Human Trafficking Summer Institute

CHILDREN AT RISK will launch the first Human Trafficking Summer Institute in 2009 for law students, who plan to practice in Texas, to be educated as ambassadors who will inform legal and law enforcement communities about human trafficking.  The Summer Institute will be an intensive 6-week summer program designed to increase awareness of human trafficking issues and promote further research and education in the area.

The program will include background information and training on human trafficking issues, involvement in local clinics, and site visits to other Texas cities where trafficking is prevalent. CHILDREN AT RISK is partnering with other local and statewide organizations, such as Catholic Charities, YMCA, the University of Houston Immigration Clinic, and the Houston Rescue & Restore Coalition, to offer students a wealth of resources and hands-on field experience. Students will also be required to produce a document on the “State of Human Trafficking” in Texas and provide outreach to service providers, government entities, and victims.

By raising awareness among these sectors, victims will become more easily identified and, consequently, eligible for treatment. If you know a law student (planning to practice in Texas) who is interested in becoming a human trafficking Fellow this summer, send their resume to jsolak@childrenatrisk.org.

http://www.childrenatrisk.org/childrenatrisk.cfm?a=cms,c,738

CHILDREN AT RISK has been awarded $20,000 by the Texas Bar Foundation to found this program. Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $9 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably-funded bar foundation.

Human Trafficking Statistics

Human trafficking statistics are not always perfectly accurate because it is such a clandestine crime. Government entities keep track of how many victims have been helped and have been given trafficking visas, but this does not include the many victims who do not receive benefits from the government. Nor do they include those victims whose cases were prosecuted as a different crime other than trafficking in persons.

The Bureau of Justice Statistics under the Department of Justice has done some significant research to try to remedy this lack of statistics in human trafficking.

Here is the website for their study entitled, “Characteristics of Suspected Human Trafficking Incidents, 2007-2008″.

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/cshti08.htm

What can you do to fight human trafficking?

Call us and volunteer today!!!!

There are also many other ways you can help stop human trafficking. Here are a few ways you can begin today:

• Show a film about human trafficking to your friends, family or your community
• Write the editor of your local newspaper about the issue and what is going on in your community to fight trafficking
• Participate in a community or health fair–Set up a booth and hand out information on what human trafficking is and how to help a victim.
• Talk to members of your local church about the issue and help them get involved.
• Buy fair trade goods. Labor trafficking occurs because demand for cheap labor is high. Make sure you buy from companies that give their employee fair wages.
• Most important: Be alert to what is happening in your community! If you notice someone who can not leave their home or is afraid to be alone without their boss with them, or if you see a workplace in horrible conditions, or if you notice someone who is being physically abused, notify the appropriate authorities. If you’re not sure if you spotted a situation of human trafficking, call your local women’s shelter or call Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. Or, call the national human trafficking hotline:  888-373-7888. A representative will refer your case to the proper agency. If it is an emergency contact the police.

Volunteer with Our Program Today!

Interested in aiding in the combat against human trafficking in Texas? Do you like meeting new people and want to do good in your community? We need people to join us in block walks around the San Antonio community in order to inform the community of the issue of human trafficking.

To help or for more information, call us at 210-212-3796

volunteer today!

Check Out This Interesting Human Trafficking Website

This website displays an interactive map of different human trafficking cases that have occurred in every state, and all over the world.

http://www.slaverymap.org/

Major Federal Anti-Trafficking Law Passed | December 10, 2008

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), which first became law in 2000, represents the first major comprehensive U.S. legislative effort to address modern-day slavery. Congress recently passed new legislation with important provisions and amendments that strengthen the U.S. government’s efforts to combat human trafficking in the United States and abroad.

Many human trafficking agencies played a role in ensuring these  changes took place.  Agencies worked closely with legislators and in coalition with anti-trafficking and advocacy organizations to create stronger tools to address both forced labor and sex trafficking in the U.S. and throughout the world.  They raised public awareness about the need for strong federal anti-trafficking legislation and mobilized individuals across the country to urge their Senators and Representatives to pass a strong bill.

To read more about the Bill, go to The Library of Congress website and search for bill number HR 7311. The website is: http://thomas.loc.gov