tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22907740817992516342024-03-12T20:59:02.172-07:00IOFA TalkYouth. Their Rights. Our Responsibility.Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-3060901720192508582015-10-14T12:08:00.000-07:002015-10-14T12:08:10.906-07:00Language matters: The Refugee Crisis in Europe<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At every IOFA training, we start by exploring the importance
of language. We talk about words like the conflation of prostitution and
trafficking, victim and survivor, and rescuing and empowering. “Why are we even
talking about this?” We spend time exploring the words we use around these
issues because they matter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To paraphrase a bumper sticker, what we think affects what
we say, and what we say affects what we do. If we truly want to have the
desired effect we purport to work for – empowering survivors to recover from
experiences of exploitation so they may live happy, healthy, productive lives
of their own choosing –then we need to reflect this mentality through the words
we use to discuss it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Background Context:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During the Arab Spring of 2011 civil unrest began in Syria.
President <span class="xbe">Bashar al-Assad engaged his citizens in a brutal
civil war and ISIS, an extremist jihadist militaristic group, used the
instability to engage in ethnic cleansing and other crimes against humanity to
support their goal of establishing a totalitarian Islamic state. </span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a result of the constant violence and terror, nearly half
of Syria’s population – about 11 million people – have been displaced
(MercyCorps, 2015). Nearly one-third of the population has been displaced
within Syria and another four million or have fled to neighboring countries.
Because international agencies were unprepared for a crisis of this magnitude,
the refugees were trapped in deplorable conditions without access to basic
necessities like food, heat, and medical care. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This summer, desperate Syrians began fleeing to the European
Union in numbers not seen since World War II (The European Refugee Crisis and
Syria Explained, 2015).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Language:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reporting on this crisis from some of the most reputable news
agencies in the world has confused terminology about this population. Here are
some of the key terms that have been conflated:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.7pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Migrant – A person who moves from one place to
another, often in the search of a better life. This term is frequently used in
the U.S. to describe agricultural laborers who follow crop harvests
(Merriam-Webster, 2015).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.7pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Immigrant – A person who moves from one country
to another to reside permanently (Merriam-Webster, 2015). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.7pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Refugee – A person who is fleeing persecution,
human rights violations, or armed conflict in his or her home country
(Merriam-Webster, 2015).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.7pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Asylee (or asylum seeker) – A person whom meets
the criterion of a refugee but is already present in the destination country
(UNHCR, 2015). (Note: In the United States asylees do not have to have legal
immigration status to apply for protection (VISANOW Global Immigration, 2015.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 38.7pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Some youth arrive in their final destination
alone or without adults. In the United States we have special protocols and
protections for youth who arrive from non-contiguous countries alone. To learn
more, read <a href="http://iofa-talk.blogspot.com/2014/10/adolescents-border-crisis-part-1.html" target="_blank">Adolescents& the Border Crisis</a><span style="font-size: 10.6667px; line-height: 12.2667px;"> </span>(Gallacher, Cutler, 2014). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Although it may not be critical for the average person to
understand the technical differences between a refugee and asylum seeker, there
is clearly a different between these groups and migrants and immigrants. <b>To refer to refugees and asylees as an
immigrant or migrant denies their extreme situations of desperation and the
humanitarian and legal obligations we have to respond accordingly.</b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Similarly, news agencies have continued to conflate the terms
‘smuggling’ and ‘trafficking’ as they describe the manner in which many
refugees have crossed borders. These words describe very different experiences
that can, and do, overlap. To learn more about the difference between smuggling
and trafficking visit <a href="https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html">https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html</a>.<span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Language
and Self Determination:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>All Things
Considered</i>, a show broadcast on National Public Radio (NPR) addressed their
language choice on this issue during a segment aired on <a href="http://www.npr.org/2015/09/24/443053728/resettled-syrian-says-shes-a-migrant-not-a-refugee">September 24<sup>th</sup></a>.
In it, NPR’s Standards Editor defended their choice to use the word ‘migrant’,
saying it encompasses all persons entering Europe, which insinuates the term
‘refugee’ is only accurate in some cases.<b>
</b>The program also mentions the <a href="http://www.iom.int/news/i-am-migrant-too-2012-international-migrants-day-campaign-launched" target="_blank">“I Am A Migrant</a><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span>”
campaign from the <a href="http://www.iom.int/" target="_blank">International Organization for Migration (IOM)</a>.<span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 8pt;"> </span></span><b> </b>According to the IOM, a number of
clients it serves do not view themselves as refugees, and feel they should have
a say in how they’re labeled.<b> <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Although
IOFA supports the self-determination of all people, this situation warrants
more nuance. As service providers and first responders, we should always use
the language survivors prefer when communicating with them about their
experiences. When we discuss these issues publicly, however, we have a
responsibility to name issues for what they are so they can be properly
addressed. <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We already
do this in anti-trafficking work. Because the field describes human trafficking
using legal terms that often mean very little to survivors, IOFA does not suggest
that providers use anti-trafficking language when communicating with survivors
about their experiences. However, when we engage in advocacy, using
anti-trafficking language is certainly appropriate as it allows us to accurately
and concisely describes the experiences we are working to eradicate. The same
should be done when discussing the Syrian refugee crisis. <b>To refer to the Syrian refugee crisis as an influx of migrants is a
disservice to those who are fleeing for their lives and can be used to minimize
the legal and humanitarian obligations we have to respond swiftly and
proportionately.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Putting it
all together and taking action:<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The refugees fleeing Syria are experiencing some of the
worst situations imaginable, and are at great risk for experiencing other
atrocities, including human trafficking. Accounts have already surfaced of
children being forced into exploitive situations, including forced labor and
child marriage to help their families survive. If we in the anti-trafficking
and child welfare communities truly want to prevent human trafficking and the
exploitation children we need to address the Syrian refugee crisis head on.
This starts by describing the situation for what it is – <b>an international crisis of historical proportion in which men, women,
and children are risking their lives to flee crimes against humanity.</b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>After understanding the issue and
describing it with appropriate language, we can begin to act. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 38.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: windowtext;">Read news
articles about the crisis. When journalists describe this population as
migrants, write a letter to the editor. You can even refer them to this post. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 38.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: windowtext;">Contact your
legislators and tell them you support refugee resettlement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 74.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.change.org/p/barack-obama-the-u-s-should-take-our-fair-share-of-syrian-refugees?source_location=trending_petitions_home_page&algorithm=curated_trending">https://www.change.org/p/barack-obama-the-u-s-should-take-our-fair-share-of-syrian-refugees?source_location=trending_petitions_home_page&algorithm=curated_trending</a></span><span style="color: windowtext;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 74.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.change.org/p/tell-world-leaders-the-future-of-syria-s-children-is-in-their-hands">https://www.change.org/p/tell-world-leaders-the-future-of-syria-s-children-is-in-their-hands</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 74.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.change.org/p/immigration-and-refugee-board-of-canada-justin-trudeau-save-the-people-of-syria">https://www.change.org/p/immigration-and-refugee-board-of-canada-justin-trudeau-save-the-people-of-syria</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 38.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: windowtext;">Donate to relief
efforts at home and/or abroad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 74.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: windowtext;">Doctors without
Borders provides medical aid, supplies, and equipment to networks inside Syria.
You can donate at </span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.doctorswithoutborders.com/">www.doctorswithoutborders.com</a></span><span style="color: windowtext;"> or by calling 1-888-392-0392.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 74.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: windowtext;">World Vision is
providing basic emergency supplies, water, sanitation, and health services to
Syria and to Syrian refugees in Lebanon. You can donate at </span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_560185463">http://donate.worldvision.org/ways-to-give/by-category/disaster-relief/syrian-refugee-crisis-1
or by calling 1-800-562-4453</a></span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://./">.</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 74.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: windowtext;">Mercy Corps
provides shelter, housing supplies, water for refugees. They also provide
specialized services for children providing them with safe places to play and
psychosocial support. You can donate at </span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.mercycorps.org/tags/syrias-children">http://www.mercycorps.org/tags/syrias-children</a></span><span style="color: windowtext;"> or by calling 1-888-747-7440.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 74.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Courier New"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: windowtext;">There are also
many more organizations listed on </span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/06/world/iyw-how-to-help-syrian-refugees/">http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/06/world/iyw-how-to-help-syrian-refugees/</a></span><span style="color: windowtext;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 74.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 38.7pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Encourage your friends and social networks to do
the same.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Resources</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<h5 style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mercy Corps (2015). Quick facts: What you need to know about the
Syria crisis. Retrieved from </span><span style="font-family: "Lucida Grande"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.mercycorps.org/articles/turkey-iraq-jordan-lebanon-syria/quick-facts-what-you-need-know-about-syria-crisis">http://www.mercycorps.org/articles/turkey-iraq-jordan-lebanon-syria/quick-facts-what-you-need-know-about-syria-crisis</a></span></span></span></h5>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The
European Refugee Crisis and Syria Explained (2015). Retrieved from <span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watchv=RvOnXh3NN9w">https://www.youtube.com/watchv=RvOnXh3NN9w</a></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<h5 style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Merriam-Webster
(2015).Retrieved from </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 15pt;"><a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/migrant">http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/migrant</a></span></h5>
<h5 style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Merriam-Webster (2015).Retrieved from</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 15pt;"><a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immigrant">http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immigrant</a></span></h5>
<h5 style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">UNHCR (2015).Refugees Magazine Issue 148: Refugee or Migrant
- Why It Matters Retrieved </span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">from </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15pt;"><a href="http://www.unhcr.org/475fb0302.htm">http://www.unhcr.org/475fb0302.htm</a></span></span></h5>
<h5 style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">UNHCR (2015).Asylum-Seekers Retrieved from</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15pt;"><a href="http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c137.html">http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49c3646c137.html</a></span></span></h5>
<h5 style="margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">VISANOW Global Immigration (2015).What's the difference
between U.S. immigrant refugees and asylees? Retrieved </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">fr</span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">om </span></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 15pt;"><a href="http://www.visanow.com/refugees-and-asylees/">http://www.visanow.com/refugees-and-asylees/</a></span><span style="color: windowtext;"> </span></h5>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Gallacher, C., &
Cutler, S. (2014, October 9). Adolescents & the Border Crisis. Retrieved
September 20, 2015, from
<a href="http://iofa.org/resources/blog/adolescents-the-border-crisis-part-1-unaccompanied-minors-and-the-trafficki">http://iofa.org/resources/blog/adolescents-the-border-crisis-part-1-unaccompanied-minors-and-the-trafficki</a></span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div>
<!--[if !supportAnnotations]-->
<div>
<div class="msocomtxt" id="_com_1" language="JavaScript">
<div class="MsoCommentText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoCommentText">
- Madeline Hannan, MSW</div>
<div class="MsoCommentText">
Project Director, ChildRight:NY</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div class="msocomtxt" id="_com_4" language="JavaScript">
<!--[if !supportAnnotations]--></div>
<!--[endif]--></div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div class="msocomtxt" id="_com_4" language="JavaScript">
<!--[if !supportAnnotations]--></div>
<!--[endif]--></div>
</div>
Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-55398173510272239132014-11-14T11:15:00.002-08:002014-11-14T11:21:08.824-08:00Adolescents & the Border Crisis Part IV: Push-Pull Factors and Child Migration<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">News
surrounding the crisis at the border has shed light on the dramatic increase of
immigrants fleeing their countries of origin. The number of unaccompanied minors
has grown from 6,800 between 2004 and 2011 to 13,000 in 2012, and 24,000 in
2013. This year, that number will reach almost 90,000. According to these estimates,
the number of unaccompanied young people coming to the United States has
increased by more than a 1000 percent in ten years. However, even with the
dramatic increase, the unaccompanied minors who have fled their countries of origin
only account for 0.15 percent of the foreign population and 0.4 percent of the
population of immigrants fleeing from Central America.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some people believe the surge was caused by Section
235 of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization
Act of 2008 (TVPRA), which established additional protections for unaccompanied
minors, while distinguishing between arrivals from contiguous countries such as
Canada and Mexico and non-contiguous countries such as those in Central
America. Both Democrats and Republicans have demanded that Section 235 be
revised to reduce eligibility for these protections. However, the TVPRA was
passed in 2008; the number of unaccompanied minors remained consistent until
2011. A dramatic increase did not begin to occur until 2013. Therefore, the
passage of the Act and increase in unaccompanied minors do not seem to be directly
correlated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Furthermore,
revising TVPRA would expedite the screening and hearing process in ways that could
result in detrimental effects on unaccompanied minors. The procedures within
the TVPRA are enacted to guarantee due process, security and protection against
human trafficking by ensuring immigration court removal proceedings and the
ability to consult with an advocate. Instead of eliminating these <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="mso-comment-date: 20141015T1541; mso-comment-reference: IC_1;">protections</a></span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><a class="msocomanchor" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2290774081799251634#_msocom_1" id="_anchor_1" language="JavaScript" name="_msoanchor_1">[IC1]</a><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-special-character: comment;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, the government needs to better train
Border Patrol, judges, and agencies to accurately assist and identify human
trafficking victims. Proper training and employing additional agencies to
identify and assist human trafficking victims will allow this process to move
swiftly and efficiently, while protecting potential victims. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">However,
providing proper training for U.S. courts and agencies would only address part
of the issue and not the root cause. More than 70 percent of the unaccompanied
minors are from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. A United Nations report
ranked Honduras as the murder capital of the world, with 90 homicides per
100,000 people. Honduras is also a source and transit country for sex trafficking
and forced labor. Honduran girls are sexually trafficked within the country by
gangs or criminal organizations. The groups also exploit young people by forcing
them to transport drugs, engage in extortion, or become hit men. Extreme
violence and exploitation has led more than 16,500 unaccompanied Honduran
children to travel to the United States. Corruption and inadequate law
enforcement allows the violence to persist. Although gang violence and
exploitation is rampant in Honduras, there are no reports of law enforcement
officials investigating cases of children who may be exploited by gangs or
criminal organizations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
similar situation is found in El Salvador and Guatemala. Although El Salvador
experiences gang and gender violence that may lead to trafficking, the
government does not report any efforts to reduce the demand for commercial sex
acts or forced labor. In Guatemala, children are subjected to sex and labor
trafficking within the country, in Mexico, and by U.S. gangs who recruit
children for criminal acts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
border crisis is a humanitarian crisis. Children often migrate because of the
fear of gang recruitment, sexual assault, forced labor, and sexual exploitation.
The TVPRA procedures were enacted to prevent the violation of children’s
rights. If Congress makes revisions that limit the due process protections and
expedite deportation, the U.S. will no longer consider the best interest of the
child. In fact, the revision or “cutting back” of protection procedures may put
these children in grave danger. If TVPRA is to be reformed, it should be
reformed to benefit and improve circumstances for all unaccompanied children. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
August, President Obama requested over $3 billion to combat the flood of
unaccompanied minors. However, the requested budget primarily addressed issues
in the U.S. and not the violence and exploitation within countries of origin.
This does not provide a comprehensive solution to appropriately curtail the
issue of unaccompanied minors. Despite the President’s request, the House
passed a bill reducing the budget to $659 million with provisions that would
allow for easier deportation of immigrants from Central America. The bill did
not pass the Senate because the proposed legislation did not address the dangers
faced by child migrants sent back to their home countries. Any bill that is passed
must address and improve the current state of unaccompanied youth from both contiguous
and noncontiguous states, not compromise the safety of one migrant group to put
both at risk in their countries of origin.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">-Sausha Cutler, IOFA Program Development Intern</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
“Putting the Child Refugees in Context.” Center for Progress. (August 2014)
Retrieved from: http://theyoungcenter.org/news/putting-the-child-refugees-in-context/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Unintended consequences: 2008 anti-trafficking contributes
to border crisis”, Tom Cohen (July 2014) Retrieved from:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/15/politics/immigration-unintended-consequences/<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Obama, Senate Dems clash on border bill”, Alexander Bolton
(July 2014), Retrieved from:</span> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/211933-obama-senate-dems-clash-over-border-crisis<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Use brains, not brawn, to handle migrant crisis”,
Christopher Wilson and Eric Olson (July 2014), Retrieved from:
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/211991-use-brains-not-braun-to-handle-migrant-crisis<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Immigrant Surge Rooted in Law to Curb Child Trafficking”,
Carl Hulse (July 2014). Retrieved from: http:/nyti.ms/1n2bMSf<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“The Refugee Crisis at the U.S. Border: Separating Fact from
Fiction”. National Immigrant Justice Center. (June 2014).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Trafficking in Person Report: June 2014”, Office of the
Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs and Bureau of Public Affairs
(June 2014).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wong, Tom K. “Statistical Analysis Show that Violence, Not
Deferred Action, Is Behind the Surge of Unaccompanied Children Crossing the
Border,” Center for American Progress, July 8, 2014, </span><a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2014/07/08/93370/statistical-analysis-shows-that-violence-not-deferred-action-is-behind-the-surge-of-unaccompanied-children-crossing-the-border/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2014/07/08/93370/statistical-analysis-shows-that-violence-not-deferred-action-is-behind-the-surge-of-unaccompanied-children-crossing-the-border/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if !supportAnnotations]-->
<!--[endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-border-unaccompanied-children"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-border-unaccompanied-children</span></a></span>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div style="mso-element: comment-list;">
<!--[if !supportAnnotations]-->
<br />
<hr align="left" class="msocomoff" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div style="mso-element: comment;">
<!--[if !supportAnnotations]-->
<br />
<div class="msocomtxt" id="_com_1" language="JavaScript">
<!--[endif]--><span style="mso-comment-author: "IOFA CHICAGO";"><!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_msocom_1"></a><!--[endif]--></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoCommentText">
<span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: comment;"> <!--[if !supportAnnotations]--><a class="msocomoff" href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2290774081799251634#_msoanchor_1">[IC1]</a><!--[endif]--></span></span></span>Technically,
do non-U.S. citizens have rights under U.S. law?<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--[if !supportAnnotations]--></div>
<!--[endif]--></div>
</div>
Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-19424741335131383522014-11-06T06:34:00.000-08:002014-11-06T06:35:06.491-08:00Adolescents & the Border Crisis, Part 3: The Impact of Border Migration on U.S. Social Policies Related to Youth <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">S<i>ince October, nearly 63,000 youth have been apprehended attempting to
enter into the United States through the Mexican border (Park, 2014). Since
2011, the number of children from Central America attempting to enter America
has doubled each year (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, 2014).
These children, labeled either unaccompanied minors (UAM) or unaccompanied
alien children (UAC), are</i></span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><i><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">coming
to the U.S. primarily from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. They are
frequently coming in an attempt to escape poverty, sexual assault, violence
from gangs, kidnapping, or murder. This multi-part series of will explore the
impact of border migration by unaccompanied children and youth on social policy
in the U.S. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Placement with relatives in
America does not end the child’s vulnerability to trafficking (Lind, 2014). With the dramatic rise in UAC, there has been
an increased pressure to get UACs out of shelters and into placement with
family members as quickly as possible.
Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has stated that they do a home
study for only certain categories of UAC, as well as follow up visits for
at-risk children (ORR, 2013). This raises concern that a number of placements
are not being adequately screened for safety.
A similar practice in the 1990s resulted in Chinese immigrants being
released to people officials believed were relatives, but turned out to be part
of smuggling networks. The smugglers would then extort the immigrants and their
families (Lind, 2014). Although it is
still too soon to know if the same thing is happening to these UACs, from
2008-2010, 95% of confirmed labor trafficking survivors in the U.S were
foreign-born (Banks & Kyckelhahn, 2011). </span><span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RhCX87u6JBs/VFuFjuKlpzI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/G0reopZ1Uxs/s1600/UAC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RhCX87u6JBs/VFuFjuKlpzI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/G0reopZ1Uxs/s1600/UAC.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CBP facility in South Texas (Photo: Huston Chronicle/U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">Because of these compounding
vulnerabilities and knowledge from the field that many UACs have been
trafficked, all UACs should be screened for indicators of human trafficking
once encountered at the border. The use of a standardized screening tool by
trained professionals (such as the tool under development through </span><a href="http://iofa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=153&Itemid=130"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">ChildRight: New York</span></a><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">) would identify more child survivors so they
may be provided the additional protections and resources to which they are
entitled. Currently, when a youth is apprehended by a Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) Officer, he or she is interviewed by an officer within 48
hours to determine if he or she is eligible for protection under TVPRA. A study completed by United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) found that the majority of these interviews
are focused on getting quick answers and that most of the interviews were
conducted in public, in plain sight of potential traffickers. Many times, interpreters were not made
available to the children and on average the interviews lasted only about ten
minutes (UNHCR, 2014). Although CBP has
stated that they have developed trainings for their officers on how to properly
screen UACs, this training has not been released to the public. Additionally,
there is no data available on the number of UACs identified by the CBP to be at
risk of trafficking (Center for Gender & Refugee Studies & Kids in Need
of Defense, 2014).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">To address the vulnerability
of UAC to exploitation, several steps should be taken. First, all UACs should be screened for
indicators of human trafficking by persons trained in child-sensitive interviewing. Interviews should be given in the child’s
native language in a safe place where the child can feel comfortable disclosing
sensitive information. All relatives and
families that house UACs should be screened for possible safety concerns. Home-visits and follow up visits in line with
those provided to youth in foster care should be completed to ensure that all
UACs are living in healthy and safe environments. UACs should have access to legal support,
including child advocates who can support them in court. Congress should enact legislation mandating
counsel for UACs legislation, such as the </span><a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-bill/744"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Border Security, Economic Opportunity and
Immigration Modernization Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">. Lastly, for UACs returned to their home
country, the U.S. needs to work with the home country to implement
comprehensive reintegration services.
These services should focus on ensuring safety for the child when
returned to their country of origin.
Ideally these services should also address the safety issues that caused
the child to flee their country, to ensure that the child is not returned to danger
they will need to flee again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">- Caitlin Gallacher, ChildRight: New York
Intern</span></i><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">Resources<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">Bank, D.
& Kyckelhahn, T. (2011). <i>Characteristic of suspected human
trafficking incidents, 2008-2010</i>.
Washington, D: Bureau of Justice Statistics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">Center for
Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS) & Kids in Need of Defense (KIND).
(2014). <i>A treacherous journey: Child
migrants navigating the U.S. immigration system. </i>Retrieved from </span><a href="http://www.supportkind.org/en/about-us/resources/download/63"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">http://www.supportkind.org/en/about-us/resources/download/63</span></a><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">Lind, D.
(2014). Thousand of children are fleeing Central America to Texas- alone. Retrieved from </span><a href="http://www.vox.com/2014/6/4/5773268/children-migration-central-america-texas-unaccompanied-alien-children-border-crisis"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">http://www.vox.com/2014/6/4/5773268/children-migration-central-america-texas-unaccompanied-alien-children-border-crisis</span></a><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">Office of
Refugee Resettlement (2013). About
unaccompanied children’s services.
Retrieved from </span><a href="http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/programs/ucs/about"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/programs/ucs/about</span></a><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">Park, H.
(2014). Q. and A. Children at the Border.
Retrieved from </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/15/us/questions-about-the-border-kids.html?_r=0"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/15/us/questions-about-the-border-kids.html?_r=0</span></a><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). (2014). <i>Children
on the run: Unaccompanied children leaving Central American and Mexico and the
need for international protection</i>.
Retrieved from </span><a href="http://www.unhcrwashington.org/sites/default/files/1_UAC_Children%20on%20the%20Run_Full%20Report.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">http://www.unhcrwashington.org/sites/default/files/1_UAC_Children%20on%20the%20Run_Full%20Report.pdf</span></a><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-17564976918385738722014-10-28T10:26:00.000-07:002014-10-28T10:26:02.424-07:00Adolescents & the Border Crisis, Part 2: Unaccompanied Minors and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy (DACA)<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Since October, nearly 63,000 youth have been
apprehended attempting to enter into the United States through the Mexican
border (Park, 2014). Since 2011, the number of children from Central America
attempting to enter America has doubled each year (United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees, 2014). These children, labeled either unaccompanied
minors (UAM) or unaccompanied alien children (UAC), are</span></i><span class="MsoCommentReference"><i><span style="font-size: 8.0pt;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">coming to the U.S. primarily from Honduras,
Guatemala, and El Salvador. They are frequently coming in an attempt to escape
poverty, sexual assault, violence from gangs, kidnapping, or murder. This
multi-part series of will explore the impact of border migration by
unaccompanied children and youth on social policy in the U.S.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Unaccompanied alien
children (UACs) are currently the center of much debate across the nation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>President Obama has urged Congress to approve
$3.7 billion in emergency funds to address the influx of UACs, emphasizing the
need to speed up the deportation process (Folye, 2014).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, Congress remains divided on how to
address the situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The crux of the debate
centers around two existing policies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The first is </span><a href="http://www.dhs.gov/deferred-action-childhood-arrivals"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals</span></a><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"> (DACA), an executive order from the Obama
administration that was signed in June 2012. DACA allows undocumented minors deferred
deportation if they arrived before 2007 and if they meet specific </span><a href="http://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/consideration-deferred-action-childhood-arrivals-daca"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">criteria</span></a><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deferment can be revoked at any time, and it
does not provide lawful immigration status, a green card, or citizenship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead, deferment indicates that the
Department of Human Services (DHS) does not consider the child a danger to
national security or public safety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">It
has been suggested the dramatic rise in UACs is a direct result of smugglers lying
to children and their families about DACA, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>telling them that they will be given a ‘free
pass’ to remain in the United States if they are able to successfully cross the
border. However, a study of over 400 UACs conducted by San Diego University
showed that children have limited knowledge about the U.S. immigration system
and few believe that they will be given special consideration based on their
age (Kennedy, 2014).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, legal
counsel and child advocates are rarely appointed to UAC immigration
proceeding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result more than half
of UACs do not have attorneys with them in court, or anyone to help them
navigate the confusing U.S. immigration system (Center for Gender & Refugee
Studies & Kids in Need of Defense, 2014).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This lack of representation increases the likelihood of a negative case
result, such as the UAC being returned to a dangerous living situation (Center
for Gender & Refugee Studies & Kids in Need of Defense, 2014).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Large gang populations in
their hometowns make UACs vulnerable to trafficking, as these gangs often
single out young children (Kennedy, 2013).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Boys are targeted for recruitment into gangs or to become child
soldiers; if they resist such recruitment, they are at risk of violence or
death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Girls are often targeted by gangs
to be ‘girlfriends’ or to be trafficked for sex (Kennedy, 2013).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the journey to America, youth face the
risk of being robbed, assaulted, and sexually violated by gangs, other
individuals, and even law enforcement officers (Cavendish & Cortazar,
2011).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">When youth reach the
border, they reach out to a ‘coyote’ or ‘pollero’ to smuggle them across.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fee to cross is often over $1,000 per
person; if a youth does not have the money upfront they will become indebted to
the smuggler (Cavendis & Cortazar, 2011).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Youth may be forced or coerced into trafficking to repay their debt, or
may be sexually assaulted to have some of the debt forgiven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Once UACs cross the border
successfully they are placed in shelters operated by the Office of Refugee
Resettlement (ORR). They stay in these shelters until ORR is able to release
the youth to relatives or other caregivers while they wait for their deportation
hearing. An estimated 90 percent of these children are able to be placed with a
caregiver, who may reside anywhere in the country (Lind, 2014). However, as we
will discuss in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Part 3: The Impact of
Border Migration on U.S. Social Policies Related to Youth, </i>placement in
America does not end the child’s vulnerability to exploitation<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0px;">
<i style="text-indent: -0.25in;">- <span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Caitlin Gallacher, ChildRight: New York Intern</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Resources<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Cavendish,
B. & Cortazar, M. (2011). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Children at
the border: The screening, protection and repatriation of unaccompanied Mexican
minors</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Washington, DC: Appleseed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Center
for Gender & Refugee Studies (CGRS) & Kids in Need of Defense (KIND).
(2014). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A treacherous journey: Child
migrants navigating the U.S. immigration system. </i>Retrieved from </span><a href="http://www.supportkind.org/en/about-us/resources/download/63"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">http://www.supportkind.org/en/about-us/resources/download/63</span></a><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Foley,
E., (2014). For border crisis, many bills but no clear answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Retrieved from </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/17/border-crisis-bills_n_5597013.html"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/17/border-crisis-bills_n_5597013.html</span></a><span style="color: black; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 17.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Kennedy, E. (2014b). ‘No place for children’: Central America’s youth
exodus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Retrieved from </span><a href="http://www.insightcrime.org/news-analysis/no-place-for-children-central-americas-youth-exodus"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">http://www.insightcrime.org/news-analysis/no-place-for-children-central-americas-youth-exodus</span></a><span lang="EN" style="color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Kennedy,
E. (2013).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Refugees from Central
American gangs<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. Forced Migrations Review,
43</i>, 50-52. </span><a href="http://www.fmreview.org/en/fmr43full.pdf"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">http://www.fmreview.org/en/fmr43full.pdf</span></a><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Lind,
D. (2014). Thousands of children are fleeing Central America to Texas-
alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Retrieved from </span><a href="http://www.vox.com/2014/6/4/5773268/children-migration-central-america-texas-unaccompanied-alien-children-border-crisis"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">http://www.vox.com/2014/6/4/5773268/children-migration-central-america-texas-unaccompanied-alien-children-border-crisis</span></a><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Park,
H. (2014). Q. and A. Children at the Border.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Retrieved from </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/15/us/questions-about-the-border-kids.html?_r=0"><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/15/us/questions-about-the-border-kids.html?_r=0</span></a><span style="color: #262626; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>1033</o:Words>
<o:Characters>5894</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Albany</o:Company>
<o:Lines>49</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>13</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>6914</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<span style="font-family: Tahoma;">United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). (2014).
<i>Children on the run: Unaccompanied
children leaving Central American and Mexico and the need for international
protection</i>. Retrieved from </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.unhcrwashington.org/sites/default/files/1_UAC_Children%20on%20the%20Run_Full%20Report.pdf"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">http://www.unhcrwashington.org/sites/default/files/1_UAC_Children%20on%20the%20Run_Full%20Report.pdf</span></a></span><!--EndFragment-->
Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-42667113965933681542014-10-09T06:30:00.000-07:002014-11-06T06:34:46.007-08:00Adolescents & the Border Crisis, Part 1: Unaccompanied Minors and the Trafficking Victims Protection Act<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Since October, nearly 63,000 youth have been apprehended attempting to enter into the United States through the Mexican border (Park, 2014). Since 2011, the number of children from Central America attempting to enter America has doubled each year (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [UNHCR], 2014). These children, labeled either unaccompanied minors (UAM) or unaccompanied alien children (UAC), are</span></i><span class="MsoCommentReference"><i><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">coming to the U.S. primarily from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. They are frequently coming in an attempt to escape poverty, sexual assault, violence from gangs, kidnapping, or murder. This multi-part series of will explore the impact of border migration by unaccompanied children and youth on social policy in the U.S. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The majority of the debate in Congress and among the public has surrounded the </span><a href="http://www.state.gov/j/tip/laws/"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection and Reauthorization Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> (TVPRA), first passed in 2000 and reauthorized most recently in 2013. This legislation protects survivors of labor and sex trafficking in the U.S. and imposes criminal sanctions against both international and domestic traffickers. A clause added in 2008 allows UACs who enter the U.S. from non-bordering countries (other than Mexico and Canada) to not face immediate deportation, but rather to be offered the opportunity to see a judge in a deportation hearing. This </span><a href="http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:8%20section:1232%20edition:prelim)"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">clause</span></a><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> was added to better identify and protect child survivors of trafficking in other countries who were then brought to the U.S. from the southern border. It also identifies resources for survivors, as well as agencies responsible for providing these services. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">In the ongoing debate over the border crisis, many have been quick to blame the TVPRA for the influx in UACs entering the U.S. However, due to their lack of protection under the TVPRA and inadequate screening methods, the majority of apprehended Mexican children are determined to not fit the criteria needed for asylum. These youth are generally deported back to Mexico within a few days, forcing them to again face the many dangers they sought to escape. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-baX7qF_WC_U/VDaMjTio9dI/AAAAAAAAAYw/nyiMmJ4TzY0/s1600/uac%2Bpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-baX7qF_WC_U/VDaMjTio9dI/AAAAAAAAAYw/nyiMmJ4TzY0/s1600/uac%2Bpic.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UAC at border patrol facility (Photo: Twitter/Jeffery Guteman)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">For this reason Mexican youth in particular are especially vulnerable to trafficking for sex or labor. Mexican youth are often recruited by gangs to work in the human smuggling industry, and traffickers know that if youth are apprehended they will be quickly released and can start working again within days (UNHCR, 2014). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">There have been many </span><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/17/border-crisis-bills_n_5597013.html"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">bills</span></a><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> proposed to address the UAC crisis, a majority of which seek to amend the TVPRA so that all youth who attempt to enter the United States without proper documentation are deported promptly (in the same manner as Mexican youth). This short-sighted response to a massive global problem is not a solution. Rather than remove critical protections for some of the world’s most vulnerable children, efforts should instead focus on addressing the issues forcing children to flee their homes in the first place. Since the majority of children are fleeing due to violence and poverty, the United States should provide aid to address gang violence and corruption in Central American governments. Studies have shown that children who are attempting to escape violence in their countries come to America as a last resort; they often move around within their country or other countries in Central America before they are forced to come to America to escape the gangs that follow them (Kennedy, 2014). Providing safe homes or spaces for these children in their countries would dramatically decrease the amount of UACs seeking to enter the U.S. By jeopardizing the legal protections available to UACs, we are increasing the risk of unjust deportations, which could mean that we are sending children to their traffickers, abusers, and their deaths. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Contact your </span><a href="http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">representative</span></a><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> and let them know that they should not support proposed legislation to amend the TVPRA. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Sign the petition:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/governments-in-central-america-and-the-united-states-children-should-not-be-forced-to-choose-between-their-home-and-their-safety"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">http://www.change.org/petitions/governments-in-central-america-and-the-united-states-children-should-not-be-forced-to-choose-between-their-home-and-their-safety</span></a><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/felicia-escobar-protect-arriving-refugees-at-our-southern-border"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">http://www.change.org/petitions/felicia-escobar-protect-arriving-refugees-at-our-southern-border</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<i>- Caitlin Gallacher, ChildRight: NY Intern </i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;">References <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">Kennedy, E. (2014). No childhood here: Why central American children are fleeing their homes. <i>American Immigration Council. </i>Retrieved from </span><a href="http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/no_childhood_here_why_central_american_children_are_fleeing_their_homes_final.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/sites/default/files/docs/no_childhood_here_why_central_american_children_are_fleeing_their_homes_final.pdf</span></a><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">Park, H. (2014). Q. and A. Children at the Border. Retrieved from </span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/15/us/questions-about-the-border-kids.html?_r=0"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/15/us/questions-about-the-border-kids.html?_r=0</span></a><span style="color: #262626; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). (2014). <i>Children on the run: Unaccompanied children leaving Central American and Mexico and the need for international protection</i>. Retrieved from </span><a href="http://www.unhcrwashington.org/sites/default/files/1_UAC_Children%20on%20the%20Run_Full%20Report.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">http://www.unhcrwashington.org/sites/default/files/1_UAC_Children%20on%20the%20Run_Full%20Report.pdf</span></a><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-42014481522649117362014-09-12T09:50:00.000-07:002014-10-09T11:36:36.384-07:00Despite High Rating, U.S. has Room for Improvement<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The United States Department of State released the <a href="http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2014/?utm_source=NEW+RESOURCE%3A+Trafficking+in+Persons+Report+2014&utm_campaign=2014.07.16+NEW+RESOURCE%3A+Trafficking+in+Persons+Report+2014+&utm_medium=email"><span style="color: blue;">2014 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report</span></a> in June, 2014.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This annual report places each country into one of four tiers based on the countries’ efforts to maintain compliance with the <a href="http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2011/164236.htm"><span style="color: blue;">Trafficking Victims Protection Act: Minimum Standards for the Elimination of Trafficking in Persons</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the 2014 TIP Report, the United States ranks on Tier 1, the highest tier possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the United States has made some great advancement in the past years in responding to human trafficking, there continue to be areas of great concern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">In 2013 the FBI was significantly less likely to open a case on a perpetrator of labor trafficking of adults or minors, or an adult sex trafficking case, than they were to open a case of female minor sex trafficking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similarly, service providers and law enforcement across the country continue to focus the majority of their resources on responding to minor female sex trafficking survivors, at times to the detriment of victims of other forms of trafficking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Additionally, services for male and LGBTQ trafficking survivors are severely lacking across the country, especially in the area of housing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Survivors of all forms of trafficking - regardless their gender identity or sexual orientation - should be afforded the protections they are entitled to according to the TVPA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because these populations are perpetually underserved, it is also necessary that programs and funding include resources specifically for survivors of labor trafficking as well as LGBTQ and male survivors, particularly in regards to emergency shelter and long-term housing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Currently, 42 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws that protect minor sex trafficking survivors by requiring no proof of force, fraud, or coercion, and 18 states, including <a href="http://www.polarisproject.org/storage/documents/policy_documents/model%20laws/model%20safe%20harbor%20law%20overview%20final-1.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">New York</span></a> and <a href="http://iofa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=154&Itemid=128"><span style="color: blue;">Illinois</span></a> have enacted ‘Safe Harbor’ laws.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite this, a reported 579 youth under the age of 18 were arrested for prostitution or solicitation in 2013 (U.S. Department of State, 2014).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While this is a decrease of approximately 25% from the previous year, it is appalling that children and youth survivors continue to be criminalized instead of being protected and provided with services.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The United States government urgently needs to provide resources and training to all levels of law enforcement on the issue of sex and labor trafficking of minors to end this violation of their rights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Training should include information about the identification of male, female and transgender minors in sex and labor trafficking situations and the protections available to survivors under the TVPA and local state laws. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">A vast majority of trafficked youth have had contact with the child welfare system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, there is virtually no systematic screening of children and youth for trafficking by child welfare agencies across the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through our ChildRight: New York project, IOFA is creating a <a href="http://iofa.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=153&Itemid=130"><span style="color: blue;">screening tool</span></a> to be used by child welfare agencies across New York State to screen minors for trafficking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Federal programs should require child welfare agencies in each state to screen the children and youth they encounter for sex and labor trafficking. With standardized screening mechanisms in place, child welfare agencies would be better able to identify minor victims, offer the tailored services survivors need, and more accurately quantify the number of minor victims in the United States. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">In 2013 the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) decreased its funding for anti-trafficking tasks forces across the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These Task Forces are a unique model that mandates collaboration between various agencies, including law enforcement and service providing organizations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The loss of funding to these programs will negatively impact survivors who rely on these collaborations and enhanced coordination to adequately meet their needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Therefore, federal funds must prioritize long-term services and sustainable collaboration between agencies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Additionally, the DOJ should reinstate funding to these task forces and monitor their efforts to foster strong regional collaborations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">To read the 2014 Trafficking in Persons Report, click <a href="http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2014/index.htm"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about what the 2014 Trafficking in Persons Report means for the United States, please see the Freedom Network’s <a href="http://freedomnetworkusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/TIP-Report-Comments-FINAL.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">comments</span></a> on the report.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<i>- Caitlin Gallacher, ChildRight: NY Intern</i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">References <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">U.S Department of State. (2014). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Trafficking in Persons Report: June 2014. </i></span><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">U.S Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. (2011).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Trafficking victims protection act: Minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Retrieved from <a href="http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2011/164236.htm"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2011/164236.htm</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-37022510156335229782014-08-15T08:53:00.001-07:002014-08-15T08:53:05.287-07:00Legislation Aims to Address Trafficking in Supply Chains<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In addition to the chocolate and
make-up industries – as discussed in the April 11th blog post – many other
industries make millions, if not billions, of dollars from the production of
commodities using forced labor throughout the supply chain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This June, <i>The Guardian </i>newspaper
released an </span><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jun/10/supermarket-prawns-thailand-produced-slave-labour"><span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">article</span></a><span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> exposing
the modern-day slavery used to procure shrimp for major grocery stores in the
U.S. and around the world (Hodal, Kelly & Lawrence, 2014). Shrimp is only
one of many products sold cheaply to consumers at the expense of exploited and
trafficked laborers. Worldwide the use of labor trafficking or forced labor
results in an estimated $51 billion of profits annually (International Labor
Organization, 2014).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The United States
is the largest importer of goods in the world but, despite this, there is
little transparency of the supply chains that major companies use to move their
products from production to our shelves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WZyRQpGhf0k/U-4h5Y1OlyI/AAAAAAAAAYI/G71gPPpYAnk/s1600/shrimp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WZyRQpGhf0k/U-4h5Y1OlyI/AAAAAAAAAYI/G71gPPpYAnk/s1600/shrimp.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">Thai fishmonger sorts shrimp. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Photograph: Barbara Walton/EPA</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The process involved in procuring a
product includes a complex system of supplies, contractors, and workers. As it
stands, this production maze makes it next to impossible for consumers to know
if a product they are buying has been touched by human trafficking. While there
have been moves from various agencies and even states (notably </span><a href="https://www.knowthechain.org/"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">California</span></a><span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">) to highlight company supply chain
practices, until recently there was no proposed federal legislation that would
require companies to be accountable for their supply chain process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-chNL0QoQG18/U-4iMOSeWvI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/VXEiBcu08aE/s1600/carolyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-chNL0QoQG18/U-4iMOSeWvI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/VXEiBcu08aE/s1600/carolyn.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma;">Representative
</span><a href="https://beta.congress.gov/member/carolyn-maloney/729" style="color: windowtext; font-family: Tahoma;">Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY)</a><span style="color: #262225;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma;">. Photograph: Congressional Pictorial Directory</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma;">On June 11th, Congresswoman Carolyn
B. Maloney (D-NY) introduced the </span><a href="https://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/4842/text"><span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Business
Supply Chain Transparency on Trafficking Act of 2014</span></a><span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma;"> (H.R. 4842). Building on key elements of the </span><a href="https://www.knowthechain.org/"><span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">California Transparency in Supply Chains Act</span></a><span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma;"> of 2012,
this proposed legislation intends to require major companies in the U.S. to
disclose annually what steps they are taking to identify and prevent human
trafficking, slavery, and child labor in their global supply chains. Specifically, this legislation would require
major companies with annual worldwide global receipts over $100 million to
disclose clearly on their company website their processes for identifying and
addressing any forced labor in their supply chains. This would include disclosure of the
company’s current polices on auditing suppliers for evidence of forced labor,
training about issues related to human trafficking for employees who have
direct responsibility for supply chain management, and risk assessment (Wokaty,
2014). Under this bill,</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma;"> </span><span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma;">The
Department of Labor would also publish on their website a list of the top 100
companies adhering to the supply chain labor standards so businesses with
progressive practices would be recognized for their efforts. Unlike current
standards, such as the recognition of Fair Trade products, evaluation in this
ranking system would be required for all major companies, and would be complied
by the Secretary of Labor in consultation with the Secretary of State as well
as other Federal and international agencies. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">If passed, this bill would represent
a major step forward in the global response to modern slavery. It would allow
consumers to research which companies are, or are not, taking steps to address
human trafficking. Consumers would be empowered to purchase goods which have
been produced without trafficking, and through these decisions they would be
able to support businesses with responsible anti-trafficking practices. The
bill would allow investors to better understand the risks in investing in
certain companies, and enable them to make educated decisions regarding their
portfolios. It would further create space for better discourse between
companies and advocates about strategies that businesses could implement to
identify and eradicate suppliers who use human trafficking and slave labor from
their supply chain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">-<i>Caitlin Gallacher, IOFA ChildRight: NY Intern</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">For more information about the
Business Supply Chain Transparency of Trafficking and Slavery Act, please refer
to the following sources:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 0in 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Fitzpatrick, T. (2014, June 12).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>New Legislation Could Help Consumers and Investors
Take a Stand Against Slavery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Retrieved
from </span><span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://ftsblog.net/2014/06/12/new-legislation-could-help-consumers-and-investors-take-a-stand-against-slavery/">http://ftsblog.net/2014/06/12/new-legislation-could-help-consumers-and-investors-take-a-stand-against-slavery/</a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 0in 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; text-indent: 0in;">Hodal, K., Kelly, C., & Lawrence,
F. (2014, June 10). Revealed: Asian
slave labor producing prawns for supermarkets in US, UK. <i>The Guardian. </i>Retrieved from </span><span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jun/10/supermarket-prawns-thailand-produced-slave-labour">http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jun/10/supermarket-prawns-thailand-produced-slave-labour</a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 0in 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; text-indent: 0in;">International Labor Organization
(2014).</span><span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; text-indent: 0in;"> </span><i style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; text-indent: 0in;">Profits and Poverty: The
Economics of Forced Labour. </i><span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; text-indent: 0in;">Geneva,
Switzerland: International Labor Office.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 0in 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; text-indent: 0in;">Lagon, M. (2014, June 27). Modern slavery will continue if corporations
keep passing the buck. <i>The Guardian</i>. Retrieved from </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Tahoma; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jun/27/modern-slavery-corporations-business-sense-ethical-supply-chain">http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jun/27/modern-slavery-corporations-business-sense-ethical-supply-chain</a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 0in 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; text-indent: 0in;">Morosi, M. (2014, June 12). Maloney targets slavery, human trafficking
and child labor with bipartisan supply chain transparency bill. Retrieved from </span><span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="http://maloney.house.gov/press-release/maloney-targets-slavery-human-trafficking-and-child-labor-bipartisan-supply-chain">http://maloney.house.gov/press-release/maloney-targets-slavery-human-trafficking-and-child-labor-bipartisan-supply-chain</a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 0in .25in 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; text-indent: 0in;">U.S. House. 113th Congress, 2nd
Session.</span><span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; text-indent: 0in;"> </span><i style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; text-indent: 0in;">H.R. 4842, Business Supply
Chain Transparency on Trafficking and Slavery Act of 2014. </i><span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; text-indent: 0in;">Washington,
Government Printing Office, 2014.</span><span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; text-indent: 0in;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>337</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1921</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Albany</o:Company>
<o:Lines>16</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2254</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 0in 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; text-indent: 0in;">Wokaty, J. (2014, June 12). Investors welcome federal
bill calling for corporate disclosures on trafficking and slavery risks. Retrieved from </span><span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; text-indent: 0in;"><a href="http://www.iccr.org/investors-welcome-federal-bill-calling-corporate-disclosures-trafficking-and-slavery-risks-0">http://www.iccr.org/investors-welcome-federal-bill-calling-corporate-disclosures-trafficking-and-slavery-risks-0</a> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">For more information about the
California Transparency in Supply Act (SB-657) legislation please visit: </span><span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://www.knowthechain.org/">https://www.knowthechain.org</a> </span></div>
<br />Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-56809264750155974322014-08-08T11:54:00.000-07:002014-08-08T11:54:47.966-07:00Welcome to IOFA, Caitlin!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype
id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t"
path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75"
style='position:absolute;margin-left:306pt;margin-top:6.4pt;width:128.85pt;
height:188.7pt;z-index:251658240;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;
mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;
mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;
mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;
mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;
mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;
mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page'>
<v:imagedata src="file://localhost/Users/attolia25/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0clip_image001.png"
o:title=""/>
<w:wrap type="tight"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PAIUrg8yauU/U-Ucc3H62EI/AAAAAAAAAX4/hx_u-IKv23E/s1600/225345_10150262537268465_7958517_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PAIUrg8yauU/U-Ucc3H62EI/AAAAAAAAAX4/hx_u-IKv23E/s1600/225345_10150262537268465_7958517_n.jpeg" height="320" width="219" /></a><span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">While
completing my undergraduate degree in social work at SUNY Brockport I was
fortunate to study under policy workers who promote wide scale change for the
benefit of vulnerable populations as well as an expert in sex trafficking.
Working with these mentors increased my awareness of human trafficking – an
issue I had been vaguely aware of, but largely uninformed about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I, like many others, had considered human
trafficking to be an international issue. Because of this misconception I had
missed the connection between human trafficking and the large migrant farm
worker population in my own hometown of Sodus, NY.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">After graduation I worked at a
residential facility for pregnant and parenting teen mothers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of my clients were considered runaways
until they became pregnant and entered the program.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking back now, I can see indicators
amongst many of my clients suggesting they may have been victims of sex
trafficking. For example, some of my clients would run away from placement for
a weekend and come back with new clothes, electronics, or money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One client in particular would talk about the
various adult sexual partners that she had and what they would buy for her for
being their ‘girlfriend.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of my
clients had the name of their boyfriend tattooed on their arms or chest, and
most of my clients were involved in gangs, or were involved with someone who
was in a gang.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though I didn’t
quite understand all of the things my clients were going through at the time, I
knew that I wanted to help them and that I currently did not have the skills or
knowledge to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I then deiced that
it was time to go back to school to complete my Master’s Degree in Social Work
at the University at Albany, SUNY.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">I am excited about my work as a
ChildRight: New York intern at IOFA. In a few short weeks I have already
learned so much about labor and sex trafficking, and I am eager to continue
learning about human trafficking as it affects children and youth in New York
State.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I look forward to incorporating
my knowledge from working with vulnerable youth into the statewide response to
child trafficking, and to contribute to the development of the <i>ChildRight:
New York Handbook</i> and <i>Blueprint</i>. I am looking forward to learning
and growing with all of you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: 28.0pt 56.0pt 84.0pt 112.0pt 140.0pt 168.0pt 196.0pt 224.0pt 3.5in 280.0pt 308.0pt 336.0pt; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>349</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1990</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Albany</o:Company>
<o:Lines>16</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2335</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>14.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1027"/>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/>
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #262225; font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;">Caitlin Gallacher, ChildRight: New York Intern</span><span style="font-family: Tahoma; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-44856036721820899052014-06-24T10:29:00.000-07:002014-06-24T10:50:31.840-07:00The Abduction and Trafficking of the World’s Most Vulnerable<br />
“I abducted your girls. I will sell them in the market", said the leader of the extremist group Boko Haram. Boko Haram linked a video declaring their intention to sell the 276 school girls they abducted on April 14th, 2014 in the Nigerian village of Chibok. The school girls were taken from a secondary school at gun point. The kidnapping of such a large number of school girls shocked the world. <br />
<br />
However, what shocked the world even more was the Boko Haram’s proclamation of their plan to sell the young girls on the market. Reports have begun to circulate stating that some of the girls have already been sold to the soldiers of Boko Haram as brides for a price of $12. Other reports state some of the young girls were taken and sold in neighboring countries. If these reports are true, some of these young girls may be sexually exploited, or forced into domestic servitude, while others may be forced into indentured servitude and forced labor. People all over the world are calling for the return of the girls before any more are sold. <br />
<br />
Human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry. It can often be perpetuated by systems and countries that do not have frameworks in place to appropriately identify or respond to human trafficking. According to the 2014 Trafficking in Person Report (TIP), 156 countries out of 188 do not meet the minimum standards set forth under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). Out of these 156 countries, 23 countries do not put forth any efforts to comply with the minimum standards under TVPA<a href="file:///C:/Users/Summar/Desktop/Blog%20Post%20SC.docx#_ftn1">[1]</a>. These countries’ lack of compliance and action allows human trafficking to persist and remain profitable. Nigeria is considered a Tier 2 country; its government does not fully comply with the TVPA’s standards, in part because the government refuses to pass legislation that require traffickers to receive prison sentences. The government does not address labor trafficking and it does not implement formal training and procedures for the recovery and reintegration of victims. Nigerian gangs often abduct and subject large groups of women to forced prostitution, domestic servitude, and forced labor. Boko Haram is just one example of an organization that has abducted and sold a large number of girls.<br />
<br />
Traffickers often abduct the most vulnerable populations, especially those who tend to be forgotten by society at large, such as orphans. Orphans are often targeted because they do not have families. They are often lured with dreams of a better life, a life they often never end up seeing. Instead, they are forced into a life of prostitution and forced labor.<br />
<br />
While working for an organization that specialized in assisting incarcerated youth, I came into contact with young orphan girls who were forced to become drug mules or prostitutes. Their captors were violent and merciless. The girls were often beaten, raped, or threatened with abuse. Without family or a support system, they did not have anyone to trust or turn to in times of need. <br />
<br />
These children without family ties or support systems possess vulnerabilities that make them susceptible to human trafficking. In some cases, orphans without family ties are sent to an orphanage, but even this safe haven can be exploitative. The Department of State’s 2007 Trafficking in Persons Report gave various examples of abuse and exploitation that occur within orphanages. In one case, children at an orphanage in Albania experienced sexual abuse by the operator of the orphanage and were trafficked out to pedophiles. <br />
<br />
“Scam orphanages” are also becoming increasingly popular in tourist locations. These orphanages house and exploit children by forcing them to pretend to be orphans in order to receive donations from tourists. Parents send their children to these orphanages, unaware of the scam, in hope of a better future for their children. However, the children receive little education and are required by the operators to appear sad and destitute. Scam orphanages take finances and attention away from orphanages that need help. Government corruption tends to be prevalent in areas where most scam orphanages are located. Corruption further allows for these young people to be forgotten and left even more vulnerable.<br />
<br />
As a result, orphans – both true orphans and those handed off to pose as them – are often recruited by pimps, gangs, and criminal organizations. Sometimes, it is their caregivers who exploit them. In a world where children are being taken and sold by the dozens, we cannot afford to let a single child go unnoticed and unprotected. As I intern for IOFA, I realize increasingly why advocacy and training on the issue is valuable. It is important to advocate for changes within systems that directly address trafficking prevention and response while providing staff at child-serving agencies with training to help identify the signs of human trafficking and be equipped to appropriately respond.<br />
<br />
<i>-Sausha Cutler, IOFA Program Development Intern</i><br />
<br />
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Summar/Desktop/Blog%20Post%20SC.docx#_ftnref1">[1]</a> Note: While the Tier 2 and 3 rankings indicate that a country does not meet TVPA standards to address human trafficking, the ranking does not correlate to the prevalence of human trafficking in each country.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Cited sources:<br /><br />“Trafficking in Persons Report : U.S. Department of State Publication 11407”, Office of the Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs and Bureau of Public Affairs (June 2007).<br /><br />“Trafficking in Person Report: June 2014”, Office of the Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs and Bureau of Public Affairs (June 2014).<br /><br />“A Profitable Enterprise”, Retrieved from: <a href="http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/category/the-facts/the-number/">http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/category/the-facts/the-number/</a>.<br /><br />“Boko Haram Could Make Good on Threat to 'Sell' Nigerian Girls”, Mike Brunker (May 2014). Retrieved from: <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/missing-nigeria-schoolgirls/boko-haram-could-make-good-threat-sell-nigerian-girls-n97796">http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/missing-nigeria-schoolgirls/boko-haram-could-make-good-threat-sell-nigerian-girls-n97796</a>.<br /><br />"Cambodia's Booming New Industry: Orphanage Tourism", Morgan Hartley and Chris Walker (May 2013). Retrieved from: <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/morganhartley/2013/05/24/cambodias-booming-new-industry-orphanage-tourism/">http://www.forbes.com/sites/morganhartley/2013/05/24/cambodias-booming-new-industry-orphanage-tourism/</a>.<br /><br />"Cambodia's Scam Orphanages", Poypiti Amatatham and Thomas Fuller (June 2014). Retrieved from: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/video/world/asia/100000002940698/cambodias-scam-orphanages.html">http://www.nytimes.com/video/world/asia/100000002940698/cambodias-scam-orphanages.html</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<div id="ftn1">
</div>
</div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-24720138081210573852014-05-05T15:41:00.001-07:002014-06-24T10:50:58.207-07:00ChildRight: New York<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Curious about IOFA's work in New York? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The following infographic highlights the Phase I goals and accomplishments of ChildRight: New York, a special project aimed at developing a coordinated response to child sex and labor trafficking across New York State. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-siVrSxG-beU/U2hKfbPXv1I/AAAAAAAAAXY/P-cmU5FbKGQ/s1600/ChildRight+Phase+I+Infographic+600+pixels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-siVrSxG-beU/U2hKfbPXv1I/AAAAAAAAAXY/P-cmU5FbKGQ/s1600/ChildRight+Phase+I+Infographic+600+pixels.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-47571404653583410682014-04-11T12:37:00.000-07:002014-04-11T12:46:28.970-07:00Child Labor, Chocolate and Makeup: Two Industries<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
For many people, “child trafficking”
invokes terrible images of children locked in dark spaces, being transported,
tortured, forced to have sex and left alone, confused and terrified. Although these images are lived nightmares
for many trafficking victims, another reality of child trafficking is forced
labor. Forced labor comes in many forms
though the images described above can also be applied to the lives of child
laborers. In recent years, two
industries known for using child laborers have received media attention due to well-known
companies being involved in purchasing products from these producers: cocoa
farmers in West Africa (Huffington Post, 2012; Forbes, 2014) and Indian mica producers
(The Guardian, 2014).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The Hershey Company recently faced
a lawsuit regarding their potential violation of federal child trafficking laws
that prohibit the use of cocoa from known child laboring sites in Ghana and
Ivory Coast. What is still up for debate
is whether or not the company knew that its suppliers used child labor (though
cheap cocoa means cheap methods of production which raises questions about the
ethics of a supplier’s production).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Cosmetic makeup companies like Lush
and L’Oreal have taken steps to stop the use of mica, a common ingredient in makeup
due to its glimmering property, from Indian producers who use child labor. Cosmetic companies are trying to find ways to
ensure that they won’t contribute to the problem. For example, the British cosmetic company Lush
has announced that they will no longer use mica in their products and L’Oreal’s
mica supplier in India, Merck, has conducted social auditing of mica producers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The Hershey and makeup cases
illustrate two different approaches to the issue of child labor and its
involvement in world trade. The Hershey
Company took an unfortunate risk which has had negative outcomes – Whole Foods Markets
Inc. has discontinued selling the Hersey’s artisan chocolate brand Scharffen
Berger in their stores and a public pension fund threatens to sue the company
if it is proven that they were aware that their cocoa producers were using
child labor.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the
cosmetic industry, various methods have been used to avoid incorporating
products from producers known to use child laborers. Although not every method is 100% fail-proof
(for example, social auditing can still miss cases of child labor that are
covered up before the audit), at least the companies are doing <i>something</i> which is more than Hersey can
say.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In a
competitive market, nothing can ruin your brand like involvement in social
injustice. While most people would argue
that it’s wrong to support producers who use child labor, cheaper products – as
a result of forced labor – are coveted in a world where economic growth is a
life force. From these two examples
though, a simple lesson can be learned: avoid contributing to the issue of
child labor in the first place or gamble your company’s reputation and revenue.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cited sources:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/02/hershey-child-labor_n_2060702.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/02/hershey-child-labor_n_2060702.html</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/bethhoffman/2014/04/08/how-can-we-end-child-labor-in-the-fields-pay-farmers-better/">http://www.forbes.com/sites/bethhoffman/2014/04/08/how-can-we-end-child-labor-in-the-fields-pay-farmers-better/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/india-child-labour-mica-mineral-cosmetics">http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/india-child-labour-mica-mineral-cosmetics</a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Contributed by Annie Vulpas</i></div>
Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-1105919070860020392014-03-21T12:55:00.000-07:002014-03-21T13:00:32.502-07:00Talibés: Victims of Forced Begging<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Yq5aVx4v7o/UyyYxrrNxUI/AAAAAAAAAW4/cSepShZELsI/s1600/Annie+photo+blog+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Yq5aVx4v7o/UyyYxrrNxUI/AAAAAAAAAW4/cSepShZELsI/s1600/Annie+photo+blog+1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Annie Vulpas is a MPH intern from The University of Illinois - Chicago with IOFA. She reflects on her experience studying abroad as an undergraduate student in Senegal and bearing witness to a human rights violation.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It
wasn’t until recently that I realized I had been a witness of child trafficking
everyday for nearly a year. To the group
of American women studying abroad at the Université Gaston Berger in Saint
Louis, Senegal, the <i>talibés</i> were
mainly a nuisance and many techniques were employed to avoid the filthy, poorly
dressed little boys begging for money.
Sometimes we changed directions or crossed the street while walking when
we saw a <i>talibé</i> coming; other times,
we rudely ignored them or told them <i>“bayyi
ma!”</i> (leave me alone!).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The word
<i>talibé</i> is from the Arabic word for
student – talib. The <i>talibés</i> in Senegal are young boys
enrolled in Qur’anic schools, called <i>daara</i>
in Wolof, where they live, often hundreds of miles from home. In many of the <i>daaras</i>, boys are sent out early in the morning and forced to beg
all day long for money, about $1-2 (500-1,000 fCFA), rice and sugar each
day. Failing to return with the required
amount of goods or cash, the <i>talibés</i>
will not be fed and are often brutally beaten.
The Qur’anic teachers, or <i>Marabouts</i>,
are responsible for the treatment of these children and support their schools,
which are often unsanitary and built out of poor building materials such as
plastic and corrugated tin.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As a
young woman in my early 20’s, I acknowledged that something was wrong with the <i>talibé</i> situation in Senegal but acceptance
of <i>talibé</i> begging by the general population
clouded my understanding of the issue. Many
people saw the <i>talibé</i> experience as a
rite of passage and since they begged as children, it only made sense that
their children would also enroll in a <i>daara</i>
under the tutelage of a <i>Marabout</i>. Now, interning with IOFA and learning of the
various ways that children are trafficked, I can see a bigger picture and,
sadly, understand the crime that I bore witness to in Senegal.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
According
to the 2013 Trafficking in Persons Report, Senegal – categorized as a Tier 2
country – is a “source, transit, and destination country for children and women
who are subjected to forced labor, forced begging, and sex trafficking.” Other forms of trafficking in Senegal include
prostitution, domestic servitude and forced labor. The government supports various shelters and
rehabilitation programs in Senegal that provide shelter, food, medical and
psychological care to victims of trafficking but statistics related to
trafficking prosecutions and convictions are not maintained or published. It is believed that approximately 50,000 boys
between the ages of 3 and 19 are forced to beg for their <i>daaras</i>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Reflecting
on my interaction with the <i>talibés</i>
during that year, I feel a sense of guilt.
Although I was kind – or hoped I was kind to them – I feel guilt for
being aware of the issue and instead of addressing my beliefs, letting others
dictate my understanding of the situation.
The widespread moral disengagement of the Senegalese, or self-conviction
that ethical standards do not apply to certain situations such as the forced
begging of <i>talibés</i>, is fueling the
abuse of these children. Efforts have
been made by various organizations in recent years to end the forced begging of
<i>talibés</i> as awareness of the issue is
growing, but such an obvious violation of human rights must be ended. The boys of Senegal deserve to spend their
days in classrooms learning rather than out in the streets begging and being
rudely told to “go away” by unknowing and apathetic passersby.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For more
information on this topic, please refer to the following sources:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2012/dec/11/senegalese-children-forced-beg-renegade-teachers">http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2012/dec/11/senegalese-children-forced-beg-renegade-teachers</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.hrw.org/features/talib-s-senegal">http://www.hrw.org/features/talib-s-senegal</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://plan-international.org/about-plan/resources/videos/senegal-reaching-talibe-child-beggars/">http://plan-international.org/about-plan/resources/videos/senegal-reaching-talibe-child-beggars/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2013/215609.htm">http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/countries/2013/215609.htm</a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-86864606494745574342014-02-07T15:23:00.001-08:002014-02-27T09:06:01.636-08:00What’s in a word: “Prostitution”<i>The FBI's recent <a href="http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/sixteen-juveniles-recovered-in-joint-super-bowl-operation-targeting-underage-prostitution">recovery of 16 juveniles</a> in a joint operation targeting commercial sex trafficking in New Jersey around the Super Bowl demonstrates law enforcement's vigilance and effectiveness in combating the sexual exploitation of children. However, it also conjures a somewhat misleading image of juvenile victim's experience in the commercial sex trade. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>IOFA program development intern, Alexa Schnieders, shares her thoughts on "child prostitution" and how our terminology reflects the identity we impose on a subject: </i><br />
<br />
I sat in on a discussion recently that began with, “Sex trafficking should be called rape trafficking.”
Others in the room cringed over the harsh four-letter word. All innocuous and/or glamorous connotations of the sex trade disappeared as the reality of violence and exploitation took their place. Does semantics wield that much power?
When speaking about sex trafficking, misuse of the term “prostitution” has the ability to strip sexually exploited women and men of all victimhood.<br />
<br />
Prostitution is generally defined as “the act of engaging in sex acts for hire,” necessitating both consensual sex and received payment. According to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), victims of sex trafficking engage in sexual acts under “force, threat or coercion.” This definition of sex trafficking aligns with rape, i.e. victimhood, however in sex trafficking situations there is the added element of rape for the profit of someone other than the survivor/victim.<br />
<br />
The word “prostitution” becomes further problematic when it is partnered with the word “child.” Just as the TVPA informs us that someone forced to engage in sexual acts under force, fraud, or coercion is a survivor/victim of trafficking, so too does it state that any child under the age of 18 who engages in a commercial sex act is the survivor/victim of sex trafficking. Based on this legislation, a “child prostitute” simply cannot exist.<br />
<br />
While the difference between the terms “survivor/victim of child sex trafficking” (also correctly referred to as “commercially exploited children”) and “child prostitute” may sound like a matter of political correctness, it is much more than that. Using the correct terminology signifies that children are the survivors or victims of a heinous, brutal crime. “Child prostitutes,” on the other hand, are young criminals. While the term “child prostitute” may more effectively grab the attention of a public who responds to sensational language, calling exploited children “prostitutes” perpetuates incorrect notions that these children willingly engage in sex (to which they are too young to consent) and that they are to blame for a choice (that they did not make).<br />
<br />
This difference must be understood by all of us, including partners in the field. As advocates, learning and employing the appropriate terminology is our first step towards making change. Our language conveys our understanding of the issue as well as our intentions in our work. While we adopt language that correctly describes the population of survivors and victims we serve, it is our responsibility to encourage our partners to do the same. As the anti-trafficking movement uses this language more consistently, it is our hope that it will begin to affect the language used by those around us as well and that, little by little, the larger paradigm will shift towards one in which survivors of child trafficking are recognized as just that – survivors.
Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-27871044838178851492014-01-31T13:26:00.002-08:002014-01-31T14:19:59.013-08:00Human Trafficking and the Super BowlAs sports fans prepare for a showdown between the Broncos and the Seahawks just outside of New York City, conversation about human trafficking is heating up. There is a lot of discourse about a peak in human trafficking surrounding the Super Bowl, but as our partners at the Sex Worker Project and the Urban Justice Center explain, that may be just a myth: <br> <br>While we commend efforts to raise awareness about human trafficking, allegations that large sporting events, like the Super Bowl, increase the number of persons trafficked into prostitution are simply unfounded. Investigations from past Olympics, World Cups, and Superbowls, have not found large numbers of persons trafficked to these locations by force to engage in commercial sex. These claims can lead to raids and police harassment of adult sex workers, increasing danger for this population. <b>This is a misuse of scarce resources better aimed at preventing human trafficking.</b> <br> <br>While it is critically important to understand and tackle the root causes of human trafficking and provide resources to those who are currently in trafficking situations or who are survivors, erroneous links to sporting events are not helpful toward these ends. They also distract from real issues surrounding large sporting events that do deserve our attention and are often under-reported, including instances of unsafe labor conditions for construction workers who build sports arenas, and the <b>large scale trafficking and deaths of migrant workers</b>. <br> <br>The media’s fixation on trafficking into the sex trade has led to an unfortunate misperception about human trafficking, and missed opportunities to halt human rights abuses. We encourage journalists and members of the public to support more just working conditions in all labor sectors where trafficking exists, including restaurants, private homes, landscaping, construction, and agriculture; this will help us recognize and assist victims in need. <br> <br> <br> <br><i>Written by: Sienna Baskin, Esq. Co-Director Sex Workers Project Urban Justice Center www.sexworkersproject.org </i><br> <br>To learn more about the intersection of human trafficking and large sporting events, please see these sources: <br> <br>Trafficking in Human Beings and the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Migration Research Series no. 29 , International Organization for Migration (2007), (stating that “the estimate of 40,000 women expected to be trafficked [in Germany surrounding the World Cup] was unfounded and unrealistic”). <br> <br>What’s the Cost of a Rumour? A guide to sorting out the myths and the facts about sporting events and trafficking, Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women (2011). <br> <br>Urban Legends and Hoaxes: How Hyperbole Hurts Trafficking Victims, Huffington Post, Rachel Lloyd, (2012), (stating that while “there have definitely been some reported cases, the statistics just don’t bear out this claim.”). Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-47124375464244466982013-10-17T15:49:00.000-07:002013-10-17T15:49:38.817-07:00IOFA forges ahead: Join us at our third training in Onondaga County! <div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1">
</div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7897333529723179439" itemprop="description articleBody">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a class="imgCaptionAnchor" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001qMhu6iEc4pI7f1-NXXJaqsk96E9yOG1QS7ngrzdKS5O_cgXbQajesdKixe6QZ-dJjEUGNbejlJqJMDAreBErMvdlcTVJitTK" shape="rect" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" track="on"><img alt="NYChildRight Trainings" border="0" hspace="0" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.69" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs182/1102323000424/img/69.jpg" vspace="0" width="425" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="49" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.70" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs182/1102323000424/img/70.jpg" vspace="5" width="105" /><img alt="IOFA logo" border="0" height="46" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.45" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs048/1102323000424/img/45.jpg" vspace="5" width="105" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #351c75;">The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) <br />&</span></i></div>
<i><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">The International Organization for Adolescents (IOFA)<br />are pleased to invite you to</span></div>
</i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="content_LETTER.BLOCK2" style="text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="color: #717171; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px 0px; text-align: center;" valign="top"><div style="font-size: 18pt;">
<a href="https://htonondagaonedaytraining.eventbrite.com/" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #ff6600; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" track="on">Responding to Child Trafficking in Onondaga County</a></div>
<div style="font-size: 18pt;">
<span style="color: #4c0171; font-size: 16pt;">and</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18pt;">
<div style="color: #ff6600;">
<a href="https://htonondagatwodaytraining.eventbrite.com/" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #ff6600; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" track="on">Identifying and Assisting Trafficked Children in Onondaga County</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As part of IOFA's NY ChildRight project, join us for free one and two-day trainings in Onondaga County on child trafficking. </div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="content_LETTER.BLOCK22" style="display: table;"><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="color: #717171; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; padding: 7px 10px; text-align: center;" valign="top"></td></tr>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #351c75;">RESPONDING TO CHILD TRAFFICKING</span></strong> </div>
(ONE-DAY TRAINING)<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
TUESDAY </div>
October 22nd, 2013<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
From 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.<br />
</div>
<a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/event/8426739605?ref=ebtn" target="_blank"><img alt="Eventbrite - Responding to Child Trafficking in Onondaga County" src="http://www.eventbrite.com/custombutton?eid=8426739605" /></a><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #351c75;">IDENTIFYING AND ASSISTING TRAFFICKED CHILDREN</span></strong> <br />
(TWO-DAY TRAINING)<br />
<br />
WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY<br />
October 23rd and 24th, 2013<br />
From 8:30 a..m. to 5 p.m. </div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="content_LETTER.BLOCK3"><div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/event/8427269189?ref=ebtn" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Eventbrite - Identifying and Assisting Trafficked Children in Onondaga County" src="http://www.eventbrite.com/custombutton?eid=8427269189" /></a></div>
</div>
Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-78973335297231794392013-10-07T13:35:00.002-07:002013-10-07T13:44:44.177-07:00Our ChildRight: New York Trainings on Child Trafficking continue! Join us in Rochester! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a class="imgCaptionAnchor" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001qMhu6iEc4pI7f1-NXXJaqsk96E9yOG1QS7ngrzdKS5O_cgXbQajesdKixe6QZ-dJjEUGNbejlJqJMDAreBErMvdlcTVJitTK" shape="rect" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" track="on"><img alt="NYChildRight Trainings" border="0" hspace="0" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.69" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs182/1102323000424/img/69.jpg" vspace="0" width="425" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="49" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.70" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs182/1102323000424/img/70.jpg" vspace="5" width="105" /><img alt="IOFA logo" border="0" height="46" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.45" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs048/1102323000424/img/45.jpg" vspace="5" width="105" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #351c75;">The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) <br />&</span></i></div>
<i><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">The International Organization for Adolescents (IOFA)<br />are pleased to invite you to</span></div>
</i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="content_LETTER.BLOCK2" style="text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="color: #717171; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px 0px; text-align: center;" valign="top"><div style="font-size: 18pt;">
<a href="https://htmonroeonedaytraining.eventbrite.com/" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #ff6600; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" track="on">Responding to Child Trafficking in Monroe County</a></div>
<div style="font-size: 18pt;">
<span style="color: #4c0171; font-size: 16pt;">and</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18pt;">
<div style="color: #ff6600;">
<a href="https://htmonroetwodaytraining.eventbrite.com/" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #ff6600; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" track="on">Identifying and Assisting Trafficked Children in Monroe County</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As part of IOFA's NY ChildRight project, join us for free one and two-day trainings in Monroe County on child trafficking. </div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="content_LETTER.BLOCK22" style="display: table;"><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="color: #717171; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; padding: 7px 10px; text-align: center;" valign="top"> </td></tr>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #351c75;">RESPONDING TO CHILD TRAFFICKING</span></strong> </div>
(ONE-DAY TRAINING)<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
TUESDAY </div>
October 15th, 2013<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
From 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/event/8271330773?ref=ebtnebregn" target="_blank"><img alt="Eventbrite - Responding to Child Trafficking in Monroe County" src="http://www.eventbrite.com/custombutton?eid=8271330773" /></a></div>
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #351c75;">IDENTIFYING AND ASSISTING TRAFFICKED CHILDREN</span></strong> <br />
(TWO-DAY TRAINING)<br />
<br />
WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY<br />
October 16th and 17, 2013<br />
From 8:30 a..m. to 5 p.m. </div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="content_LETTER.BLOCK3"><div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/event/8423070631?ref=ebtnebregn" target="_blank"><img alt="Eventbrite - Identifying and Assisting Trafficked Children in Monroe County" src="http://www.eventbrite.com/custombutton?eid=8423070631" /></a></div>
Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-14280457719339546792013-09-17T10:29:00.004-07:002013-09-17T10:40:49.552-07:00Register for our Training Series on Child Trafficking in Westchester County!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a class="imgCaptionAnchor" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001qMhu6iEc4pI7f1-NXXJaqsk96E9yOG1QS7ngrzdKS5O_cgXbQajesdKixe6QZ-dJjEUGNbejlJqJMDAreBErMvdlcTVJitTK" shape="rect" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank" track="on"><img alt="NYChildRight Trainings" border="0" hspace="0" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.69" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs182/1102323000424/img/69.jpg" vspace="0" width="425" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="49" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.70" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs182/1102323000424/img/70.jpg" vspace="5" width="105" /><img alt="IOFA logo" border="0" height="46" hspace="5" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.45" src="https://origin.ih.constantcontact.com/fs048/1102323000424/img/45.jpg" vspace="5" width="105" /> </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #351c75;">The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) <br />&</span></i></div>
<i><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">The International Organization for Adolescents (IOFA)<br />are pleased to invite you to</span></div>
</i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="content_LETTER.BLOCK2" style="text-align: center;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="color: #717171; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; padding: 8px 0px; text-align: center;" valign="top"><div style="font-size: 18pt;">
<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001qMhu6iEc4pI7f1-NXXJaqsk96E9yOG1QS7ngrzdKS5O_cgXbQajesdKixe6QZ-dJHI95XzuX8e2a7BGdOzOlZlUv3kfp8x9XpC2kVl7WN7wkhrXTO784jDGvg6t3v3-oW8f-zm0o5ZzJuorhCOGTVQ==" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #ff6600; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" track="on">Responding to Child Trafficking in Westchester County</a></div>
<div style="font-size: 18pt;">
<span style="color: #4c0171; font-size: 16pt;">and</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 18pt;">
<div style="color: #ff6600;">
<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001qMhu6iEc4pI7f1-NXXJaqsk96E9yOG1QS7ngrzdKS5O_cgXbQajesdKixe6QZ-dJHI95XzuX8e2a7BGdOzOlZlUv3kfp8x9XfVowoSQ69XuAeQalovaLcV8kaJ-hZiIESbyOK2ZiZ9FCZd85VyzbyQ==" linktype="1" shape="rect" style="color: #ff6600; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" track="on">Identifying and Assisting Trafficked Children in Westchester County</a></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please join us for an upcoming training series being held in Westchester County on child trafficking. </div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="content_LETTER.BLOCK22" style="display: table;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="color: #717171; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; padding: 7px 10px; text-align: center;" valign="top"> </td></tr>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="color: #351c75;">RESPONDING TO CHILD TRAFFICKING</span></strong> </div>
(ONE-DAY TRAINING)<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
WEDNESDAY </div>
September 25th, 2013<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/event/8043270639?ref=ebtnebtckt" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Eventbrite - Responding to Child Trafficking in Westchester County" src="http://www.eventbrite.com/custombutton?eid=8043270639" /></a></div>
<br />
<strong><span style="color: #351c75;">IDENTIFYING AND ASSISTING TRAFFICKED CHILDREN</span></strong> <br />
(TWO-DAY TRAINING)<br />
<br />
THURSDAY AND FRIDAY<br />
September 26th and 27, 2013<br />
From 8 a..m. to 4 p.m. </div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="content_LETTER.BLOCK3"><div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.eventbrite.com/event/8044265615?ref=ebtnebtckt" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Eventbrite - Identifying and Assisting Trafficked Children in Westchester County" src="http://www.eventbrite.com/custombutton?eid=8044265615" /></a></div>
Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-33337202577289031822013-09-01T22:00:00.000-07:002013-09-01T23:05:25.091-07:00This Labor Day, Let’s Band Together for Worker’s Rights<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aJvoAyyYEhk/UiENooAPElI/AAAAAAAAATM/ZwSFqHREZFs/s1600/rosie_the_riveter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aJvoAyyYEhk/UiENooAPElI/AAAAAAAAATM/ZwSFqHREZFs/s320/rosie_the_riveter.jpg" height="320" width="247" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers, Labor Day constitutes a yearly tribute to the contributions workers have made to the health, prosperity, and well-being of the United States. Congress officially made the first September of the month a legal holiday in 1894, reiterating that the workforce was the critical piece of the nation’s fabric. <br />
<br />
As we celebrate our workers this Labor Day, there are still strides to be made. Working people in America have certain basic legal rights to safe, healthy and fair conditions at work, but often these rights are not respected or realized. <br />
<br />
For example, agricultural workers are exempt from the overtime pay provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act, though they often work well in excess of forty hours per week. Similarly, hundreds of thousands of domestic workers are excluded from many of the basic protections of labor laws, which include minimum wage, overtime, sick and vacation pay. Many work without health care and do not earn enough to support their own families. Though a <a href="http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=85&GA=98&DocTypeId=SB&DocNum=1708&GAID=12&LegID=&SpecSess=&Session=">Domestic Worker Bill of Rights</a> has been introduced into the Illinois legislature, the bill is currently still pending. <br />
<br />
To remedy the injustices many domestic workers face, the bill includes the following provisions:<br />
<br />
· the right to be paid no less than the minimum wage<br />
· the right to be paid for all work hours<br />
· the right to at least one day off a week<br />
· the right to meal and rest periods<br />
· the right to paid time off<br />
<br />
In extreme cases, workers brought from other countries to work in the United States are indebted to the people that brought them here and expected to work no matter the conditions for little or no pay. When force, fraud or coercion is involved, the situation escalates from labor exploitation to labor trafficking, a federal crime by law. According to the ILO, 21 million people are stuck in situations of forced labor globally. Of these victims, many undocumented children are subject to debt bondage and
peonage, which forces them to pay off smuggling debts levied by
snakeheads. Unfortunately, these children are often identified as smuggled into the United States, but not
trafficked. <br />
<br />
In the United States, labor trafficking has also been linked to several Asian communities. In fact, according to a 2010 U.S. Department of Justice Report on Trafficking, the majority of immigrant human trafficking victims in the United States are from Asia and the Pacific. To date, there have been no targeted or coordinated outreach efforts to identify Asian Pacific Islander trafficking victims in the Chicago area. IOFA’s <a href="http://aatopchicago.blogspot.com/p/about-us.html">Asian American Trafficking Outreach Project (AATOP)</a> aims to fill the current gap in services by partnering with API organizations to build their capacity to identify and serve victims in their communities. Simultaneously, in an effort to identify more labor trafficking cases, the Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force is also in the beginning stages of establishing a labor trafficking committee.<br />
<br />
As we honor the workers of our nation, let's not forget that it's also a day to advocate for those who continue to be treated unjustly. <br />
<br />
<b>What can you do? </b><br />
-Contact your state senator to support the <a href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/6748/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=13778">Illinois Domestic Worker Bill of Rights</a><br />
-Become a part of the Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force labor trafficking subcommittee<br />
-As a member-driven program, AATOP relies on the support of community members who serve API Chicagoans. If you serve this community and would like to join us in better serving trafficking victims, reach out to AATOP at info@iofa.org.<br />
<br />
-Summar Ghias<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Program Specialist</span></i>Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-39186964952110304372013-08-30T14:42:00.000-07:002013-08-30T22:00:44.487-07:00A Recap: The 3rd Annual Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force Conference<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hlp0qWamFG8/UiDNr_5vn7I/AAAAAAAAAS8/vR0w-KlIGLk/s1600/Tina+Frundt+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hlp0qWamFG8/UiDNr_5vn7I/AAAAAAAAAS8/vR0w-KlIGLk/s320/Tina+Frundt+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Last week, 200 social service providers, law enforcement, healthcare professionals and committed community members convened at the 3rd annual <a href="http://www.cookcountytaskforce.org/" target="_blank">Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force</a> Conference to tackle the hard issue of human trafficking. The two-day conference aimed to build a comprehensive and targeted response to both sex and labor trafficking by: 1) hosting plenary sessions that delved deeper into the nuances of pimp culture and labor trafficking as it appears across the nation; 2) providing relevant case studies to assess points of access and discuss successful convictions of traffickers; 3) examining the child welfare response to child trafficking; 4) offering law enforcement and healthcare focused workshops; and 5) honing in on effective outreach, interventions and organizational responses to human trafficking. <br />
<br />
Speakers included Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez, DCFS Human Trafficking Coordinator Stacy Sloan, Tiffany Williams from the Institute for Policy Studies and other local and national leaders in the field. The conference also included a survivor session with DC-based Chicago-born survivor and founder of Courtney’s House, Tina Frundt. Her session served to look closely at the mindsets of pimps and those they choose to control and sell, ultimately bringing real lived experience to the table as the ideal learning scenario for future prevention and intervention. <br />
<br />
As a partner of the core team and a facilitator of the Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force, we hope to use these lessons learned to better inform our steering committee and subcommittee work. With newly formed labor trafficking and LGBTQ subcommittees charged with better identifying and serving underserved communities, there is much work to be done. <br />
<br />
We also want to thank the speakers, attendees and volunteers for truly making the conference a success! Until next year!<br />
<br />
Summar Ghias,<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Program Specialist, IOFA</span></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt; mso-para-margin-bottom: .01gd; mso-para-margin-left: 0in; mso-para-margin-right: 0in; mso-para-margin-top: .01gd;">
</div>
Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-57643682798938607472013-08-27T15:06:00.000-07:002013-08-30T10:22:25.412-07:00Proposed Federal Legislation would extend programs for homeless youth to LGBT IndividualsIn the early 1970s, Americans became preoccupied with the plights of homeless and runaway youth. Congress, in response, held hearings on the issue starting in January 1972, which culminated two years later in a major piece of legislation. 1974’s Runaway Youth Act has since gone through many periodic reauthorizations and renamings before arriving at the most recent incarnation, the <a href="http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/resource/rhy-act">2008 Runaway and Homeless Youth Act</a> (RHYA, known officially as the Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act).<br />
<br />
Since its inception, the RHYA has served as a major source of funding for public and private nonprofit organizations that serve youth who have become disconnected from their homes and families. Among its many provisions, the law establishes three main federal programs:<br />
<br />
1. National Communication System: The RHYA has provided the financial backing for the <a href="http://www.1800runaway.org/">National Runaway Safeline</a> (1-800-RUNAWAY), a 24-hour crisis hotline. The hotline addresses a wide spectrum of youth, from people on the streets to those in precarious living situations, by directing callers to local service providers providing guidance to youth who may just need someone to talk to.<br />
<br />
2. Basic Center Grant Program: Under the RHYA, the Department of Health and Human Services is authorized to provide grants to local nonprofit organizations and public entities as an alternative to involving youth in the child welfare or juvenile justice systems. A minimum of $200,000 is allotted annually to each state to be distributed in grants. Grant recipients must provide short term shelter and counseling services, and they may also offer substance abuse education and STI testing to runaway and homeless youth. <br />
<br />
3. Transitional Living Grant Program: For the many youth who experience abuse, neglect, or severe conflict at home, emergency shelters operating under the Basic Center Grant Program do not provide necessary, long-term assistance. To address these youth, the RHYA calls for grants allocated to transitional living programs, that can provide homeless and runaway youth with shelter for up to 18 months while aiding them in becoming self sufficient.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_rjwAv-0p2s/Uh0iQttKMTI/AAAAAAAAASg/S-kTEewt8ZU/s1600/sad.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_rjwAv-0p2s/Uh0iQttKMTI/AAAAAAAAASg/S-kTEewt8ZU/s320/sad.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">There are at least 1.6 million runaway and homeless youth in the U.S. alone</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
To date, the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act has been largely successful in assisting at-risk or in-need youth from life on the streets, and the <a href="http://missingchildrensnews.blogspot.com/2013/08/experts-say-human-traffickers-target.html">risks of trafficking</a> that accompany homelessness. The National Runaway Safeline alone fields over 100,000 calls a year, while countless youth have benefited from the Basic Center and Transitional Living Programs. However, as the RHYA returns to the floor of Congress for reauthorization at the end of September, many are looking to fill one egregious gap in the legislation: a lack of protections for LGBT homeless and runaway youth.<br />
<br />
Since the RHYA was initially passed in 1974, the LGBT community has gone through substantial changes. A far cry from the days of “We’re Here, We’re Queer” chants, LGBT causes have attracted more mainstream attention and popular support. Research also shows that people have been steadily identifying at younger and younger ages; whereas people used to come out well into adulthood, the average age at which people first self-identify as lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender, or queer is now 16. As a result, more youth are faced with negative family reactions and bullying at school, leading to a large population of LGBT youth who are kicked out or decide to leave pernicious home environments. Currently, the best estimates state that between 20 and 40 % of all homeless youth identify as LGBT, depending on the area. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the RHYA has failed to keep up with the times, and despite several reauthorizations, it still lacks any provisions for dealing with the substantial LGBT homeless and runaway youth population. <a href="http://gwenmoore.house.gov/press-releases/gwen-moore-and-mark-pocan-introduce-runaway-and-homeless-youth-inclusion-act/">Two Wisconsin Congresspeople</a>, Representatives Gwen Moore and Mark Pocan, however, have recently sought to amend the RHYA.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G9kdHajgkYY/Uh0hlCaSLvI/AAAAAAAAASY/s_5SfdjbbFY/s1600/moore_pocanx400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G9kdHajgkYY/Uh0hlCaSLvI/AAAAAAAAASY/s_5SfdjbbFY/s320/moore_pocanx400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Representatives Gwen Moore (WI-4) and Mark Pocan (WI-2) proposed the new, inclusive legislation</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
The legislative duo, introduced a new bill on August 1, known as the Runaway and Homeless Youth Inclusion Act (<a href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113hr2955ih/pdf/BILLS-113hr2955ih.pdf">RHYIA</a>), that would add specific provisions for LGBT youth to the extant RHYA. Highlights of Reps. Moore and Pocan’s proposed legislation include:<br />
<br />
· Language specific to LGBT youth added to the bill: The RHYIA would state that grant programs should include outreach programs to “cultural minorities and persons who are in a minority category related to sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.” (emphasis added)<br />
<br />
· Mandates that service providers offer “culturally competent” services and that such services be made available for all youth: Frequent complaints from LGBT homeless youth mention that service providers lack knowledge of LGBT issues, preventing these youth from accessing needed services and leading many to return to the streets<br />
<br />
· Programs specific to LGBT homeless and runaway youth, such as family intervention and reunification services or resources for family members struggling to accept a youth’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression<br />
<br />
· A nondiscrimination section stating that no youth can be denied services on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, among other factors<br />
<br />
In the coming months, as Congress sets out to debate the RHYIA, IOFA is also working on addressing under-served communities, including LGBT youth. The nascent LGBTQ subcommittee of the Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force will convene community members, service agencies, and young people to develop better means of serving LGBT trafficking victims. A newly forming Labor Trafficking subcommittee will also bring attention to a side of human trafficking that is often overlooked.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
Matt Kellner, <i>Project Development Intern</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-70078240818293961032013-08-20T09:00:00.000-07:002013-08-30T10:07:20.346-07:00FBI sex trafficking bust: adult prostitution arrests<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
span.MsoEndnoteReference
{vertical-align:super;}
p.MsoEndnoteText, li.MsoEndnoteText, div.MsoEndnoteText
{mso-style-link:"Endnote Text Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-noshow:yes;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;
text-underline:single;}
span.EndnoteTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Endnote Text Char";
mso-style-locked:yes;
mso-style-link:"Endnote Text";}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
-->
</style>
<br />
<a href="http://www.iofa-talk.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-fbi-recovers-105-sexually-exploited.html">A recent IOFA blog post</a> focused on the <a href="http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/105-juveniles-recovered-in-nationwide-operation-targeting-underage-prostitution">FBI sting</a> that led to the recovery of 105 sexually exploited teenagers. Now we are highlighting those the press may have forgotten. <br /><br />Operation Cross Country aims to identify and recover child victims of sexual exploitation. Nonetheless, the sting last month undoubtedly encountered many adults involved in prostitution – both willing sex workers as well as coerced trafficking victims – in the process of searching for trafficked children. <br /><br />What happens to the adults who were found in the same circumstances as the 105 recovered child victims?<br /><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://news.ripley.za.net/wp-content/plugins/rss-poster/cache/fbf65_130729120427-vo-sex-trafficking-ring-busted-00004810-story-body.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://news.ripley.za.net/wp-content/plugins/rss-poster/cache/fbf65_130729120427-vo-sex-trafficking-ring-busted-00004810-story-body.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FBI Assistant Director Ron Hosko</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
</span></div>
They’re likely arrested on criminal charges.<br /><br />In Chicagoland:<br />Operation Cross Country recovered <b>2 Commercially Sexually Exploited minors</b>.<br />Operation Cross Country arrested <b>96 adults engaged in prostitution</b>.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2290774081799251634#_edn1">[i]</a><br /><br />While many of the detained adults are ostensibly not acting under force or coercion, there may be sex trafficking victims among those arrested.<br /><br /><div>
It comes as no surprise that the sting resulted in the detainment of adults involved in prostitution, even while it was meant to be a crackdown specifically on the commercial sexual exploitation of children. The <a href="http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/105-juveniles-recovered-in-nationwide-operation-targeting-underage-prostitution">FBI press release</a> explains: “Initial arrests are often violations of local and state laws relating to prostitution or solicitation. Information gleaned from those arrested frequently uncovers organized efforts to prostitute women and children across many states.”<br /><br />Are those detained on charges of prostitution being screened as potential human trafficking victims, thus serving the ultimate goal of these stings? Will a sex trafficking conviction emerge for any of the detained adults in the coming months? Or will each one of them end in prostitution charges?<br /><br />The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (<a href="http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/10492.pdf">TVPA 2000</a>) gives legal protection to minors induced to perform commercial sex acts under the premise that those below the age of consent for sex are below the age to give consent for paid sex.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2290774081799251634#_edn2">[ii]</a> The result of the legislation is that these minors are considered “victims of sex trafficking” rather than “juvenile prostitutes”.<br /><br />Yet, in these weeks following the child trafficking bust, it is imperative that we remember that adults are not immune to being trafficked, either. TVPA (2000) also protects adult victims of sex trafficking, i.e., those aged 18 or over who are forced, deceived, or coerced into providing commercial sex acts. Traffickers target both children and adults, preying on vulnerabilities extending beyond age, such as immigration status, language barriers, those fleeing other unfavorable situations, and social isolation or marginalization.<br /><br />IOFA and the rest of the <a href="http://www.cookcountytaskforce.org/">Cook County Human Trafficking Task Force</a> advocate for a victim-centered approach to all potential trafficking victims. The Task Force has worked to train law enforcement, legal service providers, and social service providers on identification and treatment protocols to ensure that each potential victim’s rights are fully realized. To that end, the Task Force is further developing best practice trainings and enhancing current human trafficking curriculum. We envision a coordinated criminal justice response in which we can trust that trafficking victims, both minors and adults, are not slipping through the cracks upon contact with law enforcement or other first responders.<br /><br />While each one of the 105 recovered child victims of sex trafficking from July’s sting deserves to be celebrated, we ought not to forget the potential adult trafficking victims who were encountered in the bust and the difficult road they may have ahead.<br /></div>
<div>
-Alexa Schnieders<br /><i>Program Development Intern</i><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .1pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sources:</span> </div>
<div>
<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2290774081799251634#_ednref">[i]</a> Sanchez, R. “Suburban cops make prostitution arrests in nationwide sex trafficking sweep”. 30 July 2013. The Daily Herald. Accessed online 07 August, 2013. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130729/news/707299829/<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2290774081799251634#_ednref">[ii]</a> "Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act." United States Department of Labor. Web. 07 Aug. 2013. <http://www.dol.gov/ILAB/programs/ocft/tvpra.htm>.<br /><br />Other sources consulted:<br /><br />http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/105-juveniles-recovered-in-nationwide-operation-targeting-underage-prostitution<br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://theweek.com/article/index/247560/how-the-fbi-busted-159-suspected-child-prostitute-pimps-in-72-hours<br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://sanmateo.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/san-mateo-police-net-11-arrests-in-operation-cross-country<br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://www.jimmurphyda.com/news_detail.php?id=418<br /><br />http://caase1821.blogspot.com/2013/07/chicagoland-police-used-fbi-sex.html<br /><br />http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/10492.pdf<br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Image: http://news.ripley.za.net/wp-content/plugins/rss-poster/cache/fbf65_130729120427-vo-sex-trafficking-ring-busted-00004810-story-body.jpg</span></div>
Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-68854153115191641572013-08-08T08:10:00.001-07:002013-08-08T08:10:30.985-07:00Welcome to IOFA, Madeline!I first learned about human trafficking while working as a Youth Development Counselor at a group home in New York City. There I worked with teenage girls in the foster care system who had suffered extreme abuses at the hands of loved ones. Several young women were survivors of child sex trafficking, but none of them were in the clear; they were still dealing with the physical and emotional scars left by their traffickers, and there were pimps waiting by our doorstep at night, hoping to pull them back into “the life.”<br />
<br />
Seeing these realities led me to study the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) and New York’s Safe Harbour Act during my MSW studies at McGill University. After gaining a detailed understanding of CSEC and the law, I continued to advocate for human trafficking victims as a fellow at the Polaris Project in Washington, DC. I remained active in the fight against human trafficking as a fellow at the New York State Council on Children and Families. At the Council I gained critical insight into New York’s policy making process.<br />
<br />
Now, I am very pleased to join IOFA’s team as Project Director of ChildRight: New York. The project strategically strengthens the child welfare response to human trafficking throughout New York by:<br />
<br />
• providing training and technical assistance to direct service providers and professionals likely to encounter trafficked youth;<br />
<br />
• gathering data on the CSEC population in New York;<br />
<br />
• creating a validated screening tool to identify child victims of human trafficking; and<br />
<br />
• developing a blueprint for a statewide operational framework to continue the implementation of the Safe Harbour Act.<br />
<br />
It is our goal to use this opportunity to make a measurable impact in the implementation of the Safe Harbour Act so that New York can better identify and serve CSEC victims, and ultimately prevent the victimization of vulnerable youth.<br />
<br />
I look forward to learning from New York’s many experts as we work together to meet the challenge of improving the state’s response to the commercial sexual exploitation of children.<br />
<br />
Madeline Hannan, MSW<br />
Project Director, ChildRight: New York<br />
mhannan@iofa.orgInfohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-15299435056524899722013-08-05T12:45:00.000-07:002013-08-05T12:47:31.346-07:00Update from Addis Ababa: Experiences of youth aging out of institutionalized care<br />
<header class="entry-header"><br /><div class="comments-link">
<a href="http://transitionsinitiative.wordpress.com/2013/08/05/update-from-addis-ababa-experiences-of-youth-aging-out-of-institutionalized-care/#respond" title="Comment on Update from Addis Ababa: Experiences of youth aging out of institutionalized care"><span class="leave-reply"></span></a> </div>
August 2, 2013 </header><header class="entry-header"> </header>It’s hard to believe that I’ve spent over a month in Addis, and that
I’ll be leaving in just three short weeks. I am now able to get around
the city confidently and comfortably, I have favorite restaurants and
cafés, and I’ve made many friends that I’ll be sad to leave. Moreover,
my work has finally changed from meetings with organizational staff to
interviewing young people who grew up in care: hearing their stories
and experiences of transition. This is the work that I am most
interested in, and it will be the basis for IOFA’s decisions moving
forward on the Transitions Initiative in Ethiopia. We want to know what
the personal experience of transitioning from care institutions to
independence.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://transitionsinitiative.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/img_0105.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Image" class=" wp-image " height="234" id="i-335" src="http://transitionsinitiative.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/img_0105.jpg?w=312&h=234" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mikiyas and three research participants from Kidane Mehret</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So far, Mikiyas Feyissa (IOFA’s Ethiopian representative and
translator) and I have conducted four interview sessions, each with
adults from different organizations. We heard from 5 youth from <a href="http://www.ciai.it/?page_id=704" title="CIAI">CIAI</a> who spent much of their time on the streets until CIAI’s shelter took them in. We met with 10 individuals who grew up in <a href="http://lesperanceethiopia.org/projects/orphanage.html" title="L'Esperance">L’Esperance</a>: an Adventist orphanage on the outskirts of Addis. We talked to 5 adults who grew up in <a href="http://www.agohelma.org.et/">Abebech Gobena</a> (Addis Ababa’s most famous orphanage) and who are now employed by that institution. We also met 4 girls from <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7Ygp9bzxR0">Kidane Mehret</a>
orphanage, who have just started transitioning to independent life.
Additionally, I have been able to have great, informal conversations
with two young men who grew up in care and who are now living
independently.<br />
<br />
Each individual and group has a unique story, but there are common
themes that we hear over and over again. One challenge that every youth
seems to face when they leave care is the extreme culture shock of
joining the outside community. Most orphaned children grow up isolated
in institutions with very little community interaction. Basic social
skills that most children pick up through observing adults are
completely foreign to orphaned youth. Tamerat, who now works as a
psychologist in a Catholic orphanage, told me that he didn’t know how to
buy food or clothes because everything had always been provided in the
orphanage. <br />
<br />
<i>“[Orphaned youth] have no budgeting skills and don’t know how to
save money. They also don’t have any role models for working and
responsibility. Other children see their parents go to work every day,
[orphaned youth] don’t have that experience. They don’t know how to
manage their time to make sure everything is done.”</i><br />
<br />
Every group has commented on how difficult it is to converse and
interact with other people outside of the institution. The youth feel
that the community will ostracize them, which leads them to be very
reserved; most Ethiopians generally do not trust reserved people, so
they treat the youth as though they were of bad character. This
confirms the youth’s fears and leads to further psychological distress.
The youth also have no sense of “good” and “bad” behavior in other
people; they are often easily trusting of strangers. Because their only
interactions with adults have been in the orphanage, the youth often do
not possess the healthy dose of suspicion that most of us employ when
meeting new people, looking for a job, and searching for housing.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mWyGDcw7oxk/Uf__AZ40YrI/AAAAAAAAASI/xx8OjaOlYhE/s1600/IMG_0096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mWyGDcw7oxk/Uf__AZ40YrI/AAAAAAAAASI/xx8OjaOlYhE/s320/IMG_0096.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Research participants answer yes/no questions by forming a Y/N shapes with their bodies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>“Children who grew up in this orphanage have similar thinking and
conduct. We respect people and we do not pretend like people do in the
society. If we trust others; we give ourselves. On the other hand
members of the society do not give themselves, they rather are selfish.”</i><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 400px;">
<div class="wp-caption-text">
<br /></div>
</div>
We are also hearing that although institutions often assist the youth
in pursuing some sort of education or vocational training, the support
stops as soon as they graduate. In Ethiopia, the biggest challenge for
young people is finding employment. While young people with family
support often have the option of staying with their parents while
looking for a good job, orphaned youth must enter the job market
immediately so that they can support themselves. Families also function
as a job search and referral system in a place where social connections
are the key to getting a good job. This lack of material and social
support leads orphaned youth to take jobs that they are over-qualified
for, jobs with low wages and little opportunity of advancement.<br />
<br />
<i>“We suffer long periods of time without any finances…Students who graduated with fewer </i><i>qualifications
and lower grades secure better employment. We graduate with honors and
do not get a job at all. You can only explain this by people having
contacts: relatives, families, etc., and we do not have that.”</i><br />
<br />
For many of the participants in these interviews, telling their
stories can be cathartic. The four girls that Mikiyas and I interviewed
at Kidane Mehret orphanage were disappointed that we would not be
meeting again. This was the first time anyone had asked them about
their experience or showed an interest in how the transition was
affecting them emotionally. The group from L’Esperance meets weekly for
fellowship. They said that they discuss the challenges they face and
lean on each other for support.<br />
<br />
I am glad that IOFA’s interview process gives some of these youth the
opportunity to process and reflect on their experience, as well as
assurance that people do care about them and want to make the experience
better for youth aging out of care.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>
</i><i>Sarah Lyn Jones</i><br />
<i>Transitions Initiative Intern</i>Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-79728773821231502802013-07-30T09:16:00.000-07:002013-08-30T10:00:49.846-07:00The FBI Recovers 105 Sexually Exploited Children across the United States This weekend, 105 sexually exploited teenagers were recovered in a nationwide <a href="http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/105-juveniles-recovered-in-nationwide-operation-targeting-underage-prostitution">FBI sex trafficking sting</a>. The raid, which was the result of collaboration between FBI, local, state and federal law enforcement partners, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), covered 76 cities, recovered children as young as thirteen, and resulted in the arrest of 150 pimps.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="234" id="ep_1936" width="416"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="movie" value="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_embed_2x_container.swf?site=cnn&profile=desktop&context=embedwww&videoId=crime/2013/07/29/vo-sex-trafficking-ring-busted.cnn&contentId=crime/2013/07/29/vo-sex-trafficking-ring-busted.cnn" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><embed src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_embed_2x_container.swf?site=cnn&profile=desktop&context=embedwww&videoId=crime/2013/07/29/vo-sex-trafficking-ring-busted.cnn&contentId=crime/2013/07/29/vo-sex-trafficking-ring-busted.cnn" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="416" wmode="transparent" height="234"></embed></object><br />
<br />
The operation reiterated that the victimization of vulnerable youth can and does happen here in the United States in cities as varied as San Francisco, Atlanta, Detroit, and Birmingham. Ron Hosko, the assistant director of the FBI's criminal investigations division, acknowledged that some of these youth were directly recruited out of foster care facilities, pinpointing a critical point of entry and exit within the child welfare system. San Francisco saw the largest number of recovered victims from the raid of any one city; the FBI was able to find 12 victims of trafficking and arrest 17 pimps. These numbers happen to coincide with staggering statistics in California that connect foster care youth and emancipated youth with homelessness. For instance, each year in California, nearly 2,300 youth age out of foster care <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2290774081799251634"></a>[1] and 65% do so without a place to live <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2290774081799251634"></a>[2]. Of emancipated youth in the Bay Area, it is estimated that up to 44 percent have experienced homelessness <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2290774081799251634"></a>[3].<br />
<br />
On a national scale, one in eight endangered runaways reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in 2012 were likely to be sex trafficking victims <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2290774081799251634"></a>[4]. Of the children reported missing to NCMEC who are also likely to be child sex trafficking victims, 60 percent were in foster care or group homes when they ran away <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2290774081799251634"></a>[5].The vulnerabilities and characteristics common to runaway and homeless youth often place them both within the child welfare system and in the direct line of sight for traffickers, making them easy prey in a lucrative business.<br />
<br />
Interestingly, victim assistance counselors are working to place the recovered teenagers in foster care or group homes after the sting as well, presumably given that many of them have no families to return to or safe places to call home. This reality calls for a differential response within child welfare protocol, a crisis intervention plan of action, and more comprehensive solutions to engaging homeless youth to ensure that they do not flee back into a rabbit hole of revictimization.<br />
<br />
IOFA's Illinois Childright project spearheaded development of a statewide child trafficking response with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services this year; the resulting blueprint and designation of a human trafficking coordinator within DCFS has paved the way for new protocol and policies to guide investigations, a human trafficking indicator in the SACWIS person management screen, and the training of hundreds of frontline workers.<br />
<br />
Now, as IOFA replicates this work in five counties across the state of New York, the common thread is crystal clear. Safe Harbor laws in states like New York, Illinois, and Connecticut transfer jurisdiction of children who are arrested for prostitution from the criminal system to the child protection system, saving youth from the categorical implications of ‘criminal’ and the life outcomes that stem from them. But legal statutes must be reinforced with operational frameworks and protocols within child welfare agencies to ensure that vulnerable youth are met with a comprehensive response no matter their point of entry into the system. It is only then that we can say that our youth are being afforded the basic rights they deserve, no matter the unfortunate hand life has dealt them.<br />
<br />
-Summar Ghias<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Program Coordinator</span></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2290774081799251634" name="_ftn1"></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/srosas/Desktop/Summar%20Ghias/Projects/Social%20Networking/July%2029%20Blog%20Post%20FBI%20Raid%20and%20ChildRight.docx" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt;">[1]</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Child Welfare Services Stakeholders Group. (2003). CWS Redesign:
The</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Future of California’s Child Welfare Services. Sacramento:
California </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Department of Social Services.</span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2290774081799251634" name="_ftn2"></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/srosas/Desktop/Summar%20Ghias/Projects/Social%20Networking/July%2029%20Blog%20Post%20FBI%20Raid%20and%20ChildRight.docx" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt;">[2]</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Issue Brief, Ensuring Access to Healthy Young Adults Program for</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Transitioning Youth, citing a California Department of Social
Services </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">2002 Study: Report of the Housing Needs of Emancipated </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Foster/Probation Youth; California Department of Social Services. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">(2002) Report on the Survey of the Housing Needs of Emancipated </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Foster/Probation Youth. Independent Living Program Policy Unit, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">Child and Youth Permanency Branch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2290774081799251634" name="_ftn3"></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/srosas/Desktop/Summar%20Ghias/Projects/Social%20Networking/July%2029%20Blog%20Post%20FBI%20Raid%20and%20ChildRight.docx" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt;">[3]</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt;">http://www.healthiersf.org/fys/Statistics/docs/HEY%20Stats%20Sheet%20Health%20Homelessness%202009.pdf<u1:p></u1:p></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2290774081799251634" name="_ftn4"></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/srosas/Desktop/Summar%20Ghias/Projects/Social%20Networking/July%2029%20Blog%20Post%20FBI%20Raid%20and%20ChildRight.docx" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt;">[4]</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">http://www.missingkids.com/CSTT<u1:p></u1:p></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2290774081799251634" name="_ftn5"></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/srosas/Desktop/Summar%20Ghias/Projects/Social%20Networking/July%2029%20Blog%20Post%20FBI%20Raid%20and%20ChildRight.docx" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt;">[5]</span></span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">http://blog.missingkids.com/post/56795201973/the-national-center-for-missing-exploited</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div>
<div id="ftn5">
</div>
</div>
Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2290774081799251634.post-82504063376623651202013-07-26T12:02:00.001-07:002013-08-30T10:17:35.247-07:00Greetings from Addis Ababa!<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
July 12, 2013<br />
<br />
It has now been two weeks since I arrived in Addis, and already I have learned much about the situation of orphans and vulnerable children in Ethiopia, as well as the obstacles they face in transitioning out of care and reintegrating into the outside community. After many long conversations and meetings with various NGOs and care institutions here, this is the general picture of the future of those children growing up in care institutions:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jSK4ugl-mkw/UfLG7Qe6xkI/AAAAAAAAAR4/_ElwyUx3CVM/s1600/homepage_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jSK4ugl-mkw/UfLG7Qe6xkI/AAAAAAAAAR4/_ElwyUx3CVM/s400/homepage_01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
First, most institutions in Addis are orphanages whose main goal is international adoption for their children. As they grow older, their chances of adoption grow slim. Many of the orphanages that focus on adoption do not have plans for children who have grown too old for adoption, and the children keep hoping and dreaming that they will leave Ethiopia one day. Some care institutions move children to group homes after a certain age, or try to reintegrate them with their extended families.<br />
<br />Some care institutions are not interested in adoption. These institutions can be private and well-funded (like Selam Children’s Villages) or public institutions (like Kolfe and Kechene orphan homes). The private institutions usually have an organized plan for transition and reintegration, including gradual transitions to independent living, scholarships for university, vocational training, etc. The public institutions are overpopulated and understaffed, and often do not have the funding or the manpower to thoroughly address the issues that these children will face outside of the only home they have ever known.<br /><br />The challenges that these children will face when they age out of care are many. The biggest challenge seems to be the culture shock that they encounter as soon as they leave the institution. Many of these children have been isolated in these care institutions for their entire lives. They often do not have the social skills necessary for community life in Ethiopia, which is a different culture than the in which they grew up; this seems to be especially true for young people from large institutions that have a more dormitory living arrangements. Some institutions work with a village model, raising the children in homes of 8-10 that effectively function as family units. Still, the children in these village-based organizations have very little contact with the surrounding communities and have developed a certain set of social and cultural skills that allowed them to function within the institution but not outside. Without social and cultural education, these young people often find it challenging to integrate themselves into the city of Addis Ababa.<br /><br />A complementary challenge to transition comes from Ethiopian community-based culture itself. Most children in Addis grow up in a community in which their family is established. They often do not move far from that community, even when they reach adulthood. People do not move to new neighborhoods and communities like we do in the United States. Young people leaving care must find homes in established communities and they are often viewed as invaders. Because no one knows who they are or much about their background, the community often does not trust or engage with these young people. Being an orphan or an unsupported youth in Ethiopia also carries its own stigma—they are often seen as delinquents, which creates another barrier to community integration. In a culture and society so focused on communal interaction, this kind of social isolation can be psychologically and emotionally devastating.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jVtG33wIoUg/UfLFwutpRMI/AAAAAAAAARo/JVqh54Yx60U/s1600/sewing.jpg"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jVtG33wIoUg/UfLFwutpRMI/AAAAAAAAARo/JVqh54Yx60U/s320/sewing.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The social and cultural challenges that these young people face are difficult enough, but often added to this burden is lack of support in securing basic needs. Some youth attend university, some get vocational training. The quality of education is variable, depending on not only an individual’s academic performance but also on how much financial support they get from their institution. Because Addis attracts many people from all regions of Ethiopia and because the youth are the fastest growing population in Ethiopia, there is a shortage of good jobs. Many young people cannot get a job for at least a year after graduating from college. If and when young people do find work, they often do not make enough to support themselves. It is common for young people to live with their parents after they have graduated from university or vocational school until they get married—a good 2-6 years. Without the support of a family system to fall back on, many orphaned and unsupported youth are forced to take job opportunities that others pass up—jobs that are low-paying. Some institutions do support their former residents by giving them housing and food allowance, but these are in the minority.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />Fortunately, the Ethiopian government is finally realizing that there is a service gap in reintegration and transition support. Along with moving away from the traditional dormitory/orphanage model of care for unsupported or orphaned children, the government is trying to incorporate models of care that mimic community and village life. UNICEF Ethiopia is also collaborating with Kolfe and Kechene orphanages in Addis on reintegration education and support programs, though the funding and results of their efforts are still unclear. <br /><br />All of this information has come from administrative staff of various NGOs and care institutions here in Addis Ababa. I am very interested to hear from those individuals who have transitioned into the city of Addis about their own experiences, to hear their own individual stories. <br /><br />If you are interested in learning about the organizations with which IOFA will be working with this summer, here is a list. Each is doing great work and deserves to be known.</div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.wise.org.et/">Women In Self Employment (WISE)</a><br />
<a href="http://www.selamchildrenvillage.org/">Selam Children’s Village</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ahopeforchildren.org/">AHOPE Ethiopia</a><br />
<a href="http://www.childrensheaven.org/">Children’s Heaven</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ordainternational.org/">The Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara (ORDA)</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ciai.it/?page_id=786">The Italian Center for Children’s Aid (CIAI)</a><br />
<a href="http://retrak.org/">ReTrak</a><br />
<a href="http://kingdomvisioninternational.net/">Kingdom Vision International</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irct.org/about-us/the-members/find-irct-members/meet-our-member-organisations-1.aspx?PID=16987&Action=1&NewsId=2119">Rehabilitation Center for Victims of Torture in Ethiopia (RCVTE)</a><br />
<br />
<i>Sarah Lyn Jones<br />Transitions Initiative Intern</i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo 1: AHOPE for Kids<br />Photo 2: ReTrak Vocational Training Program</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->
Infohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04903004688726227466noreply@blogger.com1