Screening victims of human trafficking presents challenges for both law enforcement and social service providers, especially when immigration status is involved. Nevertheless, immigration questions should not be avoided, and instead leaned into, as a way to increase positive outcomes for both law enforcement and survivors. As such, the presenter believes anti-human trafficking screeners should be aware of immigration issues, but the inquiries must be presented in a trauma and immigration informed way. The T Visa provides immigration relief for human trafficking victims. If granted a T Visa, the foreign national obtains legal status for four years, a work permit, and the opportunity to apply for a green card. In order to receive a T Visa, an applicant is usually required to reach out to law enforcement and comply with their investigation. This benefits both human trafficking survivors by finding immigration relief and assists law enforcement with trafficking investigations and prosecutions. The government allotted 5,000 T Visas for 2020. Unfortunately, the T Visa is underutilized, with just 500 granted in 2019 (2020 Trafficking in Persons Report). The reasons surrounding this dismal grant ratio are many; however, if screeners are asking trauma and immigration informed questions, and making appropriate referrals, the approval rate for the T Visa, and the prosecution rate for traffickers, will rise. This presentation will educate screeners on how to screen human trafficking victims in a trauma and immigration informed way, to improve outcomes for both survivors and law enforcement.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss risk factors and available relief for immigrant trafficking victims

· Describe trauma and immigrant informed screening for trafficking victims

· Provide recommendations on referrals and services for positive screens

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The Black Lives Matter movement poses some serious challenges to the anti-trafficking movement. Putting clinical and judicial experiences with human trafficking survivors in conversation with academic theory and reflection, this presentation will explore some of the racialized history of today’s anti-trafficking movement through attention to the influence of the social purity movement, and especially its preoccupation with “white slavery” on today’s anti-trafficking movement (Blakemore, 2019; Clark, 1991; Dozema, 2000, 2010; Irwin, 2000; Pascoe, 1990; Zimmerman 2013). In light of the need to address systemic racism, attention will be given to the ways the movement continues to be impacted by racism (Banks, Duren & Kyckelhahn, 2011; Butler, 2015; Kim, 2020; Ritchie & Jones-Brown, 2017). Participants will be invited to consider their own biases and blind spots when it comes to the movement, with the goal of developing antiracist practices of activism and advocacy.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe some of the overtly racist history of the modern anti-trafficking movement, and modern-day implications

· Discuss next steps for service providers and the agencies for whom they work toward equitable postures, policies, and practices

· Explain the intersection of anti-human trafficking with other social justice movements including today’s Black Lives Matter movement

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This session presents the findings from interviews with sex workers about their experiences of violence and trafficking in the sex industry in New Zealand, a country where prostitution is decriminalized. As a community-based participatory research project, sex workers led the research process to gather information and answer the following research questions: 1) How does decriminalization of prostitution impact violence, exploitation, and trafficking in the sex industry? and 2) What can sex workers do if they encounter violence, exploitation, or trafficking? The study’s findings reveal how decriminalization of prostitution impacts exploitation and trafficking in the sex industry. In particular, sex workers identified and discussed violence, safety, and their access to resources if and when they encounter violence or coercion. Also included is a discussion about sex workers’ experiences with the police and the community organization, the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective, when they do encounter violence or exploitation. And finally, participants explain how this legislation can help to reduce violence against sex workers. This research draws on interviews with 33 sex workers and 34 individuals who work closely with sex workers (including brothel operators, clients, social service agents, health professionals, and others, many of whom were also sex workers or had been sex workers in the past) (total=67).

Presentation Objectives:

· Reveal an impression of the level of violence, exploitation, and trafficking that sex workers experience in a country where prostitution is decriminalized

· Bring to light strategies that sex workers use to combat or reduce the level of violence that they may be subjected to (including trafficking), and to make known the amount of control sex workers have over the services they provide

· Describe how New Zealand’s legislative model enhances or impinges on sex worker’s health, safety, and well-being

· Uncover and identify any structural or legislative changes that may be needed to further reduce violence and trafficking against sex workers

· Reveal an impression of the level of violence and trafficking overall that sex workers may be experiencing in a decriminalized environment

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Digitalization has given rise to trafficking for ransom through use of extortion via mobile phones. This type of trafficking currently affects many refugees, mainly in Libya. The link between digitalization and human trafficking has been described, but not yet explained. Refugees often traverse “black holes” in the digital landscape, depending on “gatekeepers” for information and services. Qualitative research is used to answer the question: How does the concept of gatekeeping explain the effect of digitalization on human trafficking trajectories of Eritrean refugees on the Central Mediterranean Route? Particularly violent modus operandi have emerged with increasing amounts of victims and money involved (Van Reisen & Mawere, 2017). For example, refugees frequently are affected by extortion for ransom, being forced to call their relatives to pay under torture and threats of death (Van Reisen et. al., 2019). This research looks at the experiences of Eritrean refugees through ethnographic interviews and makes sense of the data through the theoretical lens of gatekeeping theory. The research has so far shown that Eritrean refugees are a “gated” community which is affected by lack of informational tools, but also physical alternatives, which perpetuates their vulnerability to trafficking. Lack of understanding into complexities of digitalization leads to policy approaches which do not fit the reality. Digitalization is a driver of new forms of trafficking, threatening to lead to increasingly risk-free environments for traffickers, as the refugees form a fully closed-off, “gated” community. Without adequate understanding of this in policy making, traffickers remain free to exploit this situation.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of the study, including the main questions, methodology and findings

· Emphasize the importance of participant experiences in this type of research

· Illicit thoughts and discussion about the role of digitalization in human trafficking through the case study presented in this research

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The sexual exploitation of Indigenous women and girls has historical implications from early settler contact in Canada. Indigenous women have been the targets to break down a nation of people and build the backbone of Canada through patriarchal policies and laws that continue to oppress and marginalize Indigenous people (Stevenson, 2011). They have experienced and continue to experience many forms of abuse, violence, discrimination, and racism because these forms of oppression are deeply rooted in Canada's colonial structures (Razack, 2000). The research question that guided this study is: How do Indigenous ceremonies and teachings contribute to the healing needs of sexually exploited women? 10 Indigenous women took part in a time commitment that included gathering on four days during the research process to explore how traditional Indigenous teaching and ceremonies could help in their healing journeys. Data gathering was comprised of multiple recorded talking circles, participatory research engagement through relationship, and one-on-one interviews. The findings shed light on the importance of how 1) Indigenous epistemes contribute to the healing needs of women who experience sexual exploitation, 2) the complexities involved in healing, 3) the critical role of ceremonies in preventing this form of violence, and 4) the development of support and therapeutic programming based on traditional ceremonies and teachings. This presentation concludes with policy recommendations focusing on decolonization, survivor engagement policies, social work recommendations, decolonizing curriculum, decolonizing social work practice and theory, non-judgmental social work practice, and centering Indigenous methodologies within mainstream research and academia.

Presentation Objectives:

· Provide an overview of the study, include Indigenous approaches to research, methods, methodologies, and findings

· Provide implications and recommendation based on the research that supports decolonizing social work practice and research within and for Indigenous populations

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As a child and teen, Frances developed a hyper-sexualized persona, and after leaving the world of trafficking, struggled to relate outside of the context of sex. This left her feeling isolated, rejected, and vulnerable to re-exploitation. Frances wanted to find her unique identity and realized she could not do this alone - she needed the support of allies. In this session, Frances will offer real-life examples of how she learned how to see herself and operate as a whole person, build positive connections within her community, and leave a hyper-sexualized persona behind - all with the help and encouragement of survivor allies. Frances will share three specific ways that allies can support survivors who are experiencing these particular challenges: modeling healthy relationships, choosing the survivor, and acknowledging the recovery process. These practices encourage survivors like Frances to discover and shape their new identities. She will explain what was modeled in relationships with her allies, as well as what being chosen meant to her and how it helped in developing a healthy identity. She will also dive into how she found the tenacity to move forward in recovery as her allies acknowledged her healing process. Frances will highlight the transformative power of offering a different perspective to survivors like herself. Finally, she will provide creative ideas for challenging harmful and reinforced self-concepts. Attendees will leave the session with practical insights that will be helpful to both survivors and their allies as they relate in empowering, genuine, and new ways.

Presentation Objectives:

· Describe how a hyper-sexualized persona can create barriers to flourishing after leaving the life

· Identify common mistakes in relating with survivors that discourage, isolate, and disempower

· Discuss ways in which allies and helpers can effectively come alongside survivors as they reshape their identities from victim to thriver

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Increased understanding and awareness of the issue of human trafficking has been identified as an important first step to engagement in anti-trafficking efforts (Busch-Armendariz, Nsonwu & Heffron, 2018). However, Countryman-Roswurm & Brackin (2017) argue that human trafficking awareness efforts are rarely intentional and can sometimes be harmful in re-exploiting survivors. Organizations leading anti-trafficking efforts who intentionally and meaningfully promote human rights approaches may utilize digital activism strategies to increase visibility of the issue, to build community in support of solutions, and to encourage planning and capacity building behind the movement (Jenkins, Ford & Green, 2013; Tufekci, 2017). One women’s civic leadership nonprofit organization, the Junior League of Greater Orlando (JLGO), sought to raise awareness of human trafficking across Florida’s Interstate 4 (I-4) Corridor via a campaign in partnership with the Junior League of Daytona Beach and the Junior League of Tampa. This Coast-to-Coast campaign ran each day in January 2019 for human trafficking awareness month. Each post featured an image of a community leader with a corresponding anti-trafficking quote. JLGO’s Facebook analytics revealed an increase in page views and reach while Instagram analytics similarly increased in reach, actions taken, and impressions. This presentation describes the creation and execution of the Coast-to-Coast campaign and outlines its positive results. Attendees will better understand how to partner with other organizations across geographical boundaries to raise awareness of human trafficking via a social media campaign. Lessons learned will allow for more successful digital activism in the future.

Presentation Objectives:

· Discuss benefits and drawbacks of digital activism

· Describe ways organizations can create and execute human trafficking awareness campaigns

· Explain lessons learned and next steps

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The presentation will focus on sex and labor trafficking of individuals with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and their vulnerability to traffickers. Risk factors will be discussed, as well as signs of victimization, trauma, and prevention. Attendees will learn how human trafficking affects individuals with IDD physically and behaviorally. The presenters want to assist you in how to develop, establish protocols, and supports within the DD system. They will also discuss how to implement community integration in a safe and planful manner to protect our individuals from labor trafficking. The presentation will also showcase some labor trafficking stories as examples to protect the DD population from employers who have immoral practices. There will be some cases discussed based on real life experiences, factual data gathered from Disability Right Ohio research, a Disability Fact Sheets, and a powerful video called “The Boys of Atalissa”, IA. Attendees will take away how their individual vulnerabilities have made them targets in the United States as well as overseas.

Presentation Objectives:

· Inform the community that IDD individuals are being targeted for human trafficking

· Describe risk factors of human trafficking within the IDD population

· Assist with how to develop, establish protocols, and supports within the DD system

· Discuss how integration in the community can have risk for IDD individuals to be labor trafficked

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