama Administration’s efforts to combat human trafficking, including forced labor:

• What is the federal government doing to combat human trafficking, both sex trafficking and forced labor?
• How can my community access in-language materials related to human trafficking?
• What can my community do to promote initiatives to combat human trafficking, including at the local, state, and federal levels of government?

WHO:

Moderator: Tuyet Duong, Advisor on Civil Rights and Immigration,
White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Abraham Lee, Public Affairs Officer – U.S. Department of State

Rena Cutlip-Mason, Senior Advisor – U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Maggie Wynne, Director, Division of Anti-Trafficking in Persons
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Ernesto Archila and Charita Castro – U.S. Department of Labor

WHEN:

Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at 3:00 PM EST / 12:00 PM PST

HOW:

To join by phone:

1. Call 800-857-9683;                Passcode: 56547

To join online:

1. Click here
2. If a password is required, enter the meeting password: whitehouseaapi
3. Click “Join”.

For assistance:

1. Go to https://educate.webex.com/educate/mc
2. On the left navigation bar, click “Support”.

Questions can be submitted via Twitter at twitter.com/WhiteHouseAAPI

*Note: All web chats are off the record and not for press purposes.

 

Human Trafficking in Minnesota series, part 3: Thinking like a trafficker

Starting in Feb 2012, CAPM intern Michelle Sham will be reporting on the issue of human trafficking, an issue that has often been associated with foreign populations or countries. It is our hope that this blog series will help shatter myths about human trafficking, provide an alternative view of the realities of this grave human injustice, and to offer information that can aid in catalyzing social action against human trafficking.

 

Human trafficking is the second largest biggest organized crime in the world where human beings are traded for commercial sexual exploitation or forced slavery. Human trafficking is modern day slavery.

Picture courtesy of Truthout.org

After hearing about accounts of victims, people always ask, “Why don’t they run away or try to escape?” Or “why don’t they just call the cops?” To better answer questions like these, one has to understand how a trafficker operates his business and the circumstances that victims are put through.

Disclaimer: Some details of this post can be disturbing to some readers. Human trafficking is a horrible crime against humanity and as the writer, I feel that it is important to write it as it is. Out of respect and with all my humility, it is my obligation to spread advocacy on this topic and to not hide ugly facts just because it might seem too gruesome. As the writer, I will do my best to present the truth on this issue. Reader’s discretion is advised.

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