Contrary to popular myth, slavery is not dead; rather, it is alive and well, and flourishing right here in the United States. But it now goes by a different name – human trafficking – and it has changed form, no longer systematically subjugating African-Americans, but rather exploiting men, women and children on the vast black market of the sex trade and illegal work force.
But the principle is the same: the assault on the most fundamental values of a free, civilized society based on individual dignity and human rights. Our Founding Fathers dedicated this country to the cause of human dignity. As President Bush said, “Nearly two centuries after the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, and more than a century after slavery was officially ended, the trade in human beings for any purpose must not be allowed to thrive in our time.”
No, it must not be allowed to thrive because a compassionate society does not tolerate the trafficking and objectification of human beings. America is the land of the free for every person. America should not be the land of slavery for anyone. In fact, President Bush rightly notes that the measure of compassion of any society “is how it treats the weak, the vulnerable, the most easily forgotten.” Unfortunately, some of the most vulnerable people in our society are the 20,000 victims of human trafficking in the United States. The only thing worse than this number is the tragically small number of victims we have identified – a mere 500 to be exact.
Despite our prowess in technology and law enforcement and our advancement in a plethora of social programs to care for those in need, America has only been able to uncover a minuscule number of victims. Why is this the case? There are several reasons. First, the majority of trafficking victims are afraid to come forward, fearing they will be harmed by their trafficker.
Second, many who do want to come forward are unaware of the programs the government offers to help them. Third, many in our society have a hard time identifying the victims. Many health care professionals, social service providers and law enforcement officials have yet to master the clues or ask the right questions that would identify a victim. They have not yet been able to look beneath the surface to see the wounds of so many victims who are silently crying for help.
But even when victims are identified, all too often, problems remain. Many victims are reluctant to prosecute their traffickers. They are under the misconception that if they do decide to take action, that they will be deported, or even worse, imprisoned. Many are unaware that they are victims and that not only do they have rights, but that the government is here to free them of their plight and save them from this destructive bondage.
Launching the Rescue & Restore Campaign
President Bush, Secretary Thompson and I believe that these misconceptions have gone on long enough. That is why we implemented a new campaign called Rescue & Restore. The Department of Health and Human Services decided to launch the campaign to raise public awareness of human trafficking in the hope of saving victims and letting them know they are not alone.
Most victims of human trafficking are camouflaged by sophisticated and often innocent-seeming techniques from people they may encounter on a daily or random basis. The campaign establishes new and better methods of detecting, reassuring and rescuing these victims.
A critical element of the Rescue and Restore campaign is the development of national and local coalitions to implement the campaign in communities across the country. Coalition partners include the local government, civic groups, churches and faith-based organizations, labor and immigration organizations, community health care providers and social service groups.
These groups will disseminate campaign information and resources to organizations likely to interface with victims of trafficking. These groups will have access to effective communications and outreach strategies for identifying and interacting with victims of trafficking.
For now, partners of the Rescue & Restore campaign coalition are achieving this goal by including information about trafficking, its victims and perpetrators in organization newsletters and Web sites. They are disseminating in appropriate public places, posters, brochures and other materials produced by HHS. They are also providing orientation and training sessions on trafficking and hosting forums on this critical issue.
In just three months, the Rescue & Restore campaign has achieved remarkable success. Its 24 hour toll-free Trafficking and Referral Hotline has handled more than 600 calls from concerned citizens, social service providers and potential victims of trafficking. More than 20 percent of these calls resulted in referrals to non-governmental agencies working in conjunction with HHS. The campaign has encouraged more than 98 national NGOs to become coalition partners with us. Safe Horizon, the Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking (CAST) and the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) are among the many groups fighting this tragedy. Through their example, we are confident that more and more groups will get involved and make a difference.
But the Rescue & Restore campaign is just one part – one arrow in the quiver, if you will, of our arsenal to combat trafficking. The Bush Administration has shown a determined commitment to fighting human trafficking through a number of already existing measures.
Existing Measures within the Bush Administration
In 2000, Congress passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, making human trafficking a federal crime. As Secretary Thompson said, this legislation “helped shatter the misconception that all victims of trafficking are willing participants in prostitution; that they are criminals not victims; and that they are voluntarily smuggled in the United States to be exploited in prostitution or forced labor.” Prior to this, no comprehensive federal law existed to protect victims of trafficking or to prosecute their traffickers.
With bipartisan support, Congress reauthorized this legislation last year, emphasizing the illegality of using human beings as a commodity for exchange. The reauthorization act included new tools to fight trafficking. The law established a toll-free number, run by Covenant House and sponsored by HHS and the Department of Justice to allow victims of trafficking to be instantly referred to a pre-screened aid organization in the victim’s area. A Web site (www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking) also was created to help victims. Moreover, the HHS and the United Nations joined forces to run a public television service announcement to educate the public on a national level, on the tragedy of human trafficking.
The creation of Certification and Eligibility Letters has also played a major role in helping victims become eligible to apply for the same benefits as refugees. To receive benefits, a victim of trafficking must be willing to assist with the investigation and prosecution of trafficking cases. This benefit has allowed many victims to embark on the road leading to legal permanent residence in the United States.
We have reached out to a number of international leaders through our International Visitors Program. We have met with more than 32 international dignitaries and educated them on trafficking and how they can play a role in its demise.
Conclusion
Human trafficking is a tragic problem that demands a commitment from every sector. Through our Rescue & Restore campaign, as well as through many other efforts, we have sought to address this problem. But we cannot do it alone. We need your help. No man is an island, and that is why I implore your help in putting an end to this modern-day slavery. As President Bush said, “Compassion is not merely a vague feeling of empathy, it is a demanding virtue. It involves action and effort, and deep conviction – a conviction as old as…the founding of our country.”
Together, we can put an end to the tragedy of human trafficking.
Thank you and God bless you!
-Speech delivered by Wade F. Horn, Ph.D., Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families, at the National Conference on Human Trafficking from July 15-17, 2004 in Tampa Florida.