DAY 1 Monday, July 31, 2017 DEFINING, UNDERSTANDING & IDENTIFYING HUMAN TRAFFICKING INSTRUCTORS Greg Bristol & Joseph Martinez The Human Trafficking Investigations & Training Institute (HTITI) Session 1 Defining Human Trafficking and its Causes This session will define human trafficking and review the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime treaty agreement of 2000, also known as the Palermo Convention, which seriously addressed the worldwide problem of human trafficking for the first time. In the same year the United States passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act in 2000, the federal law addressing human trafficking comprehensively. The course will explore: a. The extent of human trafficking around the world and in the United States. b. The various forms manifested in forced labor and sex trafficking. c. The role the United States government has in combating human trafficking, and its leadership in the global fight against human trafficking. d. The manifestations and causes of human trafficking. e. Who the human traffickers are, how they acquire victims, and what their methods of control are. Session 2 Understanding the Victim-Centered Approach When Helping Victims This session will examine the United States Department of Justice s Victim-Centered Approach when dealing with victims of human trafficking, and how it helps identify victims who otherwise might not come forward to report this crime. Victims of human trafficking often endure profound physical and psychological injuries that may impede efforts to interview them, let alone help them. Victims are crucial to human trafficking investigations and prosecutions, and this new approach helps build the dignity of the victims. This session will explore: a. The role that anti-human trafficking community groups and NGOs have vs. the role that local, state and federal law enforcement officials have in the fight against human trafficking. b. Why anti-human trafficking community groups and NGOs should plan on helping all potential types of victims (e.g., males, females, minors, adults, U.S. citizens, and foreign nationals), when developing an effective antihuman trafficking program. c. The screening tools the public may use to identify human trafficking in their community. Session 3 Investigative Strategies in the Fight Against Human Trafficking This session will list investigative strategies a community can use to fight human trafficking, to include community groups, health care professionals, and the criminal justice system. How does a community develop adequate and comprehensive victim services, including adequate shelter, to help human trafficking survivors reintegrate into society? What does it take to make state prosecutors use new human trafficking state laws instead of charging offenders with offenses they are more familiar with, such as rape, kidnapping or pandering? This session will explore: a. What are the characteristics of local human trafficking investigations and prosecutions? b. How many federal prosecutions are there each year in human trafficking? c. What challenges does law enforcement face in identifying victims of human trafficking? d. Why do law enforcement agencies not uniformly make human trafficking a priority?
DAY 2 Tuesday, August 1, 2017 ADDRESSING VICTIMS NEEDS INSTRUCTORS Maria J. Fletcher, Esq. & Ana I. Vallejo, Esq., Co-Directors VIDA Legal Assistance, Inc. Session 1 Survivor-Centered Interviewing Skills Victim-Centered, trauma-informed interviewing is the key to a successful human trafficking case. There are many different types of interviews depending on the goals of the interview and the interviewer s role. This course will survey the types of interviews a survivor of human trafficking might face and best practices in interviewing. Through practical exercises participants will: a. Apply trauma-informed skills and techniques when interviewing survivors of human trafficking. b. Address initial interviews, screening questions and intake forms. c. Utilize guidelines for interviewing. d. Explore developing trust and confidence to avoid re-traumatizing survivors. Session 2 Identifying Survivors Needs To eliminate victim vulnerability, address the cycle of violence and work towards survivor self-sufficiency, service providers must respect individual autonomy and focus on the situation, needs and rights of the survivor. The course will discuss the psychological, emotional and physical impact of trafficking experiences on survivors. Additionally, the course will address their short, middle and long term needs. Participants will gain better insight and understanding of the complexity of working collaboratively with different service providers and law enforcement agencies. Through practical exercises this course will cover next steps after identification including: a. Describe the range of services needed. b. List services available at the local, state and federal level. c. Identify gaps in services. d. Outline benefits and eligibility requirements. e. Challenges/barriers in accessing benefits and services. Session 3 Victim Protection and Access to Justice for Survivors of Human Trafficking Survivor safety is critical for meaningful participation in accessing the legal system. Participants will gain understanding of elements and dimensions of victim protection. Through case scenarios participants will apply existing legal mechanisms and challenges to meaningful survivor access and participation. The course will be taught from a holistic perspective, and will cover: a. Reporting to Law Enforcement. b. Confidentiality. c. Identification of civil, immigration and criminal options to assist trafficking survivors. d. Reunification and Repatriation.
DAY 3 Wednesday, August 2, 2017 ADDRESSING HUMAN TRAFFICKING THROUGH FEDERAL LAW INSTRUCTORS Barbara Martinez, Esq., Chief, Special Prosecutions Section Benjamin Widlanski, Esq., Assistant United States Attorney, Special Prosecutions Section U.S. DOJ, Miami U.S. Attorney's Office Session 1 Overview of Federal Human Trafficking Prosecutions This session will provide an understanding of techniques used to identify human trafficking, collect evidence, work with victims throughout the criminal prosecution, and prepare cases for successful prosecution. The session will cover the following topics: a. Human Trafficking in South Florida and the community i. Case examples (labor and sex) b. The Players/Taskforces i. Law enforcement ii. Prosecutors iii. Victim witness specialists iv. Role of the community/ngos c. Victim-Centered Approach d. Federal Laws (labor, sex, and other related-crimes) e. Restitution f. Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Session 2 Sex Trafficking Case Study a. Provide scenario and questions to be answered based on real case recently prosecuted in the Southern District of Florida b. Breakout sessions c. Discussion with prosecution team. Team to provide real life answers/stories about relevant issues related to investigation, prosecution, and victim issues. Session 3 Labor Trafficking Case Study a. Provide scenario and questions to be answered based on real case recently prosecuted in the Southern District of Florida b. Breakout sessions c. Discussion with prosecution team above. Team to provide real life answers/stories about relevant issues related to investigation, prosecution, and victim issues.
DAY 4 Thursday, August 3, 2017 ADDRESSING HUMAN TRAFFICKING THROUGH STATE LAW INSTRUCTORS Brenda Mezick, Esq., Chief, Human Trafficking Unit (Development & Public Policy) Miami-Dade State Attorney s Office Dr. Bretton Engle, Ph.D., LCSW, Assistant Clinical Professor Florida International University College of Medicine Session 1 The Trauma Informed Human Trafficking Prosecution Model This presentation will explore how prosecutors can apply trauma informed best practices and still successfully convict the offenders. Topics examined will include the following: a. the components of an effective human trafficking statute. b. minimizing the re-traumatization of victims during the offender arrest and prosecution phase. c. collaborating with agencies and utilizing software tools to find runaway children. d. building a prosecution without victim testimony, if necessary, and when possible. e. maximizing available resources by qualifying police officers as experts in human trafficking. This workshop is recommended for prosecutors, law enforcement, foster care providers, and counselors. Session 2 Unlocking Trauma: Using Motivational Interviewing Strategies to Interview Adolescent Victims Trauma can effect a victim s ability to recall traumatic events in a strict linear chronology. Trauma bonding can render a victim deluded and unwilling to incriminate their abuser. Traditional who, what, where, when, how, and why investigative interviewing may not only miss critical evidence, it can lock down a trauma victim from cooperating. Originally used in the treatment of addictions as a way to engage the resistant, angry, and in denial, Motivational Interviewing has significant applications for human trafficking investigations. This workshop is recommended for law enforcement, prosecutors, missing person specialists and child protection investigators or for those seeking to improve rapport with reluctant or psychologically reactive adolescent human trafficking victims. Attendees will practice interviewing skills during the workshop. Session 3 Scenarios and Solutions: Putting it All Together This is an interactive workshop designed to enhance issue spotting, evidence collection, and subject interview skills. The session will begin with a survey of human trafficking and related charges and digital evidence topics, including bitcoin tracking and maximizing evidence collection from burner phones. Participants will be provided complex scenarios involving commercial sexual exploitation and labor trafficking. Participants will develop investigative strategies and make charging decisions.
DAY 5 Friday, August 4, 2017 SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, SURVIVOR & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT HUMAN TRAFFICKING: CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES INSTRUCTORS Sean Sellers, Director for Strategic Partnerships (WSR Network) National Economic & Social Rights Initiative (NESRI) Janet Basilan, Survivor Vice Chairperson, GABRIELA USA Roy Balleste, Professor of Law, St. Thomas University School of Law Beatriz Susana Uitts, LL.M., J.S.D. Candidate, St. Thomas University School of Law Session 1 Preventing Human Trafficking: Fair Food Program and Worker-Led Social Responsibility This session gives a hands-on training on tools used by one of the most successful and innovative programs in the world today to uncover and prevent modern-day slavery. The Fair Food Program is setting the gold standard for prevention of forced labor in U.S. agriculture. The Fair Food Program is a unique worker-led, market-enforced social responsibility program which emerged from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) successful Campaign for Fair Food. Twelve years ago, in the aftermath of several major federal prosecutions of Florida farm labor slavery operations, a Justice Department official labeled the industry ground zero for modern slavery. Remarkably, in three seasons under the FFP, there have been no cases of slavery uncovered at Participating Growers operations. The session will cover the following topics: a. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers & FFP. b. Modalities of working closely with law enforcement to bring farm labor slavery operations to justice. c. Providing investigators more access to workers. d. Providing workers more access to information on their rights. e. Effective complaint mechanisms and how to access them. f. Partnerships and corporate social responsibility. Session 2 Survivors Advocacy to Confront Human Trafficking in Countries of Origin & Destination The Case of Filipino Trafficked Teachers Struggling for Justice Who are the trafficked teachers? They are a group of teachers from the Philippines who share a common experience of being lured to the U.S. by unscrupulous recruitment agencies associated with Isidro Rodriguez. They were lured with the false promise of well-paid teaching positions in U.S. public schools which did not exist. They have experience teaching in public and private schools ranging from elementary to university level. The teachers ages range from mid- twenties to sixties and many have children and spouses left behind in the Philippines. There are over 300 teachers throughout the U.S., the majority of whom are women. Most of the victims are currently living in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. There are over a hundred teachers in the Philippines who were victims of attempted human trafficking who are also struggling for justice. How are the teachers seeking justice? They have organized themselves and are now members of GABRIELA DC. They launched an educational and legal campaign through GABRIELA DC and GABRIELA USA in coordination with Migrante Philippines. Teachers in the Philippines and in the U.S. is on the process of filing a case of human trafficking against their recruiter/trafficker, Mr. Isidro Rodriguez, through the Inter-- Agency Council Against Human Trafficking in the Philippines as well as here in the U.S. Teachers are seeking prosecution of wrong doers, including government and institutional enablers. They are calling for fair and just reparations and cancelling of any debts owed from lenders in cahoots with Rodriguez s operations as well as immigration relief for teachers in the U.S.
Session 3 Using Technology to Combat Human Trafficking While technological advancements have made significant contributions to society, one cannot disregard their role in facilitating the practice of illicit activities. In this session, participants will explore the intersection of technology and human trafficking. Participants will examine how traffickers use social media, websites and other mobile applications to contact, recruit and sell their victims. Participants will also look at how recent technological advancements are assisting law enforcement and other counter-trafficking groups to combat human trafficking. This session explores technology as a curse and as a blessing in its intersection with human trafficking.