Let the Walls Fall Down Fall Webinar Series
Understanding and Taking Action Against Human Trafficking
October 7, 2021
9:00 PM Eastern/6:00 PM Pacific
This webinar will cover the definition of human trafficking—what it is and what it is not—recognizing it as abuse and exploitation that exists as both sex and labor trafficking. The webinar will review:
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global scale of human rights crime and how it differs slightly from what we see in the United States.
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manipulative techniques used by traffickers to groom their victims, both online and in the real world, and the coercive methods used to prevent victims from seeking help
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community and state efforts to prevent human trafficking through awareness, education, and tougher penalties against traffickers—using New Jersey as an example of how progress can be made.
Presentation Summary:
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Human trafficking is a human rights crime that we all need to understand properly to be able to prevent happening in our communities.
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Misconceptions and myths about labor and sex trafficking can cause us to confuse smuggling or kidnapping for trafficking, allowing it to happen under our noses.
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Human Trafficking can happen to anyone, but everyone can help end it.
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Some people and children can be more vulnerable to trafficking, which can begin with online grooming, so we need to learn how to protect the vulnerable.
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Human Trafficking involves the exploitation and abuse of others for the financial gain of the criminals who perpetrate it. Victims may have a means of communication but are often unable to speak out or leave due to coercive control.
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We need to equip ourselves by:
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Understanding the “red flags” of trafficking
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Feeling compassion for victims and survivors
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Having the National Human Trafficking hotline number – 888-373-7888 (text 233733) in our phone contacts.
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We can make a difference with our spending choices and opt for Fair Trade items where possible. We should become aware of goods that might be made with forced labor or child labor by using the Sweat and Toil App. Our voices can call for action to prevent exploitative labor practices in the supply chain of goods.
Guest Presenter: Kate Lee
Kate Lee is the Executive Director of the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking. She has a BA in Politics from the University of Warwick in the UK, and spent most of her working career as a BBC Radio News and Current Affairs Producer in London. Kate relocated to Tokyo, where she worked for Japanese public radio and television, and then moved to the US. She has served as the chair of the New Jersey Junior Leagues’ State Public Affairs Committee and was the President of the Junior League of the Oranges and Short Hills during its Centennial year. Kate was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Council Against Sexual Violence in 2009 and served as its co-chair from 2013-2018. She currently serves on the New Jersey Department of Education’s Working Group on Human Trafficking Prevention and Procedures for Schools.
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