Experts Available: Human Trafficking
January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month. In the 20 years since the passage of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act, much more attention has been paid to the issue - but misconceptions about the victims and perpetrators of human trafficking still persist. If you're looking for experts for your coverage this month, these scholars are available to comment on the myths and realities of human trafficking in the United States.
Human Trafficking
"Although human trafficking awareness often focuses on sex trafficking, labor trafficking amongst immigrant and migrant workers remains to be less discussed even though such cases are common. Labor trafficking can happen in low wage work, but there are also cases happening within education with, for instance, Filipino migrant teachers being imported and exploited in various school districts across the country. Trafficking awareness must also involve discussions around the US immigration system and workers protections."
"In order to tackle human trafficking, we need to address the misunderstandings around it. It’s been 20 years since the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, and most people still only think of one type of victim – a young woman forced into sex trafficking."
"Identifying victims and raising awareness are only part of the solution. True prevention must address the systems and conditions that make people vulnerable."
"In some respects, we have come a long way in the twenty years since Congress first passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. What used to be called “child prostitution” is now recognized as a form of sex trafficking, yet services for sexually exploited young people are still significantly lacking."
"My research found that sex trafficking gets more attention than labor trafficking in the media, so many anti-trafficking groups try to redirect attention to all types. However, a survivor-centered approach means focusing on the exploitation itself, no matter what type."