This presentation will explore the relationship between climate change and forms of forced and child labor. The role of extractive economic practices, war and conflict, and ongoing genocides will also be explored. This presentation utilizes community-based participatory research methods, including findings from grassroots and survivor-led organizations, to identify best and promising practices for the prevention and mitigation of forced labor and environmental plunder. Grounded in the theories of Fanon and Rodney, the presenter will draw upon the work of survivor-led organizations to explore solutions, including models for sustainability and community-based prevention models. Organizations discussed will include Friends of the Congo, the Free Alabama Movement, and Liyang Network. Case studies from U.S. national and international news sources will be used to contextualize the impact of forced labor and climate change on migrant workers, incarcerated peoples, youth, and frontline environmental defenders. Suggestions for research, policy, and practice will be explored at the end of the presentation. There will be opportunity at the end for discussion, including sharing out of commitments towards addressing the issue of forced labor, as well as partnering strategically with individuals and organizations working to combat labor trafficking and/or climate change. Resources will be included at the end, before opening up for a 15-minute Q&A with the panelist.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Investigate the relationship of climate change & forced labor

•  Explore the impacts of extractive economies on people and the land

•  Explore cross-sectoral solutions to human & environmental exploitation

•  Commit to at least one tangible action towards co-creating an abundant world

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Foreign national survivors of human trafficking experience a variety of barriers and needs related to their foreign national status. Serving this population often demands comprehensive responses that attend to immigration status, culture, language, nationality, and more. Added barriers arise surrounding awareness of labor trafficking, as it is widely lesser-known and more difficult to identify but makes up over 70% of trafficking cases among foreign nationals, according to current data. Particularly for undocumented individuals, meaning those without legal immigration status (i.e., a visa), steep barriers to stability and recovery arise from inability to obtain immigration relief, lawful employment, public benefits, and state identification. These barriers exacerbate vulnerabilities that put them at risk of trafficking. Certain immigration remedies are available to this group, including specialized pathways to status. However, immigration applications can take years for approval, meanwhile leaving these barriers to stability and recovery in place. Consequently, supporting foreign national survivors of human trafficking, especially those of whom are undocumented, requires a long-term, comprehensive, and community-based approach. This presentation will discuss these barriers, examine labor trafficking for this population, and showcase several available remedies, including pathways to immigration status. This session will also examine ways we make certain populations more vulnerable to human trafficking and practices for removing barriers to relief.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Describe barriers to services facing foreign national survivors of human trafficking and provide them attendees with guidance on how to reduce them

•  Improve attendees’ ability to understand and identify labor trafficking, particularly as it may present in the cases involving foreign national survivors

•  Discuss key remedies available to foreign national survivors of trafficking, best practices, and innovative approaches

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What if you were a victim of human trafficking but had no voice to tell your story? Kim and Marci—one artist, one writer, two voices for the Silent Ones. Let them introduce you to the Strawberry Girls. The Strawberry Girls are Moroccan women recruited each year to pick "red gold" in the strawberry fields of Spain. The shocking reality is that many of these vulnerable women are then lured into sex trafficking through lies, deception, and empty promises. Once they step foot in the brothel, they are trapped, and it will take a miracle for them to get out. But miracles do happen! One day, a safe house called and asked Marci to translate for a Moroccan woman who had just been rescued. This woman was a “Strawberry Girl.” In Marci’s continued work with these women, she began to identify a human trafficking line between Morocco and Spain. Unwilling to stay silent, Marci began writing their stories. Her friend and professional artist, Kim, began painting their stories. Through Kim's soulful artwork and Marci's poetic words from their Strawberry Girls Project, they invite you to step into the shoes of the Strawberry Girls and journey with them from slavery to freedom. Kim and Marci will guide participants through the experiences of the Strawberry Girls and inspire them to use their own unique talents and passions to join the anti-human trafficking movement in their own communities and around the world. What if you could make a difference right where you are?

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Describe the 4-stage journey of The Strawberry Girls from Morocco to Spain, identifying common patterns of human trafficking victimization around the world, such as deception, lies, empty promises, and movement of people

•  Demonstrate how to use one’s passions and talents to raise awareness of trafficking

•  Invite participants to consider using their unique passions and talents to join the anti-human trafficking movement in their own communities and around the world

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This presentation introduces an AI-based campaign aimed at raising awareness about the harms of prostitution and combating sex trafficking. At its core, the initiative is to raise awareness of the situation of women in prostitution and recognition of the harms of prostitution, to act by providing accurate information and education, and to reduce the demand and social legitimization of prostitution. This is based on the understanding that women in the cycle of prostitution are the affected party, and that prostitution creates lasting harm to women. The strategy involves collaborating with partners including Naama, Shiran, D-ID, and potentially others, employing AI technology combined with creative storytelling to authentically convey the survivors' experiences while ensuring their anonymity. This approach fosters empathy and compassion towards these women and also supports their recovery and societal reintegration. Furthermore, by educating the public to reduce the consumption of prostitution, the campaign directly contributes to the fight against human trafficking, particularly of women. Highlighting the critical need for such an initiative, the presentation discusses the significance of lighting the damages of prostitution. It underscores the potential for societal transformation through increased awareness, reduced stigma, and supports the rehabilitation of women exiting prostitution. By promoting a social environment that condemns prostitution and recognizes women as victims of  life circumstances, the campaign aims to encourage more women to seek help, and ultimately, to contribute to the prevention of prostitution and related issues such as human trafficking.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Illuminate the harms of prostitution and sex trafficking through an innovative AI-based campaign

•  Foster empathy and support for the recovery and reintegration of women affected by prostitution and sex trafficking

•  Educate and alter public perception, reducing the consumption of prostitution and combating sex trafficking

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Work on the frontlines addressing human trafficking inevitably impacts the mind, body, and spirit. Being immersed in the impact of trauma, evil, and suffering will take a toll, but can also lead to a deeper understanding of self and others. Individuals working closely with trauma must be attuned to the impact of this work to remain in a position of effectiveness. The presenters believe that because vicarious trauma is an inevitability for anyone working with human trafficking or other forms of social injustice, having an understanding of it, being able to recognize symptoms in both individuals and organizations, and having a proactive plan for preventing and mitigating it is crucial. This presentation will define vicarious trauma, provide data from interviews conducted with service providers, and provide an opportunity for self-reflection as well as ideas for how to conceptualize and implement self-care and organizational-care.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Discuss the nature of vicarious trauma in both individuals and organizations, including contributors and symptoms

•  Present data from interviews with providers on their described impact of vicarious trauma and what they have found helpful to reduce and mitigate impact

•  Identify personal symptoms of secondary trauma

•  Discuss the role of self-care and organizational care and present a practical way to conceptualize and practice self-care

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People who have experienced a human rights violation are the ones who best know its root causes, consequences, implications, and solutions. Therefore, survivors should be at the heart of approaches to combat human trafficking. In fact, research in other human rights fields has documented successful outcomes of survivor inclusion. Free the Slaves and HAART Kenya initiated this research across East and Central Africa to better understand: 1) Which gaps and challenges limit inclusive survivor engagement in the counter trafficking sector? 2) How are organizations currently engaging survivors? and 3) How can organizations in East & Central Africa improve their inclusion of survivors? All presenters were part of the research team. From the start of the research, people with lived experience of trafficking were active as consultants, researchers, and interviewees. The research design followed a trauma-informed approach throughout.  Findings and recommendations are based on interviews with 18 survivor advocates and survivor leaders from Cameroon, DRC, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Uganda, and South Sudan. Additionally, the counter-trafficking organizations they engaged with answered an online survey. The research lead to practical recommendations on how organizations can enhance survivor inclusion. The report also hopes to strengthen and encourage survivors of trafficking, survivor advocates, and leaders in their engagements with organizations. While research and recommendations are particularly informative for survivor advocates/leaders and counter trafficking organizations in Central and East Africa, it may also inspire others who wish to work for human rights more inclusively.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Inspire and inform survivors of trafficking, survivor advocates, and leaders in their engagement with organizations

•  Share findings and recommendations with organizations and individuals who want to improve and professionalize their survivor engagement

•  Describe the inclusive and trauma-informed methodology used for this research

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Survivor-Led Solutions (a nonprofit that focuses on leadership, professional development, and LeadHer Retreats for survivor leaders) is an opportunity to observe the lifespan of a survivor and find a safe space to continue leadership, professional development, and ongoing mental health services. Sharing the story from victim to survivor, from advocate to influencer, this presentation will help law enforcement agencies, mental health, and medical providers empower survivors to become the subject matter experts that they are. Understanding how to rally survivors holistically and stabilize and promote them in different areas within this work, survivor leaders are entrepreneurs in this field in a new way. The change is necessary, and the information is essential. This training will provide an advanced level of understanding of the psyche of the survivor from victim to warrior.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Explain the lifespan of a survivor from victim to warrior

•  Describe basic principles of the psyche and how to empower survivors

•  Provide critical key terms and points of transition that every survivor makes

•  Offer law enforcement, mental health, and medical teams tools for best practices

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The global sports industry is expected to grow from $388.28 billion in 2020 to $440.77 billion in 2021. Projected to outpace global GDP, the sports industry is a lavishly oiled, complex machine that is entirely dependent on exceptionally talented individuals with the skills, drive, and discipline to chase their dreams. Oftentimes, young, socially and financially vulnerable athletes are targets for traffickers who hold the deceptive promise of wealth, fame, and opportunity. Traffickers, regularly going by the alias “recruiter,” exploit young athletes through force, fraud, and coercion for social and economic power. There is a dearth of publications, information, and vocabulary surrounding the human trafficking of athletes despite its growing threat to human rights. Though the presenters have identified specific domestic and global legal cases surrounding the topic, they also recognize that the void of information perpetuates this growing and time-sensitive issue and seek to address it. This presentation is a much-needed examination and discourse of this emerging social and public health problem. The presenters will seek to define trafficking within the global sports industry as a human rights violation, identify and explore the push and pull migration factors, and center this call-to-action as an international human rights issue by utilizing methodologies such as case study analysis and systems thinking maps.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Define and conceptualize human trafficking within the sports industry through social work and public health epistemological approaches

•  Discuss the challenges of conceptualizing this multifaceted social problem

•  Identify the areas within the global sports industry where the human trafficking of athletes are the most prominent

•  Identify and define the key vulnerabilities of athletes through the recruitment process

•  Identify discuss potential solutions and next-steps to addressing this problem

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Ritualistic abuse survivors have struggled to obtain adequate mental health and social support services for over twenty years. This problem has been exacerbated by a lack of trained providers and adequate social services to deal with the complex problems ritualistic abuse survivors present. Most clinicians do not receive proper training due to severe trauma topics and their symptomatology not being adequately covered in their master level training programs or in post continuing education training. Very few organizations are available to educate clinicians and survivors about the research in the field. Insurance companies often do not adequately cover services for long term treatment. Social services employees are not adequately trained to work with severe trauma survivors. There is a paucity of training regarding trauma informed services and ways to work with clients suffering from dissociative disorders. Application guidelines often make it very difficult for ritualistic abuse survivors to receive in the timelines given. Survivors may have difficulties getting to offices, getting on the Internet or filling out paperwork. This presentation will include the presenter’s own struggles receiving adequate services over the last thirty years. Issues to be discussed will include the symptomatology of dissociative disorders, attachment disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, economic problems, and social barriers. Solutions to decrease and eliminate these difficulties will be discussed. These will include public advocacy, public education, survivor training, and the building of a research base to help survivors and their helpers move forward to prevent these difficulties in the future.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Discuss the four key concepts regarding the lack of education for those working with ritualistic abuse survivors

•  Describe reasons why ritualistic abuse survivors have difficulties obtaining services

•  Describe ways ritualistic abuse survivors and their helpers can change the present system to increase services for these survivors

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Recent years have seen increased attention towards labor trafficking among scholars, policymakers, and advocates. However, gaps in understanding persist due to underreporting, terminological confusion, a focus on sex trafficking, legal inconsistencies, varied employment contexts, and inadequate training among anti-trafficking stakeholders. Consequently, the legal system often lacks the tools to prosecute such cases, resulting in dispositions that do not adequately reflect the seriousness of labor traffickers’ crimes. This study employs structured online searches and descriptive statistical analysis to address the following questions: 1) What are the general demographic characteristics of labor traffickers in the United States? 2) What are the means of control used by labor traffickers in the United States? and 3) What is the disposition outcome for labor trafficking cases in the United States? The findings focus on several key areas: 1) labor trafficker demographics, 2) typologies of labor trafficking settings, 3) recruitment strategies and techniques, 4) means of control, 5) locations of arrest, and 6) crime typologies and legal outcomes per trafficker. These findings highlight diverse demographics among traffickers, variations in labor trafficking settings, recruitment strategies, means of control, arrest locations, and legal outcomes. Legal outcomes revealed a mix of labor trafficking charges, immigration-related offenses, and white-collar crimes, with only one third of cases resulting in convictions for labor trafficking. These findings highlight several critical points: the inconsistency in labor trafficking prosecution across U.S. courts, the urgent need for improved data collection on labor trafficking, and the importance of addressing foreign-national traffickers exploiting their own cultural communities.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Discuss ongoing factors resulting in limited understanding and research on labor trafficking, including underreporting, terminological confusion, a focus on sex trafficking, legal inconsistencies, varied employment contexts, and inadequate training among anti-trafficking stakeholders

•  Present key findings from the study regarding labor trafficking in the United States, including demographic characteristics of traffickers, means of control used, and disposition outcomes of labor trafficking cases

•  Discuss the implications of the findings, including the challenges in prosecuting labor trafficking cases, the need for improved data collection, and the need to address foreign-national traffickers targeting their own cultural communities

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The MN Boys+ project, led by the presenter, investigates the overlooked issue of sexual exploitation and abuse of boys and gender-diverse youth (boys+) in Minnesota. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study employed an online survey, semi-structured interviews, and group learning workshops to examine individuals’ experiences within interconnected social systems, exploring the perspectives of frontline service providers (FSPs). The online survey gathered quantitative data from 40 diverse participants. 25 semi-structured interviews provided in-depth insights, with data analyzed using thematic analysis. Three interactive learning workshops with stakeholders generated actionable recommendations. The research covers the journeys of affected boys+ from risk factors and experiences of exploitation to help-seeking, accessing services, barriers faced, and the availability and quality of existing services. The study reveals a spectrum of interrelated vulnerabilities, the pivotal role of early adolescence, the prominence of offenders known to the young person, widespread stigma hindering disclosure, and major gaps in trauma-informed, gender-inclusive services. The project asserts the need to move beyond reductive assumptions about masculine invulnerability and deviance to develop a nuanced understanding of boys’ experiences. This requires investment in marginalized youths’ voices, trauma-informed practices, comprehensive services, and multi-sector coordination. The MN Boys+ project represents an initial step in establishing a foundation of data and insights to inform more extensive national research and analysis focused on boys across diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and backgrounds, advocating for a substantial, national effort to advance knowledge of childhood sexual exploitation among male-identifying youth.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Highlight the often-overlooked issue of sexual exploitation and abuse faced by boys and gender-diverse youth

•  Showcase the spectrum of vulnerabilities these young people face and the prevalence of known offenders

•  Discuss the challenges faced by boys and gender-diverse youth when seeking help, including stigma and lack of trauma-informed services

•  Advocate for the importance of research and data collection to inform intervention and prevention strategies

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Street prostitution is deeply intertwined with substance use. Women who attempt to exit both prostitution and substance use often lack sufficient resources to do so, and they end up returning to substance use, prostitution, or both. Such a relapse into drugs or a return to prostitution is still often viewed as a personal failure. Low recovery capital has been used to explain relapse among certain marginalized populations. Recovery capital is a recent framework which refers to the individual’s sum of all internal and external assets that may assist in their recovery process. It includes four categories: physical, human, social, and cultural capital. However, this framework does not relate to the role of actual relapses in the recovery process, despite their common occurrence. In-depth interviews with 29 women formerly engaged in street prostitution and substance use in a large urban area were used to probe women about their relapse and recovery experiences. This study demonstrates the value of repeat recovery setbacks, what the presenter terms “cumulative attempt capital”: lessons learned from previous recovery attempts. The presenter argues that previous attempts improve women’s social and professional networks, help them learn from past mistakes, improve and maintain their health, and provide them with a sense of self-efficacy. This research expands our understanding of the positive role failed attempts play in one’s recovery. Such reframing by service providers can alleviate a sense of shame and low self-worth for women in street prostitution and substance use and has implications for policy and program development.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Provide an overview of the study of the facilitators and challenges of women’s exiting journeys out of street prostitution and substance use

•  Describe the framework of recovery capital for people who are recovering from prostitution and substance use

•  Introduce the new tool of cumulative attempt capital, which can be used with clients at intake, and demonstrate its utility and benefits for women exiting street prostitution

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We are at a conference dedicated to advocacy and social justice. Beyond people, populations, situations, and issues that demand advocacy and social justice, how do we actually do it? How do we go from seeing an issue needing addressed into positively doing something about it? How do we see people in need and effectively step up and help and/or support them? How do we start? Where do we start? What do we do? The Levels of Advocacy & Social Justice (LASJ) provide a framework to conceptualize and implement effective advocacy and social justice efforts. Expanding outward from a person or issue, the LASJ model depicts seven layers: individual, group, organizational, community, regional, state, and national. They further call upon us to take a self-inventory of our foci and abilities, coupled with our own self-care, in order to be the best advocates we can be. This presentation will aid direct service providers and concerned community members alike with foundational principles and practical tools to implement change through advocacy and social justice. The LASJ model will be provided in detail, with practical examples for each level. The accompanying self-assessment worksheet will also be provided for participants to evaluate their own strengths, goals, and self-care. All materials will be provided for free and can be immediately implemented. This in turn helps support conference attendees taking instantaneous action in areas they learn more about in other sessions of this conference.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Define and categorize the LASJ layers and their use in active engagement for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion

•  Distinguish and evaluate a personalized readiness self-assessment and strategies for self-care

•  Provide tangible tools and resources that can be used immediately to effective change

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Zambia's political institutions have publicly made declarations to dismantle the perpetuation of abuse and traumatization of children by ratifying several national and international treaties over the past several decades. The Anti-Human Trafficking Act No.11 of 2008 represents an attempt by the Zambian government to address the challenges of forced labor in a systematic way. It was designed to make human trafficking illegal, create preventative measures, and prosecute individuals who engage in the promotion of human trafficking. However, there is a disconnection between the magnitude of laws enacted and their subsequent implementation. Are these laws more performative in nature and how can the government effectively shift towards quality implementation? What are the long-term causes of failing to provide quality policy evaluation and policy analysis? With recent legislative developments, particularly the enactment of Amendment No. 16 in 2022 to the 2008 Anti-Human Trafficking Act, there is a pressing need for comprehensive research to assess its impact and identify areas for improvement. This presentation will uncover insights into the efficacy of implemented strategies, unintended consequences, and recommendations for enhancing the future outcomes of trafficked children. Attendees will walk away with a deep understanding of human trafficking in the Zambian context and how laws that are enacted without further implementation analysis do further harm than good for key stakeholders.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Discuss risk factors of human trafficking for youth in Zambia

•  Highlight the Zambian government's attempt to address human trafficking

•  Suggest mechanisms to analyze policy implementation

•  Describe ways to mitigate human trafficking for child labor in Zambia

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The FOCUS (Finding youth, Outreach, Comprehensive assessment and immediate services, Unified long-term services, and Service evaluation) Project is a collaborative program in Lucas County, Ohio that involves working with community agencies to identify youth at risk for human trafficking through assessment and to refer those at risk to a human trafficking intervention and other related services as needed. This presentation will provide an overview of the FOCUS Project, including validation of the FOCUS-S assessment for youth, an overview of building a continuum of care, and a review of de-identified assessment data. Attendees will learn about the process of creating a validated screening tool for youth, understand the steps and lessons learned to building a continuum of care in collaboration with community partners, and review descriptive information regarding who is at risk and what the most prevalent risk factors were for youth involved in the project.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Review the process of creating a validated screening tool for youth through the utilization of research and measurement strategies

•  Describe the steps and lessons learned when building a continuum of care in collaboration with community agencies who work with youth

•  Discuss who is at risk for trafficking and other related services and what risk factors were most prevalent through a review of deidentified assessment data

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Peel Region, Ontario is the second-largest municipality in the Greater Toronto Area. It’s located in Canada's largest economic area, borders the United States, has an airport, and has 5 major highways passing through. Peel continues to be a hot spot for sexual exploitation and is facing various economic crises, which have increased risks and vulnerabilities in its community. Housing continues to be a crisis, which adds to the challenges and increases risk and vulnerabilities for youth experiencing homelessness. Recognizing and understanding the intersectionality of youth homelessness and sexual exploitation, participants will take away a comprehensive understanding of the keys to providing intervention and establishing prevention for exploitation within youth shelters. Through operating Peel’s youth shelters and nCourage (Peel’s Anti-Human Trafficking Integrated Service Hub), Our Place Peel will shed light on the reality, risks, and vulnerabilities when youth experience homelessness. Youth continue to be an overrepresented group in homelessness and exploitation. The presenter will explore policies, interventions, and practices that support young people through their journey to healing and housing. Attendees will take with them the importance of community collaboration, client-centered/led work, and advocacy for systems change.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Provide an understanding of the intersectionality of youth homelessness and sexual exploitation

•  Discuss examples of intervention and prevention strategies and community collaborations to help support youth experiencing homelessness and sexual exploitation

•  Explain how to increase access to dedicated support and services for youth experiencing homelessness who are at risk of or identify as victims/survivors

•  Increase collaboration, coordination, and evidence-based practice across the system responding to human sex trafficking with the youth population

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Children and young people voraciously consume technology and social media, expanding social connections and relationships far beyond previous generations. With such advances, it has been argued, young people are at greater risk of exposure to unwanted sexual material and advances via these media. Some youth appear to be particularly vulnerable to internet solicitation, placing them at significant risk of subsequent sexual victimization. This presentation is an extension of last year’s discussion at the IHTSJ Conference. It will serve to review basic theory and how early disruptions in attachment and developmental needs contribute to vulnerability to internet solicitation and sexual exploitation and trafficking. Using this information as a springboard, the discussion will highlight various avenues of improving prevention, detection, and intervention, ranging from parent education, to provider education, to greater system involvement and program development.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Explore how attachment and development may contribute to specific vulnerabilities to online grooming and solicitation

•  Discuss various applications of theory in improving prevention, detection and intervention

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This presentation will outline the ups and downs in a decade long investigation into one of the biggest human traffickers in Dallas, Texas: Macc Bucc. This presentation will dive into the lives of those trafficked and the remaining scars that are still evident in their lives. This presentation will also show the loyalty that human trafficking victims have towards their trafficker. Detectives will show the different methods used to build evidence in this case that covered multiple jurisdictions. Attendees will see how other investigative techniques can be used to collect evidence and the small part it plays in the “big picture.” Attendees will see how perseverance in an investigation led to a greater outcome that benefits the public even more so than law enforcement. Attendees can use this case study as a means for successful investigations in the field of human trafficking. As human trafficking becomes an even bigger focus for law enforcement and the community, this session will show detectives the work involved in these types of prosecutions.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Discuss the loyalty of trafficking victims and why they "choose" the life

•  Describe the different investigative techniques when faced with these type of investigations

•  Explain how thinking outside the investigative box and patience can pay off in the end

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One would think that human trafficking victims are mostly kidnapped against their will by very powerful trafficking rings. However, this is not the case in a Southern Nigerian state known as Edo State. Majority of the sex trafficking victims in West Africa hail from this part of the country. Parents plead with traffickers to sponsor their daughters abroad to “hustle” as early as 16 years of age. What would make a parent consent to the trafficking of his or her own offspring? They claim they want the family to have a better financial life and to escape the harsh realities of a country where most youths are unemployed and majority of the population live below poverty level. The major push factor of sex trafficking in Africa has always been poverty. Victims, as well as parents, consent to their own trafficking in that part of the world. The victims even willingly participate in oath ceremonies orchestrated by traffickers through voodoo priests. This presentation will discuss the legal implication of a victim's consent to being trafficked (e.g., Does a victim's consent reduce a trafficker's culpability?). This presentation will conclude with initiatives and recommendations to the government of Africa as well as NGOs on how to curb this menace especially through providing a better economy for its people and through education.

Presentation Objectives:

•  Discuss the legal implication of a victim's consent to being trafficked

•  Explain how most West African sex trafficking victims' parents recruit their own daughters into trafficking.

•  Provide insight into the role of poverty as a push factor of sex trafficking in Africa

•  Provide recommendations for prevention

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Through the lens of complex trauma and posttraumatic growth, this workshop will share findings from a qualitative study focused on the impact and experiences of sex trafficking survivors. This study included in-depth interviews and photovoice methods and followed principles of trauma-informed research with 15 adult survivors who were all trafficked within the United States and had been separated from the trafficker for minimum one year. Using purposive convenience selection with snowball sampling, it answered the following research questions: What are the experiences of adult female domestic sex trafficking survivors? How do women view these experiences as influencing identity, sexuality, relationships, and seeking services after separation from trafficker? What factors do survivors believe contribute to community reintegration? Through rich data from interviews and photovoice captioned images, workshop participants will hear and see direct evidence of the aspects of complex trauma as well as the capacity for posttraumatic growth. This presentation will specifically emphasize the power of “bearing witness” to another’s pain through empathic listening and witness, as a mutual benefit for transforming traumatic experiences, and thus serving as a catalyst for societal change. Participants will listen to the voices and impact of sex trafficking through photography taken by survivors and practice having our listening inform our response. Finally, workshop participants will receive recommendations directly from the voices of survivors on what factors help or hinder community reintegration and posttraumatic growth. Key findings that will be explored include avoiding re-traumatization and re-exploitation and the integral role of relationship in the reintegration process for survivors.

Presentation Objectives:

•  Define the practice of bearing witness to complex trauma and posttraumatic growth and how it is observed in victims of domestic sex trafficking

•  Provide recommendations for post-trafficking community reintegration that come directly from survivors of sex trafficking

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