Researchers at The Ohio State University interviewed 25 survivors of sex trafficking in the Central Ohio area in an effort to understand their trajectory into leadership roles in the anti-trafficking movement. The interviews were recorded and analyzed for themes related to three conceptual aims: 1) examining the transition of sex trafficking victims to survivors; 2) examining the transition of sex-trafficked women from survivors to leadership roles; and 3) assessing sex trafficking survivors’ perceptions of leadership. Themes that emerged included: adverse childhood experiences, drugs, forced prostitution, incarceration, and treatment for Aim 1; outreach, public speaking, and peer mentoring for Aim 2; and honesty, strength, open-mindedness, and role modeling for Aim 3. This is one of the first studies to examine leadership in the anti-trafficking movement at the survivor level. The findings are in line with, and highlight the importance of, the Survivor Leadership Model’s five components: a trauma-informed approach; input and direction from survivors; adequate resource allocation by the organization’s upper management; empowerment of the survivor; and post-graduation support (Family and Youth Services Bureau, 2015). This presentation will include: defining leadership; examining the evolution of trafficking victims to survivors; and understanding leadership from the perspective of an anti-trafficking activist who is also a survivor.

Presentation Objectives:

·  Define leadership and explore the Survivor Leadership model

·  Examine the evolution of trafficking victims to survivors

·  Understand leadership from the perspective of an anti-trafficking activist who is also a survivor

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This presentation will discuss the Northwest Ohio Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force and their mission to combat crimes against children. This will be followed by a case study in which the attendees will hear about a sex trafficking investigation in Lima, Ohio that was conducted by the task force. Attendees will hear the case from initial recruitment of the minors to the convictions of the traffickers and others. The case concerns 2 minors in the Lima, Ohio area, their traffickers, and others that conspired to traffic the minors. As a result of the investigation, two minors were recovered and 7 individuals were arrested and convicted, with one trafficker sentenced to life in federal prison and another sentenced to 30 years in federal prison.

Presentation Objectives:

·  Discuss how the task force approaches these types of investigations by looking at the big picture and taking out an entire organizations ability to operate

·  Explain how the task force uses a victim centered approach to our investigations

·  Describe the complexities of these types of investigations from dealing with multiple jurisdictions to preservation of evidence

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This presentation discusses the data Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP) Behind Bars has collected for three years with over 1000 individuals who are currently or formerly incarcerated for prostitution, trafficking, or prostitution-related crimes. SWOP Behind Bars is a national social justice network dedicated to the fundamental human rights of people who face discrimination from the criminal justice system due to the stigma associated with the sex industry. While the United States’ incarceration rate is staggering compared to the rest of the world, this rate is the lowest the US has seen since 2008 (Kaeble & Cowhig, 2018; National Research Council, 2014). Despite this downward trend of incarceration rates, the proportion of women to men has steadily increased, making women a greater percentage of the adults filling US prisons and jails than in previous years (World Prison Brief, 2018). While the imprisonment rate for females is overall lower than men, at 84 per 100,000 adult females, the arrest rates of women increased from the previous year (Benedict, 2014; Lynch, Fritch & Heath, 2012). The female population in jail has increased 44% between 2000 and 2013 (Fact Sheet on Justice Involved Women, 2016). Many women in the prison system have prostitution-related experience and/or criminal charges in their past. Increasingly, women are also being arrested and convicted for trafficking of others, even though they have been victimized and trafficked themselves (SWOP Behind Bars, 2019). This presentation highlights the overlap between adult consensual sex work, trafficking, and traffickers, provides an overview of data they gathered, and explains their members’ greatest needs. This vulnerable population becomes even more at risk for falling victim to predatory management that will force them into compromising situations and push them further to the margins. The stigma and shame that is already present for most women who have been in jail or prison is exacerbated by the lack of opportunities for employment and education upon release.

Presentation Objectives:

·  Explain the differences between adult consensual sex work and trafficking/exploitation in the sex industry

·  Provide a clear understanding of how the criminalization of prostitution impacts victims of sex trafficking

·  Discuss how incarceration is related to prostitution, prostitution-related crimes, and trafficking

·  Provide attendees with a better understanding of individuals they may work with who have been incarcerated, and how to better address their needs as whole people

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Sex trafficking involves the intentional use of coercion, force, fraud, or exploitation of one person by another for purpose of performing unwanted sex acts. With the advent of systemic factors such as increased dependence on technology, ambiguity in legislation and prosecution, unjust stigma, and other barriers and misconceptions, individuals who have been trafficked can struggle to access appropriate resources, such as counseling, to assist them. Rarely do trafficked persons seek counseling independently. Further, when they do present in counseling, they may present with a host of other symptoms that can mask or exacerbate their experiences or be indicative of co-occurring concerns. Thus, counseling trafficked persons tasks counselors and other mental health providers with possessing awareness of and competence to understand the dynamics of trafficking. Counselors must be attuned to and respond with trauma neutral language, appropriate assessment, crisis intervention, safety planning, and stabilization, the ability to address basic needs, and the ability to provide trauma informed and responsive identity, existential meaning, and grounding work with clients.

Presentation Objectives:

·  Explore the culture of trafficking

·  Explore systemic factors that perpetuate trafficking

·  Explore evidence-based techniques and strategies for counseling individuals who have been trafficked

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There can be a world free of slaves. However, the most effective way to tackle a problem is to first address the root cause. The root cause of trafficking in Africa and most third world countries over the years remains poverty, with women and children being the most vulnerable (Allais, 2006). Will trafficking ever end without first eliminating or, at best, reducing the push factor? This presentation seeks to answer this puzzle. Third world countries have continuously failed its youth and young adults. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the unemployment rate in Nigeria is 23.1%, while the World Poverty Clock estimated that 86.9 million Nigerians now live in extreme poverty. This makes it easier for traffickers to recruit desperate job seekers to the Middle East with promises of well-paid jobs. Kafala System is an employment framework that requires sponsorship for migrant workers from a nation who possesses substantial control over the worker (Hartnett, 2018). Oman’s Kafala System has more than 160,000 female migrant domestic workers trapped in beatings, unpaid wages, sexual abuse, and excessive working hours (Human Rights Watch, Oman, 2018).

Presentation Objectives:

·  Provide insight into the history of Kafala System practiced in the Middle East

·  Analyze how the Kafala system serves as a gateway to labour trafficking

·  Discuss the leading push factors of labour trafficking

·  Make recommendations for reform to the Kafala System

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Spring Awakening is a powerful piece of drama in its breadth of issues regarding teenage angst, dilemmas, and community oppression. Written in 1891 by Frank Wedekind, it concerns German youth and their challenges in growing up. The dramatic material tackles a plethora of issues such as rape, suicide, and abortion, to name a few. Issue Box Theatre’s process first identified a specific translation (Franzen) of the German text that would most potently explore these issues. Next, they created a performance with age appropriate casting to ensure a well-rounded and realistic interpretation of the play. They selected a director who was able to navigate the contemporary themes in the dated material and established a production team to support this challenging but vital work of theatre. Curriculum was developed to generate community dialogue with the participants and audience members. Characteristics of safe and healthy relationships were discussed via open dialogue and resources provided by community educators. Issue Box Theatre encourages participants to become “Actorvists”, putting the ACT back into activism. This workshop will present their methods starting with a rationale for this production including IBT company methods and values. Rosie will present synthesized data gathered throughout the process and present results including community responses and reactions. This is a follow-up presentation to a workshop from last year's conference where the project was proposed.

Presentation Objectives:

·  Discuss the process of the theatre project development and conclusions

·  Describe ways healthy relationships curriculum assisted both young and old alike to discuss issues in an open and healthy manner

·  Describe how creating a network of community educators and resources for young people was beneficial to the community as a whole

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