Modern slavery exists in the United States and businesses are at exposed to risk
United States of America (Press Release) January 10, 2008 --
"Human Trafficking is the fastest growing crime in the world. The criminals who operate in the sale of human capital use complex methods to capture and hold victims, infiltrate or take advantage of corporate-type business environments or facilities, and reap extensive profits. Under the new Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) organizations have a legally enforceable responsibility to recognize and protect human trafficking victims.
The TVPA is an extremely victim-oriented law, with "razor-sharp teeth." In many instances, when they are in conflict, it supersedes other areas of the law such as immigration violations. It provides for rescue of victims, access to civil courts and compensation for their pain, suffering and lost wages. The TVPA also provides prosecution of all parties involved in the scheme of human trafficking, EVEN IF THEY MAY BE INVOLVED UNKNOWINGLY, makes prosecuting this crime a high priority for local and federal law enforcement, and increases criminal sentences up to a life term.
Businesses must take a multi-faceted proactive approach to protect themselves from human traffickers. Industries and companies at higher risk of exposure include restaurants, hotels/motels, multi-national corporations, any government contractors or their sub contractors, cleaning contractors, universities, landscapers, developers, hospitals, transportation providers, apartment owners, real estate management companies, religious organizations and others.
Organizations or individuals that need educational awareness, staff training and/or in-field professional training include law enforcement personnel, investigators, social service providers, shelters, health care professionals, home owners associations, Chambers of Commerce, lawyers, ministries, international travelers, educators, government contractors, business consultants and others .
Any organization that has workers should be aware of the human trafficking laws, violations and victim protections. Government contractors or sub-contractors whose employees or deployed dependants participate in human trafficking activities may cause their company to lose its federal contracts, face federal investigations, civil law suits, and/or extremely negative public relations consequences. Organizations must be proactive in creating an environment that is secure from infiltration by practitioners of modern slavery.
A couple of examples of how trafficking can lurk in any organization include a boys choir that traveled throughout the United States singing in churches. They earned their trafficker hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations and appearance fees while he held them captive, forced them to perform without food or rest, and provide physical labor on his Texas farm. He forced them to sleep in a livestock barn while being praised pubicly for his work with the orphaned boys. Another example took place on the West Coast where a 13 year old girl was prostituted in hotels and motels on a regular "circuit" for a period of a year and a half. She was paraded at conferences, sporting events, amusement parks, and restaurants to induce buyers and to generate word of mouth advertisement for her traffickers. "Victims of human trafficking are held in an absolute absence of human rights and dignity," said Dottie Laster, Director of Training for STRIKE Force Training. "Victims of Human trafficking occurs in all states and countries; it affects men, women, and children and is estimated to net criminals $9.5 billion annually.
Visit www.strikeforcetraining.org for more information.
2522 Chambers Road, Ste. 110, Tustin, CA 92780, USA
info@strikeforcetraining.org
714-389-0576
"Human Trafficking is the fastest growing crime in the world. The criminals who operate in the sale of human capital use complex methods to capture and hold victims, infiltrate or take advantage of corporate-type business environments or facilities, and reap extensive profits. Under the new Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) organizations have a legally enforceable responsibility to recognize and protect human trafficking victims.
The TVPA is an extremely victim-oriented law, with "razor-sharp teeth." In many instances, when they are in conflict, it supersedes other areas of the law such as immigration violations. It provides for rescue of victims, access to civil courts and compensation for their pain, suffering and lost wages. The TVPA also provides prosecution of all parties involved in the scheme of human trafficking, EVEN IF THEY MAY BE INVOLVED UNKNOWINGLY, makes prosecuting this crime a high priority for local and federal law enforcement, and increases criminal sentences up to a life term.
Businesses must take a multi-faceted proactive approach to protect themselves from human traffickers. Industries and companies at higher risk of exposure include restaurants, hotels/motels, multi-national corporations, any government contractors or their sub contractors, cleaning contractors, universities, landscapers, developers, hospitals, transportation providers, apartment owners, real estate management companies, religious organizations and others.
Organizations or individuals that need educational awareness, staff training and/or in-field professional training include law enforcement personnel, investigators, social service providers, shelters, health care professionals, home owners associations, Chambers of Commerce, lawyers, ministries, international travelers, educators, government contractors, business consultants and others .
Any organization that has workers should be aware of the human trafficking laws, violations and victim protections. Government contractors or sub-contractors whose employees or deployed dependants participate in human trafficking activities may cause their company to lose its federal contracts, face federal investigations, civil law suits, and/or extremely negative public relations consequences. Organizations must be proactive in creating an environment that is secure from infiltration by practitioners of modern slavery.
A couple of examples of how trafficking can lurk in any organization include a boys choir that traveled throughout the United States singing in churches. They earned their trafficker hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations and appearance fees while he held them captive, forced them to perform without food or rest, and provide physical labor on his Texas farm. He forced them to sleep in a livestock barn while being praised pubicly for his work with the orphaned boys. Another example took place on the West Coast where a 13 year old girl was prostituted in hotels and motels on a regular "circuit" for a period of a year and a half. She was paraded at conferences, sporting events, amusement parks, and restaurants to induce buyers and to generate word of mouth advertisement for her traffickers. "Victims of human trafficking are held in an absolute absence of human rights and dignity," said Dottie Laster, Director of Training for STRIKE Force Training. "Victims of Human trafficking occurs in all states and countries; it affects men, women, and children and is estimated to net criminals $9.5 billion annually.
Visit www.strikeforcetraining.org for more information.
2522 Chambers Road, Ste. 110, Tustin, CA 92780, USA
info@strikeforcetraining.org
714-389-0576
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