Happy National Human Trafficking Awareness Day!
Dr. Sandie Morgan and Ambassador-at-Large John Cotton Richmond discuss the current status of anti-human trafficking efforts in the United States. They ask the hard questions of what we need to do better and how we need to change in the future to have a greater and more positive impact on human trafficking and the people that have fallen victim to it.
Ambassador John Cotton Richmond

John Cotton Richmond serves as the United States Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and leads the Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. Ambassador Richmond comes to the highest position in the federal government dedicated to combating human trafficking, after a distinguished career in the global battle for freedom. He co-founded the Human Trafficking Institute that exists to decimate modern slavery at its source by empowering police and prosecutors to use victim-centered and trauma-informed methods to hold traffickers accountable and ensure survivors are treated with respect and care.

Prior to the Institute, Ambassador Richmond served, for more than ten years, as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit where he was named one of the “Federal Prosecutors of the Year” by the Federal Law Enforcement Foundation. He investigated and prosecuted numerous victim-centered labor and sex trafficking cases throughout the United States.

Ambassador Richmond’s work to combat human trafficking has earned numerous honors, including: the David Allred Award for Exceptional Contributions to Civil Rights, twice earning the Department of Homeland Security’s Outstanding Investigative Accomplishments in a Human Trafficking Award, as well as twice receiving the Department of Justice’s Special Commendation Award.
Key Points


We cannot take the trafficker out of the conversation. When we do this we are treating human trafficking as if it's a naturally occurring phenomenon we can't do much about. This leads to some level of blame being placed on the victim.

When we change from passive language to active language when describing human trafficking, we are holding the trafficker responsible and keep them a part of the conversation.

Collect data on prevention efforts can be very difficult because one is trying to prove that by their action something didn't happen. However, in order to grow and mature as a movement, we need to start putting systems in place to measure our efforts.

As we move forward in this movement, it is important we open spaces for survivors to take leadership roles, and guide us with the experiences that they've had.

Labor trafficking can be very difficult to identify when left to law enforcement alone. Ambassador Richmond proposes strategies that would utilize administrative forces to help identify cases and. funnel them to law enforcement.

Covid-19 has caused a lot of chaos and put a lot of people in a vulnerable situation. The question we need to ask ourselves is not where are we going in this situation, but how do we adapt to these changing circumstances?

There is a place for everyone at the table of conversation. It's alright for all of us to be different and focus on different aspects of this issue because when we come together and collaborate, it allows us to tackle the issue as a whole.

Resources


EHT Episode 240 – Public-Private Partnership Advisory Council

EHT Episode 239 – The Rise of Prevention and the Role of the Faith-Based Community
Arise Foundation

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