POPULARITY
2 episodes with combat trafficking
2 episodes with combat trafficking
2 episodes with combat trafficking
2 episodes with combat trafficking
Online predators and sextortion are more prevalent dangers than many realize, and we're unpacking these pressing issues with returning guest Tracy Scheffler, Founder of 5-Stones Dodge County. Our discussion exposes the alarming tactics predators use on social media and smartphones, where they cleverly disguise themselves to earn the trust of young victims. These predators often manipulate emotions to coerce the sharing of compromising images, a situation that can spiral into extortion and emotional turmoil, sometimes with tragic outcomes. Our goal is to arm parents with the knowledge to engage their children in meaningful conversations about online safety and to emphasize the life-saving importance of reporting suspicious activities.We also take a hard look at the pornography industry's wide-reaching impact. By drawing parallels between addiction and skill acquisition, we see how users are led down a dangerous path toward increasingly extreme content, often with catastrophic results for personal relationships. We take a stand against the notion that pornography is a mere private matter and call for community awareness and action, particularly within often-overlooked spaces like churches. Through collective vigilance and open dialogue, we can address the harmful effects of pornography and human trafficking, equipping communities to protect future generations. Join us as we discuss these critical topics and highlight the transformative power of local anti-trafficking initiatives.SHOW NOTES:5-Stones Dodge County: https://www.5-stonesdodgecounty.org/Support the show
Ready to make a difference in the fight against human trafficking? In this powerful episode, we uncover how short-term rental hosts can become key players in combating trafficking through awareness, technology, and collaboration with law enforcement. Tune in and learn actionable steps to protect your community and be part of the solution!Join the Cause. Win the Fight.Link: our.strsecrets.com02:20 - Fighting Human Trafficking Through Awareness and Action04:30 - How STR Hosts Can Be Part of the Solution06:45 - Spotting the Signs: Proactive Measures for Hosts08:30 - The Role of Technology in Combating Trafficking10:00 - Collaborating with Law Enforcement for Real-Time Action12:10 - Expanding Rescue Efforts to Global Impact14:25 - Educating Hosts and Communities to Make a Difference16:00 - Leveraging Events to Stay Vigilant Against Trafficking18:30 - Integrating STR Efforts with Broader Rescue Missions20:15 - Using STR Properties for Survivor Care22:10 - The Power of Advocacy in Combating Exploitation24:00 - Building Networks to Strengthen Anti-Trafficking Efforts26:15 - Empowering Hosts to Be Key Contributors to Change28:05 - Final Call to Action: Join the Fight Against TraffickingGuest Bio:Tammy Lee joins Our Rescue from Xena Therapies, a med tech company specializing in women's health and orthopedics, focusing on philanthropic support for women. Prior to founding Xena Therapies, she was President & CEO of Recombinetics, a bio-tech company focused on human health, regenerative medicine, and animal welfare. With a background in corporate affairs at Carlson, the University of Minnesota Foundation, Delta Air Lines, and Northwest Airlines, Ms. Lee excels in coalition-building for policy change and spearheading multi-million-dollar fundraising efforts, including for trafficking prevention. She also served on the White House Interagency Task Force to Combat Trafficking in Persons and other national boards, advocating to end trafficking. Recognized as an expert, she frequently speaks on corporate philanthropy and best-in-class programs for anti-trafficking initiatives.Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:group.strsecrets.com
Ready to make a difference in the fight against human trafficking? In this powerful episode, we uncover how short-term rental hosts can become key players in combating trafficking through awareness, technology, and collaboration with law enforcement. Tune in and learn actionable steps to protect your community and be part of the solution!Join the Cause. Win the Fight.Link: our.strsecrets.com02:20 - Fighting Human Trafficking Through Awareness and Action04:30 - How STR Hosts Can Be Part of the Solution06:45 - Spotting the Signs: Proactive Measures for Hosts08:30 - The Role of Technology in Combating Trafficking10:00 - Collaborating with Law Enforcement for Real-Time Action12:10 - Expanding Rescue Efforts to Global Impact14:25 - Educating Hosts and Communities to Make a Difference16:00 - Leveraging Events to Stay Vigilant Against Trafficking18:30 - Integrating STR Efforts with Broader Rescue Missions20:15 - Using STR Properties for Survivor Care22:10 - The Power of Advocacy in Combating Exploitation24:00 - Building Networks to Strengthen Anti-Trafficking Efforts26:15 - Empowering Hosts to Be Key Contributors to Change28:05 - Final Call to Action: Join the Fight Against TraffickingGuest Bio:Tammy Lee joins Our Rescue from Xena Therapies, a med tech company specializing in women's health and orthopedics, focusing on philanthropic support for women. Prior to founding Xena Therapies, she was President & CEO of Recombinetics, a bio-tech company focused on human health, regenerative medicine, and animal welfare. With a background in corporate affairs at Carlson, the University of Minnesota Foundation, Delta Air Lines, and Northwest Airlines, Ms. Lee excels in coalition-building for policy change and spearheading multi-million-dollar fundraising efforts, including for trafficking prevention. She also served on the White House Interagency Task Force to Combat Trafficking in Persons and other national boards, advocating to end trafficking. Recognized as an expert, she frequently speaks on corporate philanthropy and best-in-class programs for anti-trafficking initiatives.Get FREE Access to our Community and Weekly Trainings:group.strsecrets.com
Discover the unsettling truths about sex trafficking with our special guest, Tracy Scheffler from 5-Stones Dodge County. Tracy takes us on an eye-opening journey, challenging the myths often perpetuated by Hollywood and shining a light on the harsh realities of trafficking that are frequently overlooked, especially in rural areas. Her personal experiences and deep commitment to this cause provide unique insights into the tactics traffickers use and underscore the critical importance of education in prevention.We confront the misconceptions surrounding human trafficking, particularly those that exist within conservative religious communities. It's a stark reminder that this is not just an urban issue or a plotline from a blockbuster movie but a reality that can affect any neighborhood. Through the work of organizations like 5-Stones, we explore how awareness, education, and collaboration can be powerful tools in combating trafficking. Our discussion includes the changing landscape of trafficking, influenced by technology and social media, and stresses the necessity of teaching our children to navigate these dangers safely.Rural communities often feel insulated from the threats of trafficking, yet these areas can be prime targets due to anonymity. We reveal the deceptive relationships traffickers forge to control their victims and emphasize the need for awareness in all communities to fight this growing problem. As we look at the emotional challenges of exposing these harsh realities, we also offer hope and strategies for prevention and recovery. Stay tuned for the next part of our series, where we'll dive deeper into how online activities and pornography intersect with sex trafficking.SHOW NOTES:5-Stones Dodge County: https://www.5-stonesdodgecounty.org/Support the show
Life is fleeting. We believe that the four most powerful words on earth are “I Believe in You!” We are grateful for all the supporters and participants in the Million Kids Team. 2025 is looking like it will be the most challenging year in our existence. We are getting ready to expand our services. Million Kids has just released our new website at Millionkids.org. Be sure to check it out. Take advantage of our resources page and make sure you sign up for our newsletter. We are committed to being on the cutting edge for preparing leaders to combat human trafficking and social media exploitation. If you want to support this work, check out our “donate” page. Million Kids is a 501© non profit organization and your donation is tax deductible. No one knows what will come in 2025. We do know that somewhere between 5 million and 15 million people have entered the U.S. and it is nearly impossible to tell who are the perpetrators and who may become victims of trafficking. We also know that foreign national gangs have joined forces with US gangs and sadly, nearly 90% of sex trafficking in the U.S is gang controlled. This makes the victims much more vulnerable to violence and exploitation. We look forward to joining forces with our supporters to prepare to take on this challenge in 2025. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/million-kids/support
Underground crime is not a thing of the past in Anchorage. One of those crimes is human trafficking. Join me on this episode as I talk with Josie Heyano of Signify Consulting, about what is possible in the area of human trafficking. Heyano is a Presidentially appointed member of the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking, a formal platform to advise and make recommendations on federal anti-trafficking policies to the President's Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (PITF). https://www.signifyconsultingak.org #anchoredcity https://anchorageutc.org https://www.facebook.com/AnchorageUTC @AnchorageUTC Resources Used to Make This Episode: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/may/19/alaska-homeless-youth-sex-trafficking-study
Today, we're delighted to be joined by Ambassador Cindy Dyer, who serves as Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons in President Joe Biden's administration.Cindy talks to us about methods the US government is implementing to provide greater protection to survivors of trafficking and how she's interacted with survivors personally. Plus, we talk about how efforts at the local level are just as important as state and international legislation. For more info, visit our website or click the links below:Cindy Dyer BiographyCindy Dyer Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe speech2023 Trafficking in Persons Report Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Randy Mansell from Patriots With Grit Podcasts joins Amber May to discuss combating child trafficking. Some of the information contained in this episode may surprise you. Join Me On Telegram https://t.me/theambermayshow ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Get all your My Pillow Products at a DISCOUNT www.mypillow.com/amber Use Promo Code AMBER and save up to 66% off Promo code-AMBER 800-957-2123 Get Ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine and SAVE Dr Stella Immanuel www.drstellamd.com Use Promo Code AmberMay and save 5% Get Life Insurance In Minuets with No Medical Exam https://agents.ethoslife.com/invite/37c1b Dr Meehan- Telemed & Supplements https://www.meehanmd.com/ Use Promocode Amber Protect Your Investment Gold/Silver www.EPSWealthManagement.com Patriot Mobile- Free Activiation https://www.patriotmobile.com/amber/ Use Promocode AMBER 15% for our Natural & Organic Skincare and natural hand-poured 100% soy wax candles http://www.PureBeautybyLorina.com Use Promo code AmberMay Delicious Cheesecakes https://belovedcheesecakes.com/ PromoCode AMBER The Commander's Artist Save 10% Promo Code Amber https://thecommandersartist.com/shop/ Lose Weight Attain Your Health Goals https://ambermay.kannaway.com/ Reverse aging with Timeless Pack www.TimelessPack.com Promocode AmberMay https://ambermay.kannaway.com/ambermay/product/MY003E?categoryid=460 Lose Weight While Drinking Java www.CupAHealth.com PromoCode Amber ___________________________________________________________________ Hero's Soap Save 10% with Promo Code AmberMay We strive to create a brand that pays homage to the values that our country was founded on by our forefathers. With a Veteran of the United States Air Force as one of the owners, we understand the dedication & sacrifice that each family makes to serve their country. https://herosoapcompany.com/ambermay My Patriot Supply https://mypatriotsupply.com/Amber?rfsn=6442302.fa4e33 Survival Supplies & Emergency Preparedness Gear Trusted Self-Reliance & Food Independence The original Patriot survival company. My Patriot Supply was founded by people with a passion for self-sufficiency and food independence. We not only understand the drive to practice emergency preparedness, we are active participants in the survivalist lifestyle. We believe that true freedom comes from attaining a certain level of self-reliance. Get ALL Your Marketing Logos and Websites and More Here! www.jawdd.com Business Owners, GET Your Employee Tax Credit with the Cares ACT https://ercfilenow.com/vid/azladyz Get a Rebate On All Your Purchases of Gas https://upside.app.link/CDZ8N Use promocode CDZ8n Essential Oils https://www.youngliving.com/us/en/referral/2013099 Checkout all the facts about the Great Reset https://timetofreeamerica.com/ ThePlan.Today -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We Are on These Platforms Frankspeech.com https://home.frankspeech.com/shows/amber-may-tv-show Rumble https://rumble.com/c/c-811265 Odysee https://odysee.com/@azladyz:c Locals https://theambermayshow.locals.com Brighteon https://www.brighteon.com/channels/azladyz Bitchute https://www.bitchute.com/search/?query=azladyz&kind=video CloutHub: https://clouthub.com/c/4EWXEKT9 Podbean: http://theambermayshow.podbean.com
Valiant Richey started his career as a prosecutor, where he moved to the Special Assault Unit, handling sexual assault, child exploitation, and human trafficking cases for a decade. He now works for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), an organization that works on security issues and human rights for 57 countries. Val is an ambassador for the organization, working with countries on how they can better combat trafficking. His extensive experience and work with so many countries give him unique insight into how consistent the patterns and functions of human trafficking are from country to country.In this episode, Valiant talks about how trafficking is fed by a demand for people willing to pay for sex. He explains how sexually explicit material further drives the demand for sexual violence and sex trafficking and the connection between how victims are treated and their abusers' use of pornography. Valiant discusses how rampant sex trafficking is and what we can do to address it on a macro level, as well as individual shifts in our perspective and attitudes towards sex buying can help decrease the demand for sex trafficking.Article: How Porn Can Fuel Sex TraffickingVideo: Truth About Porn: Valiant RicheyPodcast: Consider Before Consuming, Episode 90: Taina Bien-AiméVisit: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Today, there are believed to be more people trapped in slavery than at any other time in history. These are individuals who are victims of sex trafficking and forced labor. They are women, men, and children. There are “27.6 million people [who] are estimated to be victims of trafficking,” John Richmond, the former U.S. ambassador to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons during the Trump administration, says. Tragically, governments around the world are “identifying less than half of 1% of all those victims every year," Richmond says. “We are failing to actually identify, protect, and care for the victims of trafficking, and the traffickers are moving around with impunity.”At the end of the day, human trafficking will only be stopped when the traffickers are stopped, he says. “The root cause of the problem are the individuals who decide to exploit inherently valuable people just because they're vulnerable.”Richmond, who also an attorney and senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, joins "The Daily Signal Podcast" to discuss the core issues driving human trafficking today, and what is being done to rescue victims. To learn more about how to be a part of the solution to solving human trafficking, visit the International Justice Mission or Love Does websites. https://www.ijm.org/ https://lovedoes.org/ Enjoy the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Who's vulnerable to human trafficking? Kari Johnstone, acting director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons at the U.S. Department of State, discusses how the government is working on combatting human trafficking in the U.S. and globally. Protecting the environment keeps Americans safe Chris Frey, assistant administrator for research and development at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discusses how the agency is working to protect humans and the environment. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Listen in on an eye-opening and inspiring conversation with John Cotton Richmond, an attorney and diplomat who has committed his entire career to battling human trafficking.As John puts it very simply, "Freedom matters because people matter."You can get in touch with John and learn about his coaching and speaking opportunities at johncottonrichmond.com . Ambassador Richmond is an attorney and diplomat focused on ethical business, human rights, democracy, and rule of law. His career has taken him to the front lines in the global battle against human trafficking. Ambassador Richmond currently serves as a Partner at Dentons, the world's largest law firm, where he focuses on the intersection between business and human rights. He advises companies on how to keep their supply chains free of forced labor and their workforces free of sex trafficking.Previously, the U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Ambassador Richmond and he served as the U.S. Ambassador to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons from 2018 to 2021. Serving in the nation's highest-ranking position dedicated to human trafficking, he led U.S. foreign policy related to modern slavery and coordinated the U.S. government's response to the crime.Ambassador Richmond also served for over a decade as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, where he prosecuted numerous victim-centered labor and sex trafficking cases. He also lived in India for three years pioneering International Justice Mission's slavery work.Ambassador Richmond has received numerous honors and commendations, including being named a “Prosecutor of the Year” and receiving the “Wilberforce Award for Exceptional Leadership in the Fight Against Human Trafficking” and the “David Alred Award for exceptional contributions to civil rights”. His work caused the former head of the FBI's human trafficking program to call him “every trafficker's worst nightmare”.Ambassador received his undergraduate degree from the University of Mary Washington and his law degree from Wake Forest University. Ambassador Richmond is a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, Senior Advisor to Love Does, and frequent speaker on topics of faith, justice, and vocation. He lives in Virginia with his talented wife and they have three wonderful children. Learn more at StephanieNelson.comDownload Stephanie's free ebook to cut your grocery bill in half--no coupons required!Follow us on Instagram @stephanie_nelson_cmFollow us on Facebook at CouponMom
World Day Against Trafficking in Persons is recognized to stress the harms of human trafficking women, men, and children around the world experience. Efforts to address these crimes are strengthened through survivor leadership, research and education, and building resilient communities. In the recent release of the 2022 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report from the U.S. Department of States Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, 21 countries were upgraded a tier because of their increasing work to address human trafficking in their countries--a victory worth celebrating this World Day Against Trafficking in Persons! This year, we are highlighting the supply and demand of the market that drives labor trafficking and how businesses and corporations can combat human trafficking by analyzing their supply chains, implementing ethical labor practices, and building sustainable avenues of income and resources for employees. Highlighted Episodes: 280 – Shifting the Supply Chain Burden, with Justin Dillon 269 – Empowering Businesses to Create a Slave Free World, with Matt Friedman 267 – The Intersection of Business and Human Rights, with John Cotton Richmond 266 – Rescuing Boys Labor Trafficked in the Fishing Industry, with Chris Field 247 – Perspectives on Transformation in Labor Trafficking, with Ben Skinner 244 - The Role of Customs and Border Protection in Disrupting Supply Chain 209 - Who's Watching the Watchdog? Is Supply Chain Transparency Working? 195 - The Sydney Framework: Supply Chains and Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 162 - Starfish Business Model for Serving Survivors, with Jenny McGee 17 - California Transparency in Supply Chains Act 10 - How a Small Business Can Help End Human Trafficking Love the show? Consider supporting us on Patreon! Become a Patron Transcript Sandie [00:00:14] Greetings to the Ending Human Trafficking podcast community of listeners. It is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and our podcast has listeners in 148 countries. This is an important day for us. It's just me, Sandie Morgan, today to let you know that I'm taking a few weeks off in August, so Dave and I will return to our regular schedule on August 29th. In the meantime, let's celebrate the United Nations annual observance by joining forces with our movement's global partners as we study the issues, be a voice, and make a difference in ending human trafficking. Our latest episode, Shifting the Supply Chain Burden, with Justin Dillon, took a deep dive on some of the legislation that has been passed most recently, especially the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. It's a big step forward in our movement, but we've been looking at this issue for more than a decade on our podcast. So during this short break, we've put together a decade of ten episodes around the role of business in ending human trafficking. Just go to the website www.endinghumantrafficking.org and click on the link to browse these recommendations. You can start most recently with Episode 269, when Matt Friedman suggested how we can empower businesses to create a slave free world. And of course, one of our frequent podcast guests and former Ambassador John Cotton Richmond joined us for episode 267, The Intersection of Business and Human Rights. In Episode 266, we went to Ghana with Chris Field rescuing boys labor trafficked in the fishing industry. And back on episode 247, Ben Skinner gave us the high level look from a corporate change viewpoint in fast fashion on perspectives on transformation in labor trafficking. We brought Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner Cynthia Wittenberg on the podcast to talk to us about the role of Customs and Border Protection in disrupting supply chain forced labor. And back on 209,
Ambassador John Cotton Richmond was the Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons from 2018 to 2021. Which means that he held the highest ranking position in the United States dedicated to combat human trafficking. John is a real life super hero! He takes down the bad guys and helps victims find freedom. What you'll hear in our conversation is John's simple approach to all that he does: he's looking to make wrong things right. If we want to build a winning team and make an impact on those around us, there's so much we can learn from John about how to do that well. Order your copy of “The Secret Society of Success” on Audible: https://adbl.co/3uSHzTs
Ambassador John Cotton Richmond is a real-life superhero. He combats human trafficking and slavery, he loves his family and friends like a beast, and he does it all with humor and humility. The guy should wear a cape. What an honor to chat with him on this episode! I cannot wait for you to listen in on our hope-filled conversation. Ambassador Richmond's career has taken him to the front lines in the global battle against human trafficking. As a Partner at Dentons, the world's largest law firm, he focuses on the intersection between business and human rights. John advises companies on how to keep their supply chains free of forced labor and their workforces free of sex trafficking. Before joining Dentons, the U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed John, and he served as the U.S. Ambassador to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons from 2018 to 2021. Serving in the nation's highest-ranking position dedicated to human trafficking, John led U.S. foreign policy related to modern slavery and coordinated the U.S. government's response to the crime. Prior to his appointment as Ambassador, John served for over a decade as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, where he prosecuted numerous victim-centered labor and sex trafficking cases. He also co-founded the Human Trafficking Institute and lived in India for three years pioneering International Justice Mission's slavery work. John has received numerous honors and commendations, including being named a “Prosecutor of the Year” and receiving the David Alred Award for exceptional contributions to civil rights. His work caused the former head of the FBI's human trafficking program to call him “every trafficker's worst nightmare.” John received his undergraduate degree from the University of Mary Washington and his law degree from Wake Forest University. Ambassador Richmond is a writer and frequent speaker on topics of faith, justice, vocation, and parenting and is a Fellow at the C.S. Lewis Institute. He lives outside Washington, DC with his “Lovely and Talented” wife and their three robust and remarkable children. Find him on social media @JohnRichmond1. Visit KimberlyStuart.com/podcast for more from this episode.
Dr. James Howell talks to Susan Coppedge, an attorney and former US Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. Listen as she talks about her amazing work to bring justice and protect vulnerable people.
In The World's Oldest Profession, we learn more about what domestic and care work is, and its roots in exploitation and slavery. We meet organizers in South Africa and Hong Kong and we talk to the former US Ambassador to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons to understand more about the origins of domestic servitude and when and how we stopped seeing care workers as disposable. Guests: Myrtle Witbooi, International Domestic Workers' Federation; Elizabeth Tang, International Domestic Workers' Federation; Tembi, South African domestic worker; Amb. Luis CdeBaca, former Ambassador-at-Large Resources: International Domestic Workers' Federation --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thegig-podcast/support
Chelsea Sobolik welcomes Ambassador John Cotton Richmond, the former U.S. Ambassador to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons from 2018 to 2021 to human trafficking, forced labor, how Christians can get involved in caring for vulnarble people, and how the Lord led Ambassador Richmond into this work.Listen to part one here.Guest BiographyAmbassador Richmond's career has taken him to the front lines in the global battle against human trafficking. As a Partner at Dentons, the world's largest law firm, he focuses on the intersection between business and human rights. John advises companies on how to keep their supply chains free of forced labor and their workforces free of sex trafficking.Before joining Dentons, the U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed John, and he served as the U.S. Ambassador to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons from 2018 to 2021. Serving in the nation's highest-ranking position dedicated to human trafficking, John led U.S. foreign policy related to modern slavery and coordinated the U.S. government's response to the crime.Prior to his appointment as Ambassador, John served for over a decade as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, where he prosecuted numerous victim-centered labor and sex trafficking cases. He also co-founded the Human Trafficking Institute and lived in India for three years pioneering International Justice Mission's slavery work.John has received numerous honors and commendations, including being named a “Prosecutor of the Year” and receiving the David Alred Award for exceptional contributions to civil rights. His work caused the former head of the FBI's human trafficking program to call him “every trafficker's worst nightmare.”John received his undergraduate degree from the University of Mary Washington and his law degree from Wake Forest University. Ambassador Richmond is a writer and frequent speaker on topics of faith, justice, vocation, and parenting and is a Fellow at the C.S. Lewis Institute. He lives outside Washington, D.C., with his “Lovely and Talented” wife and their three robust and remarkable children.Resources from the ConversationJohn Cotton Richmond's WebsiteDownload 10 Things Everyone Should Know About Human TraffickingSubscribe to ERLC's Policy Newsletter
Chelsea Sobolik welcomes Ambassador John Cotton Richmond, the former U.S. Ambassador to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons from 2018 to 2021 to human trafficking, forced labor, how Christians can get involved in caring for vulnarble people, and how the Lord led Ambassador Richmond into this work.Guest BiographyAmbassador Richmond's career has taken him to the front lines in the global battle against human trafficking. As a Partner at Dentons, the world's largest law firm, he focuses on the intersection between business and human rights. John advises companies on how to keep their supply chains free of forced labor and their workforces free of sex trafficking.Before joining Dentons, the U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed John, and he served as the U.S. Ambassador to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons from 2018 to 2021. Serving in the nation's highest-ranking position dedicated to human trafficking, John led U.S. foreign policy related to modern slavery and coordinated the U.S. government's response to the crime.Prior to his appointment as Ambassador, John served for over a decade as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, where he prosecuted numerous victim-centered labor and sex trafficking cases. He also co-founded the Human Trafficking Institute and lived in India for three years pioneering International Justice Mission's slavery work.John has received numerous honors and commendations, including being named a “Prosecutor of the Year” and receiving the David Alred Award for exceptional contributions to civil rights. His work caused the former head of the FBI's human trafficking program to call him “every trafficker's worst nightmare.”John received his undergraduate degree from the University of Mary Washington and his law degree from Wake Forest University. Ambassador Richmond is a writer and frequent speaker on topics of faith, justice, vocation, and parenting and is a Fellow at the C.S. Lewis Institute. He lives outside Washington, DC with his “Lovely and Talented” wife and their three robust and remarkable children.Resources from the ConversationJohn Cotton Richmond's WebsiteDownload 10 Things Everyone Should Know About Human TraffickingSubscribe to ERLC's Policy Newsletter
Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, associate professor in George Mason University's Schar School of Policy and Government and global fellow in the Wilson Center's Latin America Program, leads a conversation on the future of U.S.-Mexico relations. CASA: Welcome to today's session of the CFR Fall 2021 Academic Webinar Series. I am Maria Casa, director of the National Program and Outreach at CFR. Thank you all for joining us. Today's discussion is on the record and the video and transcript will be available on our website, CFR.org/academic if you would like to share it with your colleagues or classmates. As always CFR takes no institutional positions on matters of policy. We are delighted to have Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera with us to discuss the future of U.S.-Mexico relations. Dr. Correa-Cabrera is associate professor in the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University and global fellow in the Latin America Program at the Wilson Center. She also serves as nonresident scholar at the Center for the United States and Mexico in Rice University's Baker Institute, is a fellow at Small Wars Journal-El Centro, and is co-editor of the International Studies Perspectives Journal. Previously Dr. Correa-Cabrera was principal investigator of a research grant to study organized crime and trafficking in persons in Central America and Mexico, supported by the U.S. Department of State's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. She is past president of the Association for Borderland Studies and the author of several books. Welcome, Guadalupe. CORREA-CABRERA: Thank you, Maria. CASA: Thank you very much for speaking with us today. CORREA-CABRERA: Thank you, Maria. Thank you very much to everyone, especially the Council on Foreign Relations, for the opportunity to talk to you about the relationships of my two countries, the United States and Mexico. So today, I'm going to start by explaining what is the current state of Mexico-U.S. relations, but in the context of a very important event that took place some days ago, in the context of the U.S.-Mexico Bicentennial Framework for Security, Public Health, and Safe Communities. The bicentennial—so-called Bicentennial Understanding. There was a concern at the beginning of the current administration in the United States that the relationships between the United States and Mexico were going to be difficult. Notwithstanding the last, the current year has been extremely productive in many areas. And with this new understanding, the Bicentennial Understanding, that it states in the Bicentennial Framework for Security, Public Health, and Safe Communities, the United States and Mexico's relation has been reframed in a very important way. There is an understanding that the Mérida initiative that had been the center of the relationship between the United States and Mexico, focused on security, needed to be reframed. And then, you know, that was—that was considered that the priorities remained the same, the priorities of the two countries, with some changes that I'm going to be talking about. But the three—I mean, the high-level understanding, this high-level meeting told us what's supposed to be—I mean, where we're going to see in the future. So I just wanted to point out some of the points that were discussed. This framework was informed by each country's security priorities, that I'm going to be talking about. And the focus is addressing violence, but through a response that's driven by justice and use of intelligence against organized crime, and based on tactical cooperation in law enforcement, based on the previous mistakes that had been identified. But currently, the focus would be on public health and development as a part of the strategy of cooperation between the two countries. I'm taking some words from the—from the communique of this understanding. And, you know, with the consideration of—for a more secure and prosperous region, the Mexico-U.S. Bicentennial Framework serves to reaffirm the friendship and cooperation that exists between the two nations. You know, as you see, the language is very friendly. It's based on an understanding that the relationship is important, cooperation is important. Apparently the two countries are in the same boat in this regard. The United States recognizes that support of militarization is not the way probably to go. And a greater focus on public health and development to address the root causes of violence in the southern hemisphere, particularly in Mexico, is probably the way to go, with an understanding to promote a more secure and prosperous region. There are four themes—I mean, this is the idea. This was—I mean, that was the conversation that's on the table. We don't necessarily know ourselves today how this is going to be implemented, what are the particular policies that—or, the collaboration, or the amounts of money to make this happen. But this is kind of like the idea of the future of this collaboration. However, I am going to be talking about the opportunities, and particularly the challenges, considering the priorities of the two nations that, in a way, and when we have the meetings of this type, and when we listen to the language and read the media and talk to the politicians that were present, we have a sense. But then when everybody goes home, we kind of, like, think about this better and we see opportunities, but more challenges than we initially thought. So there are four main things in the United States-Mexico relations that need to be highlighted, plus one that has been also always important but today is more important due to the pandemic. Which is the theme of public health, where an important collaboration between Mexico and the United States has been observed but at the same time poses certain challenges with regard to the border management. Title 42 is still in place and the borders are going to be opened gradually, considering, you know, the vaccination status of people. But that has had a major impact on border communities, and certain impacts on trade and development, particularly at the U.S.-Mexico border. The other four main themes of U.S. Mexico relations that I want to talk about are immigration, security, trade, and energy. I mean, I don't want to place them in order of priority. I think that energy is going to define the future of Mexico-U.S. relations, but I'm going to mention the four in the context of the present—I mean, the present situation. So with regards to trade, the successful passage and, you know, implementation of renegotiation of NAFTA, today in the shape of USMCA, has been extremely successful. Poses some challenges, of course. And this is going to be connected with the last subject we'll be talking about, the proposal of the Mexican government to reform the electricity sector. This is something that is going to be very, very important, and what are the priorities of the United States in the framework of build back better? But with regards to trade, apparently their relationships could not be, you know, better than today. There are some challenges, of course, that have to be with labor rights and unions in Mexico that would cause some loss of competitiveness in the manufacturing sector. And in the framework build back better, of course, this is going to benefit the United States and it's going probably to affect the manufacturing sector of Mexico. Let's see how it works. But with regards to trade, things are mainly, you know, stable, with exception of the future. And this is going to be very, very important. The potential passage, we don't really know, it's very difficult that the electricity reform in Mexico will pass. But anyway, the president—the current president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has a very important amount of—I mean, segment of the population, and a very important support from his base that might help him to achieve his goal. I see it very differently, but we'll talk about that. So the next area that I would like to talk about is immigration. Here we have enormous challenges, enormous challenges that have been visualized with, you know, the current situations at the border that started since the beginning of this administration. During the past years, I mean, they had started to be increasing in magnitude, or at least in visibility. As I mentioned, Title 42 is maintained, and the migration protection protocol—Migrant Protection Protocols, so Stay in Mexico program, where a number of asylum seekers would have to wait for their cases to be decided in Mexico, there's a new definition in this framework. The Supreme Court of the United States very recently made a decision with regards to the reinstatement of the Migrant Protection Protocols. In the beginning the Department of Homeland Security, you know, made the declaration that they would—they would continue with that, but very recently they intention is not to continue with the Migrant Protection Protocols. In the end, and this is why this is very important in the very current conversation, in the end the continuation of this—of this program that has been highly criticized. Then it's also—it has put the human rights of undocumented migrants and asylum seekers at risk. That might—this will not work if Mexico—if the government of Mexico does not accept it. We have to see what is going to be the result. But we have a definition in this regard. The role of Mexico is key in the management of the U.S.-Mexico border, in the management of what some call migrant crisis, and then a crisis at the border. We observed that crisis very recently with a number of Haitian citizens that all left their country, went to South America, and from South America—from countries such as Ecuador, Brazil, Chile—traveled north through different countries, finding different challenges and dangers, and arrived to one point of the U.S.-Mexico border, with the help of a number of actors, such as migrant smugglers and corrupt authorities, but with the aim of making—I mean, escaping a terrible life and making a better life in the United States. We have a caravan that's now in direction to Mexico City. They were going go—they will put their demands on the table, but their intent is to continue going to the United States. There is a very big definition with regards to the migrant crisis, or what some call the migrant crisis, and the immigration issues that the government of the United States has recognized very accurately, and the Mexican government too, that there need to be collaboration to address the root causes of the situation that has to do with the development of the countries of Central America, of South America. And, you know, to achieve stability in South America, probably not through militarization. Secretary Blinken in a very surprising statement has led us to believe that today the United States is also reframing its aid to Latin America, to Central America and the Caribbean. And the focus is not going to be in aid in military equipment or in the militarization of the region. This is very important. And this brings me to talk about the third important—the third theme in the U.S.-Mexico relations. Mexico's security—the relationship of Mexico and the United States in the past few years has been focused on this connection between security and immigration. That's in the end centered on a specific attention of border enforcement, of border security cooperation. The situation in Mexico has deteriorated in the past few years, and the situation has not improved in an important way. Mexico's homicides remained at high levels, despite the pandemic. During the pandemic the decrease was very small, but today and we expect that this year the homicide rate continues growing in a trend that does not seem to be going down. The approach of the Mexican government since the transition period was—I mean, I can be summarized in the phrase talks not bullets. Which means, like, a completely—I mean, a complete shift of the declaration of Mexico's war on drugs to some other, like, approaches that will focus as well to solve the root causes of violence insecurity in Mexico, mainly development frameworks. However, the prior militarization of criminal groups in different parts of the country, and the events—the shootings and the diversification of criminal activities by armed groups in the country—has also caused a very complicated situation. The count of homicides in Mexico shows that killings remain essentially unchanged, more than 36,000 homicides in the year 2020. As I mentioned before, this year we expect an important increase. I don't know what will be the magnitude, but we have observed since the beginning of the year very unfortunate events. For example, at the U.S.-Mexico border, in the city of Reynosa, the massacre of migrants, and also assassinations and disappearances in a very key highway of Mexico from Nuevo Laredo and Monterrey. We still remember the Culiacanazo in the year 2019, which was a very complicated year. And today the situation in states like Michoacán, Guerrero, and Sinaloa, the massacres that be found, and people who disappear—or, that remain disappeared, is a very big concern, both to Mexico and the United States. There is not really an understanding of how this collaboration with regards to security will be framed. However, there was a very big advancement in the Bicentennial Understanding initial talks that the Mérida Initiative, at least on paper, supposed to be ending. But there's going to be a focus on dismantling transnational criminal organizations, probably in a different way and not with a focus on the military sector or on armed forces. At least, this is what we have on the paper. Mexico has been very straightforward with regards—and very critical with regards to the role of the DEA. And that has caused several tensions in this relationship. We also have the issue of security and the—I mean, the priorities of the United States with regards to build back better proposal or reform. And then we have, as I said, the reform of the electric sector in the Mexico state, who want to recover the control of the management of electricity, of the electricity market, and the capacity of the state to manage the lithium. So Mexico has—and the Mexican government has three main projects: the construction of the refinery in—the Dos Bocas in Tabasco, the Santa Lucia airport, and the Maya Train. There is a tension between Mexico and the United States with regards to priorities. Mexico has a priority to continue with the support of oil and gas. This is—this is reflected in the construction of the refinery. And here, we're probably going to see the main point of tension. Because of build back better and the commitment with build back better, and also focus on U.S. internal markets where Mexico has been benefitting from the growth of its manufacturing sector. We don't really know how this is going to be playing out, but at least, you know, on paper things are going to be good. But definitely the priorities with regards to energy are very different, and the focus of the U.S.-Mexico government on the lessening of climate change. And this focus is going to be very different—very difficult. The United States is committed to meet its climate goals, create millions of jobs inside the United States. And that has really changed their relationship. So we can talk more about these. Thank you for listening to this. And as I said, we'll probably be talking a lot about energy and the inequalities that public health and vaccination rates, that will also cause tensions. And immigration is another point that we need to talk about in greater depth. Thank you. CASA: Thank you, Guadalupe, for that introduction. There certainly is a lot to talk about. Now let's open this up to questions from our participants. (Gives queuing instructions.) Let's see. We will start with a written question from Paul Haber, who's a professor at University of Montana. He asks: Can you please provide some detail regarding the changes in labor required in Mexico by the USMCA? And what has happened to date? And do you expect a real deepening of the reforms between now and the end of the AMLO administration? CORREA-CABRERA: This is a very important question. With regard to the USMCA, mainly the main point that might cause tensions have to do—has to do with labor unions, particularly in the maquiladora sector, in manufacturing sector. The United States has been very clear with regards to that requirement, but that would, at the same time, lower the competitiveness of Mexico's manufacturing sector. As I said, there have been, I mean, in the past couple of years an attempt to create independent labor unions in the maquiladora sector, but there are still extreme tensions. And there have not been a real advance in this—in this sense. But at the same time, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, with his theme of primero los pobres, the poor first, and a support of Mexican labor, an increase—a very important increase since the beginning of his administration of wages, he is supposedly committed to help Mexican workers and to—and he has been focused as well on supporting not only the labor unions or the labor sector, but with his social programs that have been, I mean, advertised a great extent. Such as Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro, the Youth Constructing Future, which is a very important, for him, but also very criticized program. And the support of mothers without—I mean, single mothers. And, I mean Youth Constructing Future for those who don't have jobs. So on the one hand Andrés Manuel López Obrador, also in order to continue building his base of support or maintaining his base of support, focused—has focused on these programs, these social programs, that are not necessarily just focused on labor, as the way that the United States wants this to be seen in order to also rebuild the economy by changing the focus to internal development. I don't see in that regard if what—if your interest comes from the United States, what has happened with the union is—with the labor unions and their capacity to really, I mean, grow in the Mexican manufacturing sector—I don't see—I don't see a lot of advancement in that area. And definitely in this regard, there are very different priorities in Mexico versus the United States. But Andrés Manuel López Obrador has been able to convince a number of his supporters, a number of Mexican workers, because he has increased in a very important way Mexican wages. And he is probably going to be able to achieve more increases when the elections—the presidential elections approach. But definitely we don't see very definite changes with regards to this area as the USMCA has been posed. CASA: Next we have a raised hand from Sherice Nelson, assistant professor at Southern University in Baton Rouge. Sherice. Q: Good afternoon. Thank you so much for your talk. And I appreciate you leaving time for us to ask questions. As a professor, how do—the biggest challenge often is to get students to back away from some of the stereotypical information they get about U.S.-Mexico and the relationship, and the centering of that—of that relationship on immigration, when there's far—as you mentioned—there are far other issues that define our relationship. Where are places that we can lead students to, to get better information that is not as stereotypical about the relationship, that will pique their interest? Thanks so much. CORREA-CABRERA: That's a very important question. Thank you for asking. And absolutely, there is a way to present the issue on immigration, to place it in a political perspective—either from the right side or the left. The problem with immigration and the quality development and the access for jobs—I mean, it has been studied in depth by Mexican academics, United States academics. Issues have more to do with development and with the jobs that are offered in the United States, the pull and push factors of undocumented immigration, for example. And we have very different areas to be thinking about migration or immigration. And the focus recently has been at the border, has been with regards to asylum seekers, has been politicized in the United States, while many other areas have been, to some extent, ignored. There are—for educators, there are a number of analyses. One particular area that's important to know, it's United States—I mean, immigrants—how immigrants in the United States, coming from different countries, have been able to develop, have been able to make this country great. That's one area that we have to focus on. And there is a lot of information in that regard. Another, I mean, issue that it's important to know are the pull and push factors of undocumented immigration. And one important factor that usually we're not focused on are the jobs that exist in the United States, and the perspective from—I mean, the undocumented immigration from the perspective of employers. And that is connected to this analysis of the role of immigrants in the United States. Where are they coming from? What are they doing? How they came here, and not just of those who want to come. Another issue that has been widely covered is the one that has to do with migration. Migration flows that start in countries such as Chile, that dangerous journey where that media has been focused on, without analyzing this as a whole, without analyzing this understand that there are jobs in the United States, there is a comprehensive immigration reform that's on the table, and that that comprehensive immigration reform will definitely help to solve the problems of a system that needs the, I mean, immigrants to continue working, but it's creating all sorts of problem. The disfunctions of U.S. immigration system have been identified. There is a proposal that's bipartisan to solve these issues with temporary visas, pathway towards citizenship for those that are already here, that already have jobs, that already contribute to this economy. But unfortunately, immigration is definitely, as you correctly mention, a subject that has been utilized, that has been polarized, because it touches very important sentiments of the electorate. And we don't understand it. Definitely the immigration system in the United States needs to change. And there are—there is a very important amount of articles, of studies that analyze not just those who want to come or the so-called migrant crisis at the border, but how the market in the United States works, the labor markets, what undocumented migrants do in the United States, how to solve these issues with these bipartisan efforts that have been put together in documents, such as the Comprehensive Immigration Reform, and also those that want to work. And many of these problems would probably be solved through the mechanisms that think tanks, and analysts, and academics have done. Important work by think tanks like the Migration—MPI, the Migration Policy Institute, or the—I mean, other initiatives in Mexico. There have been a lot of—there's a lot of information about the possible policies to solve these issues. It's important to consider that information is there, that the work is done, but the problem is the coverage. And definitely our students need to go to understand the suggested—the suggested solutions, creating legal pathways to migration, to temporary work in the United States, is probably the way to go. But unfortunately, we got into these politicized moments, and these electoral moments, and the discourse gets politicized. But there is a lot there, a lot of analysis, a lot of proposals that you can find. Amazing work, both in the United States, in Mexico, and in many other countries of the Americas, because right now the issue of undocumented immigration, irregular immigration does not only have to do with Mexico and the United States. Immigrants have to pass through Mexico in order to get to where they want to go in order to go where the works are located. But we know and we have seen that a number of people, for example, that what was called the Haitian crisis at the border, like, the journey was done from countries as far as Chile, and so many countries have to deal with that. For example, the situation in Venezuela—many migrants that have been—I mean, finding jobs and a home in Colombia temporarily are also going—also moving up and are going to the border. So there's a lot there, and our students, you know, can find a lot of information. It's just to get out of the media discourses that are presented and that do not allow us to see the reality. But there is a lot out there that we can access, particularly for our students. CASA: Our next question is a written question and comes from Pedro Izquierdo, a graduate student at George Mason University. He asks, what improvements and flaws do you see in the bicentennial framework regarding arms trafficking, unlike the Mérida Initiative? CORREA-CABRERA: Well, it's—the Bicentennial Understanding is not—at this point it's just a number of good wishes and the recognition of certain problems. Arms trafficking has been recognized in this Bicentennial Understanding. As of today, we don't really know what the United States is going to be able to do with regards to arms trafficking, and there is a very important and complicated situation here because in the United States it's not by decree, it's not by—I mean, the arms possession and the way that United States citizens understand their rights with regards to bearing arms. It's a constitutional right; therefore—and there's a lot of—you know, there's a very, very big business that will not end so easily. Therefore, the two countries might, you know, might agree on—I mean verifying or collaborating to end or to lessen the issue of arms smuggling. However, this is going to be very difficult unless something important happens in the United States with regards to the legislation to place some limits on the bearing of arms. This is very important. As of today, Pedro, there is not a concrete plan of how the two countries are going to collaborate in this regard. As we know, the minister of foreign affairs—I mean the Mexican government through the minister of foreign affairs, I mean, has a lawsuit against United States arms manufacturers with regards to the arms that come to Mexico and end up in the hands of drug traffickers. There is nothing else that it's current today where we will know what the two countries are going to be doing. And this is the same with many of the good wishes, many of the areas of the collaboration, the end of the Mérida Initiative and the beginning of this understanding. We really don't know what specific programs are going to be implemented and how these programs are going to be implemented, how much money is going to be directed to these programs at this time. We just have an understanding of how the priorities can get together to improve and to reframe, to some extent, the collaboration in terms of security and development. CASA: Next we are going to a raised hand; we have Terron Adlam, an undergraduate student at Delaware State University. Please go ahead, Terron. Q: Can you hear me now? CASA: Yes. Q: Hi. Yes. So I'm thinking about more the energy sector of this talk. So in Mexico I know there's a lot of geothermal activity, so isn't there a more effective way of, like—because global warming is increasing more and more as time goes on, like, the flooding, the overheating of the ozone, stuff like—couldn't geothermal usage be more effective in Mexico and solar too, versus the oil refineries? CORREA-CABRERA: This is a very important question. The understanding of climate change in the United States is very different from Mexico. In the developed world, the concern about the environment has been focused—I mean, this has now been the center of the discussion and the center of the development programs and projects. In the developing nations, there are more immediate needs to be covered. With regards specifically to Mexico, there is not—climate change is not in the center of the discourse and the priorities of the Mexican government. Mexico has oil and gas and the current Mexican president—I mean, notwithstanding the analysis of other actors. What the Mexican government has had as a priority since the beginning of the administration has more to do with the development from the state, more centralization of the state, a greater role of the state in the sector of oil and gas. The climate change priority comes from the United States. Today, you know, the diplomatic efforts are going to be done to make Mexico to turn into the renewable sector, but at this point, it is not the priority of the Mexican government, neither the priority of a majority of the Mexican people, because in the developing world, climate change is important but it's more important sometimes in certain parts of Mexico, such as Guerrero, Michoacán, and Tamaulipas, and it's particularly the poorest regions of Mexico—Oaxaca or Chiapas—where there are several problems and, you know, immediate needs of people are not covered. And I'm talking about food. I'm talking about security very particularly. These pictures of children with arms in Guerrero and Michoacán tell us what the emergency situation is for a number of people, and the Mexican president has been able to create a discourse around these needs, around the needs for poor people, around the needs of those who can listen to that better, and he has a priority today—I mean, he sent a proposal to achieve an electric reform; well, the state is going to have more involvement and also a focus on electricity with the technologies that the Mexican state has been managed, which is not connected to solar or wind or the mindset that the United States has had in the past few years. So the priorities are very different and the studies are not directed there. The Department of Energy of the United States, through one of the laboratories of renewable energies, conducted a—I mean conducted a study and released the results of this report talking about the—according to the report—the negative effects in terms of emissions of carbon by Mexico and the increase in the cost of producing electricity. The Mexican government—the president alleged that that study was not based in reality. And you can see, then, what Mexico wants. And, you know, currently, Mexico has actively participated in the COP26 and it's been involved in the conversation, but definitely we don't know how much money or how this—(inaudible)—is going to be made. This is a very important question because I wasn't able to go in depth with this. This is probably going to be the main point of tensions between the two countries in the future—definitely for Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Andrés Manuel López Obrador was a very big critic of the recent energy reform of 2013, 2014, the energy reform that allowed private capital to get into the oil sector. He was a pretty big critic. There have been a number of events that link corrupt Mexican governments with the concessions in the oil sector, oil and gas sector, so this is probably going to be—continue to be discussed. And if the president has the capacity of passing the reform—that I see it very difficult because of the numbers that he needs—the situation is going to become more tense, because his vision is nationalistic and it's not—and nationalism—Mexican nationalism of today is not looking at climate change as its main priority. And you can see the supporters of Andrés Manuel López Obrador are really not discussing climate change. Mexican elites are discussing climate change and, of course, the opposition against Andrés Manuel López Obrador against the government of the Fourth Transformation, but they have an important majority—they don't have a majority, sorry, the opposition. The important majority is within the government of the Fourth Transformation, and their support for electric reform is important. I don't know how this is going to play out in the end, but in the United States and in Mexico, climate change is perceived in a very different way. That has to be understood very clearly because we don't see the media, we don't see how in the schools and how in Mexico overall the issue is well-ingrained into the society, because, of course, the society, the Mexican society, particularly the most vulnerable ones in the country, the very important number of poor people in the country has other priorities that have to do with food insecurity—have to do with food insecurity. CASA: Thank you. Our next question is a written question; it's from Yuri Mantilla, professor of law at Liberty University, and he writes, can you please analyze the influence of political ideologies in Mexico and the U.S. that are shaping both international relations between the two countries and perceptions of the Mexican and American people regarding the current political contexts under the Biden administration in the U.S. and the López Obrador leadership in Mexico? CORREA-CABRERA: That's an amazing question, but that is a very difficult question to answer very quickly. OK, let me try to do it. It's a very big challenge. This is a very challenging question. As I mentioned with regards to climate change, the ideologies in Mexico and the United States, what is right and what is left in the two countries is quite—it's, to some extent, different in the United States, the left and right. And today, because we have a president that ran on a left-wing platform and he was recognized as a left-wing president and also a very big critic of so-called neoliberal reforms and the neoliberal system that were represented by the previous administrations and that by the administrations that achieved democratization in Mexico. I'm talking about the National Action Party and all the parties that supported those reforms, the democratization in the country. And because of that, today, the ideology has transformed, to some extent; it's not about—I mean, support for the Washington consensus as it was in the previous decades versus—which was represented in the government—versus another project that direct—the relationship more with the people. Now that mindset, that discourse, sometimes propagandistic in certain ways, is in the government. So the government presents itself as a left-wing government. Nationalism and a conception of first the poor—the poor first, very big criticism, in discourse only, about neoliberalism, without, you know, a real perspective what neoliberalism is because of the support that the current Mexican government has provided to USMCA, which is one of the foundation parts of what is perceived as neoliberalism, which is mainly liberalism in—not in the perspective of the United States overall—free markets, the importance of free markets in the economy. It's a very challenging question because in the United States and Mexico there are important concepts that mean different things for people. Liberalism or neoliberalism for Mexicans mean support of markets and a support of the right, while in the United States, when we talk about liberalism, we think about progressive thinking; we think about equality but in a different way. In Mexico the center is equality in the economic regard, and the president today, the government, you know, is governing with the flag of equality, is governing with the flag of the left. And the so-called left is with the Mexican—or allegedly voted for the current Mexican president, but now some of them are debating themselves in different areas. So it's not as easy to place the right and the left as it is more in the United States; even in the United States there are many issues with regards to position yourself in right and left. We have the progressive part of the electorate in the United States versus a more moderate left, and, as you all know, the Republican Party or the conservative segment of the U.S. population that's more connected with Republican candidates, it's kind of like a very different conception in Mexico. The right wing in Mexico in many ways support, for example, the Democratic Party in the United States. What is conceived as the opposition to Andrés Manuel López Obrador even are very critical of Andrés Manuel López Obrador's relationship with feminism or the feminist movement. Andrés Manuel López Obrador is not supporting the feminist movement because Andrés Manuel López Obrador alleges the feminist movement has been supported by other countries and the opposition. So for the alleged left that is represented by the government, feminism is not a part of their agenda, while in the United States the LGBTQIA movement, the feminist movement, support for climate change, those important values are part of the progressive movement of the left. I mean, in Mexico, and I explain this is why this is very, very important and a very challenging question to answer—I mean, just very quickly—is that, for example, climate change is not in the agenda and climate change is in the—it has been taken by the opposition to the Mexican government. Many representatives of the opposition are criticizing the current Mexican government but not focusing on not going and continuing with the desire of constructing the Dos Bocas refinery and going with oil and gas and focusing on electricity as in the previous times of the PRI. So a number of the Mexican elite that is in opposition—I mean that's considered the opposition are supporting climate change. Why—not supporting climate change but are supporting, like, you know, the development of renewable energies and have as an objective climate change but mainly to criticize what the Mexican government is doing. So in that regard, we see a very big polarization between the ones that supported previous administrations versus this current government that connects with the left, while in the United States we see what is the ideological spectrum. A number of those who represent, as I said, the opposition are connected with the current administration objectives. For example, President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa presents very frequently his photographs with members of the Democratic Party, the current president, Joe Biden, and he's very critical of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, so there's a confusion that we can have based on our own ideologies that's not very easy to understand in very quick explanation. But I hope that I was, to some extent, clear in this regard. CASA: Next we're going to a raised hand. Ellen Chesler, who's senior fellow at the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies at the CUNY Graduate Center. Ellen? Q: I actually had put my question in the chat, I thought, but I'll ask it. Thank you so much for this interesting overview. I wanted to—I'm a historian by training and was going to ask you to historically frame some of your introductory remarks in a little bit more depth. First, of great interest to me, your comments about the importance of public health, specifically reproductive health policy. Have United States policies and support of Mexico in the last, you know, twenty-five years or so, in your view, been positive for the country, and what are the challenges that remain? And in a way linked to that, from your introductory comments, a question about labor: You mentioned, of course, that NAFTA, in your view, was successful, certainly from Mexico's standpoint, but has remaining challenges, largely relating to labor organization and the raising of wages in Mexico to equalize the situation between the two countries. Can you comment on what prospects there are for that happening today in Mexico? CORREA-CABRERA: Very interesting questions. With regards to reproductive health, this also has to do with the ideology. The left in Mexico, which is now represented, in a way, by the current Mexican government, the current Mexican government has adamantly—since Andrés Manuel López Obrador was head of the government of Mexico City there have been, you know, an advancement with regards to reproductive rights, reproductive health, and that is not under question of the current administration, which is very interesting because in the United States the—I mean, there's a different type of tension. And in other countries of the hemisphere too, we can see—you know, because we're Catholic countries we can see that area as very complex and a lot of opposition with regards to that. In Mexico, there needs to be an opposition because of the mentality, because of the culture, but there has been an advancement in the courts, and recently there was a decision in one state of Mexico that decriminalized—and it's very interesting how the Mexican government has been able to build a different discourse that has allowed the current government to advance in that direction. Decriminalization of abortion is a way that this has advanced. So I believe that possibly—I dare to say that possibly in the Americas, Mexico is one of the most progressive governments with regards to this subject, reproductive health and reproductive rights. It is very interesting—there must be a number of studies coming from this decision of the courts of one state of Mexico that's going to be defining the future of reproductive rights in the country. With regards to the second question about NAFTA, labor rights, there is an understanding in the United States that NAFTA has been good, particularly for Mexico. In the technocracy sector, particularly those that, you know, contributed to renegotiate NAFTA—I mean, the Mexican elites recognize the gains of Mexico in the framework of NAFTA, particularly if we focus on the manufacturing sector. The jobs that we're creating in maquiladoras, the jobs that were created due to NAFTA, were not enough to achieve or to allow Mexico to grow at rates that were acceptable. During the time of NAFTA, Mexico has grown at the same—almost at the same level of demographic rates of population rates. So overall, a number of jobs were lost in the beginning, the first years of NAFTA. Many of these people needed to move to the United States. So the effects of NAFTA in Mexico have been very extremely, extremely unequal. But what you will read probably in the reports that have been produced by Mexican academics, Mexican analysts and think tanks and in the think tanks of the United States is that NAFTA has been overall very good for Mexico. It has not been bad for Mexico. It has allowed the country to have access to a number of products but, at the same time, has affected some other sectors that could be considered of national security. And I'm thinking about the production of grain in the agricultural sector in particular. But with regards to labor rights—and this is why the question is very important, and I'm not sure that I answered it correctly. The United States has different priorities and has had different priorities that were manifested in the growth of dissatisfaction among an important segment of the U.S. population that has not been able to—I mean, become part of the development in the United States. That gave place to the Make America Great Again movement where the intention or the importance that a number of people in the United States, both in the left or in the right—the idea of a Green New Deal that it's right now in the form of the Build Back Better framework has this idea in mind, to generate jobs inside the United States, because globalization or very aggressive globalization after the end of the Cold War really put a number of people in the United States in a complicated situation because the jobs were performed outside the borders of the United States. So today, this is why it is important to understand what USMCA is about with regards to labor. There is an important pressure from the United States, in particular, to Mexico to increase or—the conditions of the workers in the manufacturing sector overall because there is an important focus on wages. But if wages are—increase more than what the president already increased, you know, into this framework and labor unions make more complicated the entrance of foreign capital and the foreign capital goes back to the United States, will Mexico lose its competitiveness? And the losses will be for Mexico. So there is a tension there and definitely this tension has not been solved. The wages in Mexico have been low but that has to do with the labor supply and with the conditions of labor markets overall. And if there is a force to create the labor unions, this is probably not going to be in the—I mean it's not going to benefit Mexican workers because the businesses are probably not going to generate those jobs and will probably relocate. That's a conversation that has been going on and we have not solved. And we have not seen an improvement overall in the conditions or the wages of workers, more than the one that Andrés Manuel López Obrador by decree—has been given to the workers by increasing in double, particularly at the border wages in the manufacturing sector. But in the framework of USMCA, we haven't yet seen the results and we have not yet seen also the pressure if Mexico has not because the unions have not been created and there are many tensions in that sector. There was an attempt to start with the first labor union in the maquiladora sector by—I mean today a person who is right now in Congress, Susana Prieto Terrazas—she ended up in jail in the state of Tamaulipas, so this is a very complicated subject that we haven't been able to solve. CASA: I'm afraid we have to close now. We're not able to get to all the questions, but we will give you the contacts for the professor and you can reach out to her directly, if you would like to continue the conversation. Guadalupe, thank you very much for being with us today, and to all of you for your great questions and comments. You can follow Guadalupe on Twitter @GCorreaCabrera. Our next Academic Webinar will take place on Wednesday, November 17, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Jason Bordoff, founding director of the Center of Global Energy Policy and professor of professional practice in international and public affairs at Columbia University, will lead a conversation on energy policy and efforts to combat climate change. In the meantime, I encourage you to follow @CFR_Academic on Twitter and visit CFR.org, ForeignAffairs.com, and ThinkGlobalHealth.org for new research and analysis on global issues. Thank you again for joining us today. We look forward to tuning in on November 17. (END)
We learn about human trafficking in Maine and efforts to combat forced labor or sexual exploitation.
We learn about human trafficking in Maine and efforts to combat forced labor or sexual exploitation.
Retirement Lifestyle Show with Roshan Loungani, Erik Olson & Adrian Nicholson
Today on the Retirement Lifestyle Show, Roshan Loungani, Erik Olson, and Adrian Nicholson talk to Erik Olson in the fourth installment of the value investing series. Erik is the president of Dignity Coconuts, a social enterprise that seeks to affirm dignity by ending poverty and slavery in the Philippines. They talk about modern-day slavery, the challenges of launching businesses in third-world countries, and the current state of socially responsible investing. [07:58] Fighting Sex Trafficking Through Coconut Oil [10:44] Creating Income-Generating Activities to Combat Trafficking [12:31] Coconut Oil Benefits, Nutrition, and Popular Uses [14:15] Erik's Journey into the Nonprofit World [20:02] Challenges Facing Socially Responsible Investing in the Philippines [28:53] Why it's Important to Know Where Products are Manufactured [31:20] Business Success and Authentic Social Impact [38:02] How Erik and his Team Successfully Built and Scaled their Business [42:35] The Current State of Impact Investing [46:40] Risks and Costs of Impact Investing [52:30] Benefits of Using Coconut-Based Lip Balms [54:50] Investment and Relationship Opportunities in Dignity Coconuts Roshan can be reached at roshan.loungani@aretewealth.com or at 202-536-4468. Erik can be reached at erik.olson@aretewealth.com or 815-940-4652. Adrian can be reached at adrian.nicholson@aretewealth.com or at 703-915-8905. Follow Us At: https://www.retirewithroshan.com https://youtu.be/hKVzI87v0tA https://twitter.com/RoshanLoungani https://www.linkedin.com/in/roshanloungani/ https://www.facebook.com/retirewithroshan/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialerik/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-nicholson-74b82b13b/ #retirementlifestylepodcast #fire #podcast #FI #Retire #retirewithroshan #BAM #BusinessAsMission #ImpactInvesting All opinions expressed by podcast hosts and guests are solely their own. While based on information they believe is reliable, neither Arete Wealth nor its affiliates warrant its completeness or accuracy, nor do their opinions reflect the opinion of Arete Wealth. This podcast is for general informational purposes only and should not be regarded as specific advice or recommendations for any individual. Before making any decisions, consult a professional.
For decades, Cuba has sent thousands of health workers to other countries on medical missions, responding to disasters and other situations. The humanitarian efforts mask a program that relies on forced labor and that has earned Cuba billions of dollars, according to Maria Werlau, executive director of the US nonprofit Cuba Archive.“Many people allege that these doctors go voluntarily, without recognizing that these doctors are a captive labor force.”Maria Werlau, executive director, Cuba Archive“Many people allege that these doctors go voluntarily, without recognizing that these doctors are a captive labor force,” she said. “A lot of them don't even make enough to feed their families.” Related: 'Global ring' involved in smuggling 39 found dead in truck, court toldThe US has deemed these medical missions “human trafficking” before. But a report released by the State Department on Thursday may use the strongest language yet. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke directly to the issue: “They send doctors and other medical personnel abroad, fail to inform them of the terms of their contracts, confiscate their documents and salaries, threaten them and their family members when they try to leave,” he said.Cuban officials reacted vehemently, accusing the US of lying, defaming and slandering their country. And they're not the only ones expressing outrage since the Trafficking in Persons Report — or TIP report — was released. But the report is also being hailed for speaking more stridently and directly to some issues than ever before.“This report is important because it acknowledges problems that have long existed, but that the TIP report has rarely embraced,” said Martina E. Vandenberg, founder and president of the Human Trafficking Legal Center in DC.The report says many countries failed to adapt to the COVID-19 crisis, allowing a dramatic increase in the number of people trafficked or at risk of falling into modern slavery. And while anti-trafficking organizations faltered, traffickers thrived, in part by drastically increasing online sex trafficking. “Traffickers ... adapt their tactics, they take advantage of new risks and new vulnerabilities that emerge ..."Kari Johnstone, acting director, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons“Traffickers adapt,” said Kari Johnstone, acting director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, at a press conference. “They adapt their tactics, they take advantage of new risks and new vulnerabilities that emerge. It is incumbent upon governments, and all of us who care about human trafficking, to similarly adapt and respond to prevent trafficking, prosecute the traffickers and protect the victims.”Related: South Korea reels from latest high-tech, online sex trafficking caseThis year's TIP report includes a new section that focuses specifically on LGBTQ people. Another part added this year draws a connection from modern-day trafficking to systemic racism and the legacies of colonization, Indigenous dispossession, and the trans-Atlantic slave trade. “I think that is a step forward. Denying these intersections and these root causes of trafficking allows us to continue — as a government, as a country — to continue perpetuating these harms."Jean Bruggerman, executive director, Freedom Network USA, Washington, DC“I think that is a step forward. Denying these intersections and these root causes of trafficking allows us to continue — as a government, as a country — to continue perpetuating these harms. So, I think first we have to acknowledge it,” said Jean Bruggeman, executive director of Freedom Network USA in DC.“But, of course, then, the real test is, are we going to do anything about it?”For the first time, the TIP report placed a NATO member — Turkey — on the congressionally mandated list of countries that use child soldiers. The Turkish foreign ministry blasted the US, calling the accusations unfounded — and unacceptable. It added that the report is, quote, "the most striking example of hypocrisy” and “double standards."Related: US human trafficking report is misleading, advocates sayThe Thai foreign ministry also angrily dismissed the report as unfair, after it downgraded and placed Thailand on a watchlist for catching and charging fewer suspects. Thailand's inaction contributed to a stunning overall drop in the apprehension of traffickers worldwide last year. Prosecutions fell below 10,000 for the first time since at least 2013. Convictions were down from the previous year by almost half, to barely more than 5,000.“It's clear that COVID opened the door to the largest wage theft in history, and so walking COVID back — walking the abuse of workers back — is going to be incredibly difficult ... We need much more than rhetoric. We need real structural changes.”Martina E. Vandenberg, founder and president, Human Trafficking Legal Center, Washington, DC“It's clear that COVID opened the door to the largest wage theft in history, and so walking COVID back — walking the abuse of workers back — is going to be incredibly difficult,” Vandenberg said. “We need much more than rhetoric. We need real structural changes.”At least one country reacted positively to the report's findings: Malaysia. It was downgraded to the worst ranking, because of the alleged exploitation of migrant workers there. The Malaysian Human Resources Ministry says it takes those concerns seriously, and has vowed to conduct a review.
Send us a Text Message.If you or someone you know is currently in danger of human trafficking, you can view the National Human Trafficking Hotline website here. You can reach the hotline by calling 1-888-373-7888 or texting 233733.In this episode, Sam and Alicen discuss the future of anti-trafficking work with former Ambassador to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Luis C.deBaca.Here, you can learn more about the Human Trafficking Institute, the Federal Human Trafficking Report, and the Douglass Fellowship. Contact the Human Trafficking Institute here.Music: Blurry Vision by Corbyn Kites
Send us a Text Message.If you or someone you know is currently in danger of human trafficking, you can view the National Human Trafficking Hotline website here. You can reach the hotline by calling 1-888-373-7888 or texting 233733.In this episode, Sam and Alicen speak with Human Trafficking Institute co-founder and former U.S. Ambassador to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons John Cotton Richmond about his career and the U.S.'s efforts to combat trafficking. Here, you can learn more about the Human Trafficking Institute, the Federal Human Trafficking Report, and the Douglass Fellowship. Contact the Human Trafficking Institute here.Music: Blurry Vision by Corbyn Kites
Episode seven of the second season of the Podcast on Crimes Against Women continues our human trafficking series with Kirsta Melton, Chief Executive Officer of the Institute to Combat Trafficking and the Deputy Criminal Chief of the Human Trafficking and Transnational Organized Crime Section of the Attorney General of Texas. In this episode, Kirsta explores the evolution of human trafficking and its scope worldwide, how technology has both helped and hindered efforts to stop human trafficking, her involvement in the takedown of Backpage.com, and how the Institute to Combat Trafficking is working to decrease human trafficking through on-location programs, trainings, and investigation and prosecution assistance.
Guest Host Moe Vela begins today's show with his 'Moe-ment of Truth," which this week is about the Republican hypocrisy surrounding the cost of President Biden's proposed $1.9 trillion dollar COVID stimulus bill. As a reminder, these same Republicans had no such concerns when it came to the Trump tax cuts for the wealthy that were passed back in 2017. For the remainder of the show, Moe is joined by Luis C. de Baca, Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (Ret.). The two discuss human trafficking, police brutality, white supremacists, and more. Ambassador de Baca's Twitter handle is @AmbCdeBaca. Moe's show can be heard live every Thursday from 3-4pm ET at www.spreaker.com/intheknowwithmoe. begins today's show with his 'Moe-ment of Truth," which this week is about the Republican hypocrisy surrounding the cost of President Biden's proposed $1.9 trillion dollar COVID stimulus bill. As a reminder, these same Republicans had no such concerns when it came to the Trump tax cuts for the wealthy that were passed back in 2017. For the remainder of the show, Moe is joined by Luis C. de Baca, Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (Ret.). The two discuss human trafficking, police brutality, white supremacists, and more. Ambassador de Baca's Twitter handle is @AmbCdeBaca. Moe's show can be heard live every Thursday from 3-4pm ET at www.spreaker.com/intheknowwithmoe.
Moe begins today's show with his 'Moe-ment of Truth," which this week is about the Republican hypocrisy surrounding the cost of President Biden's proposed $1.9 trillion dollar COVID stimulus bill. As a reminder, these same Republicans had no such concerns when it came to the Trump tax cuts for the wealthy that were passed back in 2017. For the remainder of the show, Moe is joined by Luis C. de Baca, Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (Ret.). The two discuss human trafficking, police brutality, white supremacists, and more. Ambassador de Baca's Twitter handle is @AmbCdeBaca. Moe's show can be heard live every Thursday from 3-4pm ET at www.spreaker.com/intheknowwithmoe.
Moe begins today's show with his 'Moe-ment of Truth," which this week is about the Republican hypocrisy surrounding the cost of President Biden's proposed $1.9 trillion dollar COVID stimulus bill. As a reminder, these same Republicans had no such concerns when it came to the Trump tax cuts for the wealthy that were passed back in 2017.For the remainder of the show, Moe is joined by Luis C. de Baca, Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (Ret.). The two discuss human trafficking, police brutality, white supremacists, and more. Ambassador de Baca's Twitter handle is @AmbCdeBaca.Moe's show can be heard live every Thursday from 3-4pm ET at www.spreaker.com/intheknowwithmoe.
"We are not just doing [justice] for humanity, humanity can be pretty terrible...We need a worldview that gives us a reason even beyond that, to something super natural. That's what Scripture does for us." - Dr. Christina CrenshawEpisode guest, Dr. Christina Crenshaw, has a PhD in Education and is a professor, researcher, writer, and human trafficking fighter. She has worked with anti-human trafficking organizations such as The A21 Campaign, UnBound Now, The Heart of Texas Human Trafficking Coalition, The Texas Governor's Human Trafficking Task Force, and the Freedom Challenge US.In this episode Dr. Crenshaw explains the importance of educating ourselves on human trafficking through a biblical worldview and vocational leadership perspective, and gives insight into research of human trafficking in the US. Resources from Episode:Websites: Agencies of the President's Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons | National Center of Missing and Exploited Children | Exodus Cry | Polaris Project Books: Vulnerable by Raleigh Sadler | Be the Bridge by Latasha MorrisonPeople: Timothy Keller | Pastor Tony Evans Want to learn more? Visit our websites:The Freedom Challenge US: thefreedomchallenge.comOperation Mobilization USA: omusa.orgInstagram: @thefcusaSupport the show (https://give.omusa.org/om/freedom-challenge)
Meet Samantha Yanity, Justice Educator for Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center, who talks to us about how they 'think globally but act locally' to fight against human trafficking. Specifically, we talk about... How Trafficking is a modern form of slavery; Catholic Social Teaching on Human Trafficking; How trafficking intersects with other social justice issues; and Actions we can all take to combat trafficking. Learn more https://www.ipjc.org/human-trafficking-resources/ Contact Samantha directly at syanity@ipjc.org Register for "Hidden in Plain Sight" on REALM, or email drauda@satigard.org if you are not a St Anthony community member. Enjoy the episode? Subscribe to "Reclaiming Social Justice" on Apple Podcast or your preferred podcast platform Share the episode on your social media --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/reclaimingsj/message
Today's episode features guest Rachel Thomas, an author, speaker, educator, survivor of trafficking and member of the National Advisory Council of Human Trafficking. Rachel shares some highlights from the The President's Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (PITF) as well as her how her unique story of trafficking and exploitation ultimately led her to creation of Ending the Game, a curriculum that works to reduce recidivism in trafficked victims by breaking bonds of attachment to traffickers and “The Game” lifestyle. She also is debuting her new "Cool Aunt" video series geared towards educating youth and teens about "the life" and how they can keep themselves safe. https://www.thecoolauntseries.com/ https://endingthegame.com/
This year marks 20 years since the US first made a historic commitment to ending modern slavery.“We’ve accomplished so much in the last 20 years,” said John Richmond, US ambassador-at-large of the State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, during the June 25 release of the 2020 Trafficking in Persons Report.Related: 'American exceptionalism': EU travel bans show US is abdicating global leadership, former CDC head says“Our engagement on this has made a difference. This report and the US have made a positive difference.”Every year, the US issues an annual report that ranks countries by their progress fighting human trafficking. Countries in the lowest category are restricted from receiving US aid.The 2020 report lists 22 countries receiving improved rankings for their work on the issue over the past year.“The department put this out on time without any delays in the midst of a global pandemic and that itself serves to show the priority this administration and the secretary has placed on this issue,” Richmond said, reminding the audience that President Donald Trump had also hosted a summit on human trafficking, and issued an executive order to combat online child exploitation.But advocates across the globe warn that with the pandemic and economic downturn, there’s an urgent risk that more people will fall prey to human traffickers. They say the report is poorly timed, and counterproductive.“At this moment, at the 20th anniversary, the State Department wants to tell a story of success and progress. And that's just not the story that the data tell.”Martina Vandenberg, The Human Trafficking Legal Center“At this moment, at the 20th anniversary, the State Department wants to tell a story of success and progress,” said Martina Vandenberg, the founder and president of The Human Trafficking Legal Center. “And that's just not the story that the data tell.”Especially because right now, she says, the global pandemic is making more people vulnerable to human trafficking.Related: As Lebanon’s financial crisis worsens, migrant workers are being dumped on the streets like ‘trash’“So, what we're seeing around the globe is people going into greater debt. People now trapped in countries to which they have migrated, but completely unemployed,” she said. “And the likelihood is that those people will be more vulnerable to indentured servitude and more vulnerable to forced labor when the world begins to open up again.”Vandenburg also takes issue with the US giving itself the highest possible ranking. Many advocates felt that the US deserved to be downgraded this year.Jean Bruggeman is the executive director of Freedom Network USA. She says many of the president’s border and immigration policies increase wait times and denials, putting more people at risk for trafficking, including vulnerable populations, like LGBTQI people.“I do not think that the United States is engaged in sustained efforts. And I think the report tells you that when they say that, you know, they maintained prosecution efforts, at best, they reduced efforts to provide protection. And the only prevention work they do is federal agency training, which is not actually prevention. It’s not actually changing the circumstances, which puts people at risk.”Related: Options dwindle for Venezuelan migrants across Latin America during the pandemicNeha Misra, a specialist at the Solidarity Center, a nongovernmental organization, says the report’s rankings have always been somewhat politicized, but this year’s takes it to another level. She questions, for example, the upgraded ranking of Saudi Arabia, and says it may lead that country to do less to combat trafficking.“Even countries that don't get US aid, reputationally, it meant a lot. It was embarrassing to be on [the] tier-three or the tier-two watchlist. And if the tier rankings don't mean anything, then that reputational pressure is gone.”Neha Misra, Solidarity Center“Even countries that don't get US aid, reputationally, it meant a lot. It was embarrassing to be on [the] tier-three or the tier-two watchlist. And if the tier rankings don't mean anything, then that reputational pressure is gone.”For survivors who are now in the fight against human trafficking, the report is disheartening, says Suamhirs Piraino-Guzman. He was kidnapped in Honduras as a child and smuggled into the United States by human traffickers.Related: In Ciudad Juárez, a new 'filter hotel' offers migrants a safe space to quarantinePiraino-Guzman was appointed by President Barack Obama to the US Advisory Council on Human Trafficking in 2015.“I’ll be honest with you. I think we need to stop pretending that we're moving forward.”If the US isn’t honest about the reality of human trafficking, he said, it’s not really serving the people who need help the most.
John Cotton Richmond serves as the United States Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and leads the Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. In October 2018, the Senate unanimously confirmed him and President Trump appointed him to lead the United States' global engagement to combat human trafficking and support the coordination of anti-trafficking efforts across the U.S. government. Ambassador Richmond comes to the highest position in the federal government dedicated to combating human trafficking, after a distinguished career in the global battle for freedom. He co-founded the Human Trafficking Institute that exists to decimate modern slavery at its source by empowering police and prosecutors to use victim-centered and trauma-informed methods to hold traffickers accountable and ensure survivors are treated with respect and care. Prior to the Institute, Ambassador Richmond served, for more than ten years, as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Department of Justice's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit where he was named one of the "Federal Prosecutors of the Year" by the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation. He investigated and prosecuted numerous victim-centered labor and sex trafficking cases throughout the United States. He also prosecuted cross burnings, police misconduct, and neo-Nazi hate crimes cases. Ambassador Richmond regularly served as an expert to the United Nations Working Group on Trafficking in Persons. He also lived in India for three years pioneering International Justice Mission's anti-slavery work.Ambassador Richmond's work to combat human trafficking has earned numerous honors, including: receiving the David Allred Award for Exceptional Contributions to Civil Rights, twice earning the Department of Homeland Security's Outstanding Investigative Accomplishments in a Human Trafficking Award, as well as twice receiving the Department of Justice's Special Commendation Award. Ambassador Richmond has trained judges, prosecutors, federal agents, law enforcement officers, and non-governmental organizations on effective, proactive human trafficking investigative and prosecutorial strategies. He also taught Human Trafficking Law, Policy, and Litigation at Pepperdine School of Law and Vanderbilt Law School. In 2018, while at the Human Trafficking Institute, he co-authored the first Federal Human Trafficking Report that collected and analyzed all the active federal human trafficking cases in the United States. Ambassador Richmond earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of Mary Washington and his Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law.------------------- Are you ready to start dreaming big? Click HERE to receive your free Dream Big Workbook. It's a user-friendly guide to defining your core values and fundamental beliefs- the essential building blocks to discovering in which dreams you should invest. On the episode: Producers : Tatave Abeshyan and Haley King Engineer : Jackson Carpenter Producer & Co-host : Scott Schimmel
John Cotton Richmond serves as the United States Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and leads the Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. In October 2018, the Senate unanimously confirmed him and President Trump appointed him to lead the United States’ global engagement to combat human trafficking and support the coordination of anti-trafficking efforts across the U.S. government.Ambassador Richmond comes to the highest position in the federal government dedicated to combating human trafficking, after a distinguished career in the global battle for freedom. He co-founded the Human Trafficking Institute that exists to decimate modern slavery at its source by empowering police and prosecutors to use victim-centered and trauma-informed methods to hold traffickers accountable and ensure survivors are treated with respect and care.Prior to the Institute, Ambassador Richmond served, for more than ten years, as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit where he was named one of the “Federal Prosecutors of the Year” by the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation. He investigated and prosecuted numerous victim-centered labor and sex trafficking cases throughout the United States. He also prosecuted cross burnings, police misconduct, and neo-Nazi hate crimes cases. Ambassador Richmond regularly served as an expert to the United Nations Working Group on Trafficking in Persons. He also lived in India for three years pioneering International Justice Mission’s anti-slavery work.Ambassador Richmond’s work to combat human trafficking has earned numerous honors, including: receiving the David Allred Award for Exceptional Contributions to Civil Rights, twice earning the Department of Homeland Security’s Outstanding Investigative Accomplishments in a Human Trafficking Award, as well as twice receiving the Department of Justice’s Special Commendation Award.Ambassador Richmond has trained judges, prosecutors, federal agents, law enforcement officers, and non-governmental organizations on effective, proactive human trafficking investigative and prosecutorial strategies. He also taught Human Trafficking Law, Policy, and Litigation at Pepperdine School of Law and Vanderbilt Law School. In 2018, while at the Human Trafficking Institute, he co-authored the first Federal Human Trafficking Report that collected and analyzed all the active federal human trafficking cases in the United States. Ambassador Richmond earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Mary Washington and his Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law.———————This month, we're also offering a take-home workbook you can use to guide your discernment for the work you can do as a force for good in this world.Also on the episode:Producers: Tatave Abeshyan and Haley KingEngineer: Jackson CarpenterProducer & Co-host: Scott Schimmelpushplayproductions.orgPush Play ProductionsA production agency out of Bend OR that specializes in Content Creation, Digital Marketing and Podcast Editing.scottschimmelspeaks.comScott Schimmel SpeaksScott Schimmel is a public speaker for conferences, school assemblies, keynotes, workshops, and retreats.
John Cotton Richmond serves as the United States Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and leads the Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. In October 2018, the Senate unanimously confirmed him and President Trump appointed him to lead the United States' global engagement to combat human trafficking and support the coordination of anti-trafficking efforts across the U.S. government.Ambassador Richmond comes to the highest position in the federal government dedicated to combating human trafficking, after a distinguished career in the global battle for freedom. He co-founded the Human Trafficking Institute that exists to decimate modern slavery at its source by empowering police and prosecutors to use victim-centered and trauma-informed methods to hold traffickers accountable and ensure survivors are treated with respect and care.Prior to the Institute, Ambassador Richmond served, for more than ten years, as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Department of Justice's Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit where he was named one of the "Federal Prosecutors of the Year" by the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation. He investigated and prosecuted numerous victim-centered labor and sex trafficking cases throughout the United States. He also prosecuted cross burnings, police misconduct, and neo-Nazi hate crimes cases. Ambassador Richmond regularly served as an expert to the United Nations Working Group on Trafficking in Persons. He also lived in India for three years pioneering International Justice Mission's anti-slavery work.Ambassador Richmond's work to combat human trafficking has earned numerous honors, including: receiving the David Allred Award for Exceptional Contributions to Civil Rights, twice earning the Department of Homeland Security's Outstanding Investigative Accomplishments in a Human Trafficking Award, as well as twice receiving the Department of Justice's Special Commendation Award.Ambassador Richmond has trained judges, prosecutors, federal agents, law enforcement officers, and non-governmental organizations on effective, proactive human trafficking investigative and prosecutorial strategies. He also taught Human Trafficking Law, Policy, and Litigation at Pepperdine School of Law and Vanderbilt Law School. In 2018, while at the Human Trafficking Institute, he co-authored the first Federal Human Trafficking Report that collected and analyzed all the active federal human trafficking cases in the United States. Ambassador Richmond earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of Mary Washington and his Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law.———————This month, we're also offering a take-home workbook you can use to guide your discernment for the work you can do as a force for good in this world.Also on the episode:Producers: Tatave Abeshyan and Haley KingEngineer: Jackson CarpenterProducer & Co-host: Scott Schimmelpushplayproductions.orgPush Play ProductionsA production agency out of Bend OR that specializes in Content Creation, Digital Marketing and Podcast Editing.scottschimmelspeaks.comScott Schimmel SpeaksScott Schimmel is a public speaker for conferences, school assemblies, keynotes, workshops, and retreats.
Private aircraft are a favorite way to move illegal drugs and laundered money. For that reason alone, the Federal Aviation Administration needs to tighten its registration procedures for aircraft, like verifying registrants are who they say they are. That's among the findings of a recent examination by the Government Accountability Office. GAO's Director of Forensic Audits Rebecca Shea had more on Federal Drive with Tom Temin.
In this episode of the podcast, we spoke with former US Ambassador Luis C.deBaca who is currently the Senior Fellow in Modern Slavery at Yale’s Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance and Abolition. Prior to this, Ambassador C.deBaca coordinated the U.S. government’s activities in the global fight against modern slavery as head of the State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons during the Obama Administration. We discussed the issue of modern slavery in corporate supply chains and the steps companies can take to combat and prevent it.The show host is Alex Sorin, a Director at Vcheck Global.
At this Friday Forum, the Clapham Group will premier a short film on The Role of the Faith Community and the Fight to End AIDS through PEPFAR and the Global Fund. A panel of experts will respond including:Mark P. Lagon is a practitioner and thinker on global health, human rights, and human trafficking, and global institutions. He is Chief Policy Officer at Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria—where he coordinates the non-profit’s Administration and congressional outreach, policy advocacy and coalition management, and research content. He is also Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum, and Adjunct Professor in the Masters of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) at Georgetown University’s School. In the NGO world, he served as President of Freedom House. Previously, he was Executive Director and CEO of the leading anti-human trafficking nonprofit, Polaris. In academia and the think tank world, he was Global Politics and Security Chair for Georgetown’s MSFS Program. He was also the same time Adjunct Senior Fellow for Human Rights at the Council on Foreign Relations. In the Executive Branch, he served in three successive roles at the Department of State: member of the Secretary of State's Policy Planning Staff; Deputy Assistant Secretary of International Organization Affairs; and finally Ambassador-at-Large directing the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. Earlier on Capitol Hill, he was senior staffer at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee responsible for international organizations and human rights; and served as deputy director at the House Republican Policy Committee. He is co-editor with Anthony Clark Arend of the 2014 book, Human Dignity and the Future of Global Institutions and author of the book, The Reagan Doctrine: Sources of American Conduct in the Cold War's Last Chapter. He received his Ph.D. in Government from Georgetown University, and A.B. from Harvard University.Jenny Yang provides oversight for all advocacy initiatives and policy positions at World Relief. She has worked in the Resettlement section of World Relief as the senior case manager and East Asia program officer, where she focused on advocacy for refugees in the East Asia region and managed the entire refugee caseload for World Relief. Prior to joining World Relief, she worked at one of the largest political fundraising firms in Maryland, managing fundraising and campaigning for local politicians. She is co-author of Welcoming the Stranger: Justice, Compassion and Truth in the Immigration Debate, serves as Chair of the Refugee Council USA (RCUSA) Africa Work Group, and was named one of the 50 Women to Watch by Christianity Today.Tom HartTom Hart is the US Executive Director of ONE, and is responsible for ONE’s advocacy, communications and campaign activities in the United States. Previously, Tom was the Senior Director of Government Relations at ONE. In this role, Tom devised and executed ONE’s government relations strategy for the US and Canada. Tom and his team led the way on unprecedented increases in development assistance by the United States, including historic increases in funding for HIV/AIDS, malaria, and TB through PEPFAR and the Global Fund, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and more. Before joining ONE, Tom was the Director of Government Relations for the Episcopal Church, USA, and an aide to Senators Alan Cranston and Jay Rockefeller.Michael GersonMichael Gerson is a nationally syndicated columnist who appears twice weekly in the Washington Post and in more than 100 other newspapers. He is the author of Heroic Conservatism (HarperOne, 2007) and coauthor of City Support the show (http://www.faithandlaw.org/donate)
The Australian government says it will work with Sri Lanka to crack down on human trafficking. The move comes as attention focuses on the case of the deportation of a Tamil family who have been living in Biloela in Queensland. - រដ្ឋាភិបាលអូស្រ្តាលីនិយាយថា ខ្លួននឹងធ្វើការជាមួយប្រទេសស្រីលង្ការ ដើម្បីបង្រ្កាបការជួញដូរមនុស្ស។វិធានការនេះកើតឡើងខណៈដែលមានការយកចិត្តទុកដាក់ ចាប់អារម្មណ៍មកលើករណីនិរទេសក្រុមគ្រួសារតាមិលមួយគ្រួសារដែលបានរស់នៅក្នុងតំបន់ Biloela ក្នុងរដ្ឋគ្វីនស្លេនចេញពីអូស្រ្តាលី។
TEXT FROM - www.warren.senate.gov Washington, DC - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) today applauded the House passage of the bipartisan End Banking for Human Traffickers Act, which would aid financial institutions in identifying and reporting instances of human trafficking, so that offenders can be prosecuted and victims can be protected. Senators Warren and Rubio originally introduced the companion legislation in the Senate on April 26, 2017. The End Banking for Human Traffickers Act would direct federal banking regulators to work with law enforcement and financial institutions to combat the use of the financial system for human trafficking. The bill would further increase collaboration between law enforcement and experts in financial crimes by adding financial intelligence and regulatory officers to the President's Interagency Task Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, and require the Task Force to develop recommendations for Congress and regulators that would strengthen anti-money laundering programs to better target human trafficking.
Cartels based in Kenya recruit East Africans into trafficking situations by pretending to be legitimate labor brokers for real jobs. JJ explains how they do it, which includes brazenly advertising in newspapers. Sources: Why human trafficking is still rife in Kenya, The Star Illicit Trafficking and Eastern Africa, UNODC KENYA: Tier 2, Office To Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons Kenya is run by mafia-style cartels, says chief justice, The Guardian Merchandised: Human trafficking cartels in Kenya, YouTube Photo: Standard Digital
Indivisible Founders Leah Greenberg & Ezra Levin "Citizen action sweeping the country" Wednesday, September 13, 2017 Ezra Levin Co-founder and co-Executive Director of the Indivisible Project. Previously, Ezra worked as a poverty policy wonk and advocate. He most recently served as the Associate Director of Federal Policy at Prosperity Now. He was Deputy Policy Director for Congressman Lloyd Doggett and an AmeriCorps VISTA in the Homeless Services Division of the San Jose Housing Department. He holds a bachelor's degree from Carleton College and a master's in public affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University Leah Greenberg Co-founder and co-Executive Director of the Indivisible Project. She most recently served as Policy Director for the Tom Perriello for Governor of Virginia campaign. Previously, she managed the Partnership for Freedom, a $6 million public-private partnership on human trafficking, served as an Advisor to the State Department's Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review process, coordinated interagency engagement for the State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, and worked on the Hill for Congressman Tom Perriello. She holds a bachelor's degree from Carleton College and a master's degree in international affairs from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
On May 31, the Justice Sector Training, Research and Coordination Program and the U.S. Institute of Peace hosted a symposium to tackle the difficult questions of how technology can be used to strengthen rule of law, security, community engagement, and relationships between states and the people they serve in developing and conflict-affected areas. Keynote Address Luis C. deBacaFormer Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and Former Director Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART) U.S. Department of Justice Session Two: Innovations in Engagement: From Mobile Apps to Social Media Rohini Srihari, ModeratorChief Data Scientist, PeaceTech Lab Jeffrey ArestyPresident, InternetBar.org Karen NaimerDirector, Program on Sexual Violence in Conflict Zones, Physicians for Human Rights Antoine HeutyFounder and CEO, Ulula LLC Zaid ZaidPublic Policy, Strategic Response, Facebook, Inc. Session Three: Innovations in E-Governance: From Case Management to Consensus Building Andrew Solomon, ModeratorSenior Rule of Law Advisor, U.S. Agency for International Development Jeff AppersonVice President, National Center for State Courts Julia GliddenGeneral Manager, IBM Global Business Services - Global Government Industry Nino VardosanidzeSenior Legislative and Oversight Manager, Good Governance Initiative, Tetra Tech ARD (Republic of Georgia) For more information about this event, please visit: https://www.usip.org/events/innovation-and-technology-rule-law-programming
Susan Coppedge is the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. Her office estimates there are 21 million victims of human trafficking worldwide. From sex trafficking to labor trafficking, many in the world are vulnerable. In this conversation Coppedge talks about innovative ways in which her office is trying to combat the problem.
Nick & Cari Elcock (Co-founders - ) - Nick and Cari created and launched a line of handmade sandals for men and women with 25% of their monthly profits being donated to Courage Worldwide, which operates two homes for survivors of child sex trafficking. As you listen, you'll have the opportunity to learn: 1. How sandals and anti-trafficking became their passions. 2. 3-4 things every potential social entrepreneur needs to be prepared for. 3. What they wish they would have known before starting.
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