Human Trafficking and Natural Disasters: How Emergency Management Agency Should Prepare
Benjamin Thomas Greer, JD & Brittany Barrios Hadaway, JD | September 23 | 3:15-4:15 PM
Topic: Conceptual, Direct Service | Knowledge Level: Beginner
There is a “growing body of research” documenting human exploitation being uncovered during disaster events, or displaced persons being exploited during the post-disaster recovery efforts. Our State and Federal emergency management agencies are trained and prepared to respond to earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, fires, and pandemics. But they are not suitably trained to identify and respond to the criminal element that seeks to prey on the displaced and vulnerable victims of the disaster. This presentation will review illustrative case studies indicating trafficking activity related to Hurricane’s Katrina (2005) and Harvey (2017), The Haitian earthquake (2010), and the global pandemic caused by COVID-19. The presenters will highlight how disasters can create or exacerbate victim vulnerabilities; how traffickers are quick to exploit these weaknesses; how emergency management agencies can better prepare to identify and respond to this threat through education out-reach and recovery contract review; and identify developing/emerging best practices by specialized task forces in pre-exploitation disaster environment intervention. Participants will gain a deeper appreciation for the interplay between disaster events and exploitation as well as emerging best practices for pre-exploitation disaster environment intervention.
Presentation Objectives:
· Articulate how traffickers exploit vulnerabilities during/post natural disasters
· Identify how emergency management agencies can prepare, respond, and protect vulnerable people from exploitation
· Identify basic awareness and identification of potential HT victims in a disaster