Policy and legislative solutions : The Power of DNA to Fight Human Trafficking

1. Policy and legislative solutions:The Power of DNA to Fight Human Trafficking Tim Schellberg, President Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs 2nd International Forensic Science Symposium November 14, 2011 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2. A Global Problem The number of slaves today is higher than any other point in history. Approx. 2.5 million people forced into labor (including sexual exploitation) annually. Nearly 56% of those trafficked occur in Asia and the Pacific.

3. A Global Problem 161 countries affected People are trafficked from 127 countries to be exploited in 137 countries, affecting every continent and every type of economy Large profits – Estimated annual global profits = 31 billion USD

4. A Global Problem In 2006: 5,808 prosecutions. Only 3,160 convictions. Delivering Justice This can change. For every 800 people trafficked, only 1 person was brought to justice.

5. DNA-Prokids Vision Establishing international collaboration to share DNA profiles across borders for the purpose of finding missing or trafficked children. • DNA ProKids has a growing list of countries ready to share • samples: • Bolivia • Brazil • Guatemala • Indonesia • Mexico • Nepal • Philippines • Sri Lanka • Thailand • United States

6. DNA to Resolve Human Trafficking SUCCESS begins with a strong country policy.

7. CHINA:Human Trafficking is a Priority Since April 2009 – nearly 39,000 human trafficking cases have been solved. • DNA database is key component of success in China: • Samples from parents compared with: • Street children/criminals • DNA Samples • 1,400 children returned to their parents through DNA matches “The national DNA database has reduced child trafficking in China.” – Chen Shiqu, Director of the anti-human trafficking office of the Ministry of Public Security.

8. CHINA:Human Trafficking is a Priority Successful program, and growing:

9. GUATEMALA:First country to pass DNA database legislation to fight human trafficking • Legislation passed in 2010 • Requires all unidentified children to be tested and samples input into the database. • Facilitates parents of missing children to be tested.

10. Considerations for Model Legislative Policy • Who will operate the database? • Same entity that operates criminal database • Separate entity to control privacy concerns • Encourage DNA collection from Parents • Aggressive educational campaign • Sensitivity towards paternity issues • Keep human trafficking database separate from criminal database • Do not search human trafficking databases against criminal casework database • Mitochondrial DNA testing • Consider other relatives if no parents • Sampling of parents to become protocol once child reported missing

11. Consideratins for Model Legislative Policy • Require DNA from children: • Homeless • Criminal acts • Prostitution • Child labor • Adoption • Proactive collection strategies • Taskforce • Inspection and sampling from at-risk institutions • Orphanages • Prostitution houses • Factories

12. Consideratins for Model Legislative Policy • Adoption regulations • Require samples from birth parents and child before adoption approval • International Sharing • Require participation in international data sharing program • Limit information that is sent to international entity

13. Overcoming Political and Human Rights Challenges • Strategies to reduce the concerns • Separate databases • Criminal penalties for misuse of data • Limiting government officials that have access to information Privacy Concerns Benefits

14. Human Trafficking vs. Missing Persons Databases Programs exist worldwide that focus on human remains, not trafficking • Consider policies from these programs • United States model policy

15. CODIS 7.0