OVC FY 16 Comprehensive Services for Victims of All Forms of Human Trafficking : Funding Opportunity

OVC FY 16 Comprehensive Services for Victims of All Forms of Human Trafficking
Department of Justice
Office for Victims of Crime

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Kirk again asks Attorney General Lynch to investigate Web site advertising sex : News

 " Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk is again asking the Justice Department to investigate the Internet site, Backpage.com, days after Chicago police arrested a 41-year-old man for involuntary sexual servitude after allegedly offering sex with a 15-year-old girl in advertising on the site."

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Kirk again asks Attorney General Lynch to investigate Web site advertising sex : News:

Senator Kirk Leads Call for Investigation into Sex-Trafficking Site Backpage.com

Senator Kirk Leads Call for Investigation into Sex-Trafficking Site Backpage.com:

TheCatholicSpirit.com - Modern-day slavery a reality in Minnesota, across globe

By Julie Carroll
Tuesday, 22 December 2009

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Bukola Oriola has a message for Minnesotans: Slavery is alive and well in Minnesota and throughout the world.

She knows because she experienced slavery herself.

Oriola was working as a journalist in Nigeria when she came to the United States to report on the 2005 World Summit in New York. Her new husband, a U.S. citizen, convinced her to stay in the country with the promise that he would help her acquire the spousal visa she needed to live here legally.

The couple were married in a traditional ceremony in Nigeria, but not legally in the United States.

Once Oriola moved into her husband’s Minnesota home, he changed. He kept her imprisoned in the house for two years, punishing her if she “misbehaved” and threatening to report her to immigration officials if she tried to escape.

“I became so depressed that I couldn’t recognize myself in the mirror anymore,” Oriola said. “I just saw a strange woman staring back at me.”

When she became pregnant, Oriola’s husband forced her to spend up to 14 hours a day on her feet braiding hair. He collected her earnings, but refused to support her or their child. When the baby’s health began to deteriorate, Oriola found the courage to escape.

“My son was the one that gave me strength to leave to see another day,” Oriola said at a Dec. 3 human trafficking forum organized by St. Mary of the Lake in White Bear Lake.

A client helped Oriola and her son move into a shelter. Civil Society, a St. Paul non-profit organization that provides legal services, counseling and other assistance to victims of human trafficking, helped Oriola legalize her immigration status through the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act.

“We still have slavery among us,” Oriola told 140 people crowded into a room at the White Bear Lake City Hall. “Your neighbor could be a slave without you knowing.

Your co-worker could be a slave without you knowing. Your patients could be slaves without you knowing.

“I didn’t know that help was available,” she added. “That is why I am speaking out today . . . to educate the public, to set others free.”

Oriola, 32, has written a book entitled “Imprisoned: The Travails of a Trafficked Victim” to help inform people about the little known global phenomenon of human trafficking.

Modern-day slavery

The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 defines a human trafficking victim as a person induced to perform labor or a commercial sex act through force, fraud or coercion.

Throughout the world, accounts of trafficking for the purposes of child begging, forced marriage, organ removal and ritual killings also have been reported.

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Traffickers use many means to lure and subdue their victims. They may rape, beat and drug victims; make false promises such as work, education, marriage, etc.; and threaten the victims and their families. Usually victims don’t speak the language of the country where they are taken. Many don’t realize they are victims of a crime or that help is available.

Human trafficking is the fastest growing source of profit for criminal enterprises worldwide, according to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center. The International Labor Organization estimates total yearly profits generated by the human trafficking industry to be $32 billion.

Although statistics on human trafficking vary due to inconsistent definitions, the invisibility of victims and under-reporting, the U.S. Department of State estimates that 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders every year. About half of the trafficking victims are children, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Despite efforts to raise awareness of human trafficking, many countries remain unaware that the problem exists, lack the resources to do something about it or simply choose not to act, according to a recent U.N. report entitled “Global Report on Trafficking in Persons,” which includes data from 155 countries.

As of 2007, about 40 percent of the world had not recorded a single conviction for trafficking in persons, the report said.

The most common form of human trafficking is sexual exploitation, at 79 percent, according to the report. The second most common form of human trafficking is forced labor, at 18 percent, although this may be a misrepresentation because forced labor is less frequently detected and reported than trafficking for sexual exploitation, it is noted.

“Children’s nimble fingers are exploited to untangle fishing nets, sew luxury goods or pick cocoa,” the report says. “Their innocence is abused for begging, or exploited for sex as prostitutes, pedophilia or child pornography. Others are sold as child brides or camel jockeys.”

The United States ranks as one of the top countries in the world for sex trafficking, said Linda Miller, director of Civil Society. An estimated 14,500 to 17,500 people are trafficked within the U.S. annually, according to the State Department.

Minnesota has become one of the 13 most heavily trafficked states in the nation, Miller said. The reasons are many: Minnesota is a border state, it has an international seaport and airport, there are many unpopulated areas for traffickers to hide, and the state’s high diversity makes people from other countries less noticeable.

The country with the largest number of victims discovered in Minnesota used to be Russia, Miller said. Now it’s Vietnam.

“Human trafficking is pervasive in this region and we are learning of new cases on a nearly daily basis,” Civil Society says on its Web site.

The poor economy has made the problem worse, according to the organization. Forced laborers have been found working in the hotel and hospitality industries, cleaning and laundry, domestic service, nursing care, retail, manufacturing and agriculture.

Help from the church

The Catholic Church plays a key role in helping trafficking victims in the U.S. Civil Society is one of about 100 nonprofits across the U.S. and its territories that have been subcontracted by Migration and Refugee Services of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to provide vital services to foreign-born trafficking victims once they are identified.

Funding comes through a five-year contract with the Department of Health and Human Services worth up to $33.9 million. The contract runs through March 2011.

The subcontracted agencies provide case-management services for the victims. Social workers arrange counseling sessions, find housing, transport victims for court appearances and accompany victims through the process of becoming a U.S. citizen.

Local religious orders, such as the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and the School Sisters of Notre Dame, also are assisting trafficking victims by teaching them English; providing housing, transportation and other services; helping them find jobs; and educating the public.

Sister Denay Ulrich said the School Sisters of Notre Dame have been studying the issue for several years and are available to conduct workshops in parishes and for other groups upon request. For more information, call (651) 695-0570.

In a 2007 statement entitled “On Human Trafficking,” the U.S. bishops said: “Human trafficking is a horrific crime against the basic dignity and rights of the human person.

“All efforts must be expended to end it. In the end, we must work together — church, state and community — to eliminate the root causes and markets that permit traffickers to flourish; to make whole the survivors of this crime; and to ensure that, one day soon, trafficking in human persons vanishes from the face of the earth.”

If you would like to be added to a mailing list to receive information on human trafficking from St. Mary of the Lake parish, send a request to mnhumantrafficking@comcast.net.This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Ways you can help trafficking victims

» If you suspect trafficking, call the Minnesota Human Trafficking Crisis and Tip Line at (888) 772-3324.

» Join Minnesota Rescue and Restore/Human Trafficking Watch at www.civilsocietyhelps.org.

» Call or write your elected officials to let them know you care about the issue of human trafficking. For assistance, go to www.polarisproject.org.

» Sponsor a victim. Contact Civil Society at (651) 291-0713.

» Monitor your children’s online activity. Traffickers often try to contact children through the Internet. Report suspicious behavior to police.

» Visit www.polarisproject.org for a list of films related to trafficking.

» Organize an event at your church or business to inform people about human trafficking.

For assistance, e-mail mnhumantrafficking@comcast.net.This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Source: St. Mary of the Lake Social Justice Team, White Bear Lake

Identifying victims of human trafficking

Victims of trafficking may look like many of the people coming to your organization for assistance every day. Victims are young children, teenagers, men and women. By looking beneath the surface and asking yourself these questions, you can help identify potential victims:

»Is the person accompanied by another person who seems controlling (possibly the trafficker)?

» Is the person rarely allowed in public (except for work)?

» Can you detect any physical or psychological abuse?

» Does the person seem submissive or fearful?

» Does the person have difficulty communicating because of language or cultural barriers?

» Does the person lack identification or documentation?

» Is someone else collecting the person’s pay or holding their money for “safe keeping”?

Gaining the trust of a victim of human trafficking is an important first step in providing assistance.

Questions to ask potential victims of trafficking

If you get the opportunity to speak to or question the person alone, asking the following questions can help you determine if you are dealing with a victim:

» Can you leave your job or situation if you want?

» Can you come and go as you please?

» Have you been threatened if you try to leave?

» Has anyone threatened your family?

» What are your working or living conditions like?

» Where do you sleep and eat?

» Do you have to ask permission to eat, sleep or go to the bathroom?

» Is there a lock on your door so you cannot get out?

» Does someone prohibit you from socializing or attending religious services?

Before questioning a person who may be a victim of human trafficking, discretely separate the person from the individual accompanying her/him, since this person could be the trafficker posing as a spouse, other family member or employer.

If you suspect someone is a victim of trafficking, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at (888) 373-7888 or the Civil Society human trafficking crisis/tip line at (651) 291-8810.

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families

This story contains information from Catholic News Service.

TheCatholicSpirit.com - Modern-day slavery a reality in Minnesota, across globe

Human trafficking in Houston, Texas: Part One | FSRN - Free Speech Radio News

Special Series
Human trafficking in Houston, Texas: Part One
Mon, 12/28/2009 - 13:23

In the first of a two-part series on human trafficking, FSRN's Shannon Young files this report on transnational slavery in Houston.

* Length: 6:51 minutes (6.27 MB)
* Format: MP3 Mono 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)
[TRAFFICKING-MONITOR: GO TO THE FOLLOWING URL TO LISTEN TO THE AUDIO FILE]
http://www.fsrn.org/audio/human-trafficking-houston-texas-part-one/5959


The modern-day slave trade - known as human trafficking - rivals weapons smuggling as the most lucrative illegal business after drug trafficking. One of the largest hubs for modern-day slavery in the United States is Houston, Texas. The southern city is home to a large seaport, a sprawling international airport, and is a major destination along Interstate 10 - identified by the Department of Justice as one of the main human trafficking routes in the United States. In the first of a two-part series on human trafficking, FSRN's Shannon Young files this report on transnational slavery in Houston.

[TRANSCRIPT]

In Houston's Montrose neighborhood, more than 30 people board a chartered bus on their way to seeing familiar streets in a new light.

STEVEN GOFF: "So on behalf of Houston Rescue and Restore and all the partners that made this event possible, we would like to welcome you and ask that you not get too comfortable because what you will see and hear today just might disturb you.”
Organized by the Houston Rescue and Restore Coalition, the tour aims to raise awareness about the city's human trafficking problem.

Although largely a hidden crime, it is possible to detect the red flags of human trafficking from a distance. Traveling down main roads, Houston Rescue and Restore staffers point out street prostitution tracks, parks frequented by teenage runaways, and a day labor site where workers have been tricked out of their pay. But most of the sites flagged on the tour advertise as “spas” or “modeling studios” and have blacked-out windows, barred doors, security cameras, and neon signs stating they're open 24 hours a day. Many are concentrated in one area.

STEVEN GOFF: "Slow down - that one right there...and then this one right here. Huge places where women from typically Korea, Thailand, Vietnam are brought here. Either they live there, they actually live there for weeks at a time and then are just rotated from city to city...This one is particularly alarming for me - the walls, the gates."

Houston's size, proximity to the border, and extensive transportation infrastructure are all factors that make the city attractive for organized crime networks – including human traffickers.

The National Drug Intelligence Center identifies Houston as “one of the most significant cocaine distribution centers” in the country. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms has traced more weapons from Mexican crime scenes to Houston than any other US city.

The same organizations that use Houston to traffic drugs and smuggle weapons have branched into the business of transporting immigrants. Ed Gallagher is the co-chair of the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance, a multi-agency task force covering the southern district of Texas.

ED GALLAGHER: "We experience a large influx of immigrants coming across our border illegally into the United States trying to look for work and most of these cases are NOT human trafficking, but many of them become human trafficking. And we have to distinguish between someone who is being smuggled into the United States just to find work and someone who's being smuggled into the United States, promised a job, and they end up being turned into a prostitute or they're forced to work to pay off a smuggling debt; that's when we get into trafficking.”

By its legal definition, human trafficking involves the elements of force, fraud, or coercion. A textbook example is that of a trafficker promising a job to an immigrant who, upon arrival in the US, finds him or herself trapped in a forced labor situation with a debt that's never meant to be paid off. Traffickers often physically hold their victims captive or threaten their families back home.

Constance Rossiter is the director of the YMCA International's Trafficked Persons Assistance Program, which provides direct aid to foreign adult victims of human trafficking.

CONSTANCE ROSSITER: "Victims are everywhere. They are in massage parlors, nail salons, construction workers, or the construction contractors that come in, the lawn service people that you have. A lot of them are domestic servants, farm workers...basically anywhere."

The level of collaboration between social service providers, non-governmental organizations and law enforcement has earned the Houston-based task force national recognition. Task force co-chair Ed Gallagher likens the early days of the alliance to an uneven bridge that does not meet in the middle.

ED GALLAGHER: "Law enforcement stands on the upper side of the bridge, looking down at the NGOs who are looking up at law enforcement and there's a great degree of mistrust between the two. That's something that is natural when you start a task force. We have overcome that. Our bridge now is smoothly together and we work side by side with our social service partners so that when we have a case coming down the pike, we have them on standby, we have them ready in the event that we have a case like US vs. Mondragon, over 100 women rescued, being forced into labor in a number of these local cantinas and bars in the Houston area following our 2005 raid."

US vs. Mondragon is the largest human trafficking case in the history of the continental United States. Another large Houston-based case, US vs. Salazar, followed shortly thereafter.

Victim testimony is key to prosecuting human trafficking charges, but Gallagher says that newly-rescued victims are often more willing to tell their stories to social workers than to law enforcement. The government can provide special visas and services to witnesses who do testify, but many come out of their experiences too traumatized to take the stand. In those cases, prosecutors often have to pursue lesser charges.

A national hotline has been set up to receive questions and tips about suspected human trafficking cases. The toll-free number is 1-888-3737-888. A third of the calls to the hotline come from the state of Texas. That's a testament both to the awareness efforts of local abolitionists – and to the size of the problem.

Shannon Young, FSRN.

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