Human Trafficking in our Region

1. Soroptimists April 28, 2011 Human Trafficking in our Region Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

2. Four Core Components • 24 Hour multilingual help line • 6 bed shelter • Women to Work Program • Outreach and Education Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

3. Achievements • Provided over 2300 nights of shelter • Answered over 500 crisis lines phone calls and • conducted health and safety planning • Trained more than 2,600 individuals on signs of • domestic violence and human trafficking • Provided over 1000 legal consultations • Awarded national recognition as a Great Food • and Shelter Program • One of only 46 in U.S. to receive federal grant • to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate • services. Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

4. Our Safe Haven • 6 bed shelter • private residence • no 24 hour staff • confidential Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

5. Women to Work Program Self-sufficiency Financial Independence For all survivors of all races and ethnicities “so they can get back on their feet and on with their life” Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

6. Services • New Beginnings support group • Health information and referrals • Transportation • Clothing • Mentoring Program • Child care • Housing Assistance • Employment and Career Guidance • Individual peer counseling • Volunteer Psychiatrist • Volunteer Acupuncturist • Volunteer Attorneys Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

7. (Anti-)Human Trafficking Program Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

8. MSH Experiences Mail-Order Brides Servile Marriages Domestic Servitude Involuntary Servitude Domestic Violence Trafficking Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

9. Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org What is human trafficking?

10. U.N. Definition The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, for the purpose of exploitation. Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

11. U.S. Definition • The recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, • or obtaining of a person for labor or services, • through the use of force, fraud, or coercion • for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, • debt bondage, or slavery • OR • Sex trafficking in which a commercial sex act is induced • by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced • to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

12. California Definition All acts involved in the recruitment, abduction, transport, harboring, transfer, sale or receipt of persons, within national or across international borders, through force, coercion, fraud or deception, to place persons in situations of slavery or slavery like conditions, forced labor or services, such as forced prostitution or sexual services, bonded sweatshop labor, or other debt bondage Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

13. Nevada Definition A person who knowingly subjects, or attempts to subject, another person to forced labor or services by: Causing or threatening to cause physical harm to any person; Physically restraining or threatening to physically restrain any person; Abusing or threatening to abuse the law or legal process; Knowingly destroying, concealing, removing, confiscating or possessing any actual or purported passport or other immigration document, or any other actual or purported government identification document, of the person; Extortion; or Causing or threatening to cause financial harm to any person. Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

14. Elements of Trafficking Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

15. Labor Trafficking(Forced Labor) • Domestic situations (nanny, maid, caretaker) • Service industries • Sweatshops, janitorial jobs, construction sites, farm work, fishing industry, food services hotel and tourist industries, organized panhandling Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

16. Sex Trafficking • Commercial sex • Massage parlors, spas, brothels, strip clubs, bars, night clubs, escort services, internet, porn, street prostitution, sex tours, militarized prostitution, mail order brides, servile marriages • Anyone under 18 years of age in sex industry Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

17. Who are the victims? Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

18. 70% Women Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

19. 50% Children Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

20. California Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

21. Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

22. Asian Massage Parlors Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

23. Nevada Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

24. Legal Prostitution Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

25. “Sin City” Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

26. Whatever Happens… Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

27. Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

28. Nevada Resources • 2007-2009 • Primary partners: LV Metro Police Dept and Salvation Army • Received over 1 million dollars in federal funds. • Among goals, ATLAS was to raise public awareness, identify victims of all forms of human trafficking and provide direct services to those victims. • HOWEVER, the task force disbanded in 2009, and no records/results/data is available. Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

29. Nevada Resources • Aftermath • ATLAS disbanded • few victims identified • no prosecutions • Some partners continued as The Southern Nevada Human Trafficking Task Force • Narrower geographical focus of resources --> Clark County Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

30. Elements of Trafficking Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

31. Case Study 1 Cora was recruited to come to the United States as an acrobat performer. She was told that she could work for them and her housing would be paid, and they would pay her $1000.00 each performance. Cora was provided with a valid work visa and departed for the United States with her new employer. Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

32. Case Study 1 Upon arriving in the United States, Jen was kept in isolation in a locked room of a home. She shared the single room with 19 other performers, was forced to sleep on the floor, and fed very little. She was told not to speak to anyone or she would be deported. Cora worked long hours performing, but was never paid for her work. She felt that she had no one to turn to for help. Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

33. Case Study 2 Law enforcement raided a brothel operating out of a home in the suburbs and arrested young girls and boys, and some men and women for prostitution. The people were interviewed and law enforcement learned that they were smuggled into the United States, and forced to work off their debt as prostitutes. Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

34. Case Study 3 A young girl in an affluent neighborhood was introduced to a boy by a mutual friend. It turned out the boy also lived in her neighborhood, and they spent the next weeks hanging out. One day the girl disappeared. Over a year later, the girl managed to contact a friend, who told the girl’s parents and the police. The police were able to locate the girl, and found the boy was using craigslist to sell the girl all over California. Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

35. Summary: Signs of Trafficking • Some Things You Observe • Heavy surveillance (locks) • Always have an escort, even to medical appointments • Victim cannot speak for him/herself, someone • always speak for them • Physical abuse or threats • Victims are submissive or fearful • Many individuals in a small space • Some Things You Learn • Victim does not hold important documents • Victim does not control their money • Always asks for permission to eat, sleep, • go to bathroom • Afraid to leave their job Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

36. Mindset of Victims • Do not speak English • Do not understand American culture • Living daily with inhumane treatment • May not know where they are • Fear/Distrust of Police, government • Fear of deportation or fear for family back home • Might blame themselves • Develop loyalties or positive feelings toward trafficker • Might even try to protect trafficker • Unaware what is being done to them is a crime • Do not consider themselves victims Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

37. Sacramento Rescue & Restore Coalition Sacramento Training & Employment Agency (SETA) Sacramento Rescue & Restore Coalition My Sister’s House WEAVE Opening Doors 916.920.2952 Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

38. Ways to Take Action Educate Volunteer. Organize. Donate. Stay Informed. (Join our E-newsletter, Twitter, or Facebook.) Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

39. Questions? Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org

40. Thanks - Salamat Crisis Line: 916.428.3271 www.my-sisters-house.org