RRCAHT Speaks Out about George Floyd
The Rochester Regional Coalition Against Human Trafficking stands in solidarity with activists around the world who are outraged by the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, Eric Garner, and so many others.
Although this tragic incident occurred hundreds of miles away from Rochester, the impact is felt all over the world. Systemic racism perpetuates violence and exploitation, including trafficking. Human trafficking similar to racism is a public health problem. Human trafficking always involves vulnerability. Ingrained systems that make communities of color more vulnerable will always hinder the movement to end human trafficking.
Additionally, law enforcement professionals play a very significant role in fighting against human trafficking by ensuring that the rights and freedoms of those living in the United States are protected. Unfortunately, incidents similar to what we saw in Minneapolis further challenge credibility and exacerbate mistrust amongst human trafficking victims who have been taught to distrust law enforcement officers by traffickers. Law enforcement officers cannot be allies for trafficking victims if they cannot display compassion, patience, empathy and restraint with victims who are perceived as uncooperative.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” April 16, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Today, and everyday, we recommit ourselves to liberating, educating and advocating for trafficking victims and the vulnerable in our community and world. Additionally, we endorse the recent declaration by the Greater Rochester NY Black Agenda Group recognizing racism as a public health crisis.
Emergency Contacts
If you need help or you think you have come into contact with a victim of human trafficking...
National Human Trafficking
Resource Center
call 1.888.373.7888 / Text HELP or
INFO to BeFree (233733)
Center For Youth
905 Monroe Ave
Rochester, NY 14620
(585) 271-7670 24 hrs
Emergency Contacts
If you need help or you think you have come into contact with a victim of human trafficking...
National Human Trafficking
Resource Center
call 1.888.373.7888 / Text HELP or
INFO to BeFree (233733)
Center For Youth
905 Monroe Ave
Rochester, NY 14620
(585) 271-7670 24 hrs
Willow Domestic Violence Center
24/7 HOTLINE: (585) 222-SAFE
24/7 TEXT LINE: (585) 348-SAFE
What Is Human Trafficking?
Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery where people profit from the control and exploitation of others. As defined under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA)
Sex Trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age; or
Labor Trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for the purpose of labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.
RRCAHT in the News
The Chains of Trafficking (an interview with Celia McIntosh, President of RRCAHT)
The Reporter (RIT) - June 25, 2020
RRCAHT has T-shirts for sale at $12.
Human Trafficking and COVID 19 news stories
12 trafficking victims, including three minors, rescued in past three months - The Anti-human Trafficking Bureau of Nepal Police says there’s a risk of traffickers targeting the people who have become financially vulnerable due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown.
The Kathmandu Post - June 24, 2020
Reports Of Child Exploitation, Trafficking Increase During Pandemic - Law enforcement in San Diego was reporting yet another side effect of the coronavirus pandemic, a spike in child exploitation on the internet.
KPBS, San Diego - June 23, 2020
Fight child labour amid Covid - Uganda Commemorated World Day Against Child Labour under the theme "Covid-19: Protect children from child labour, now more than ever!"
She Escaped Sex Work for College. Now the Virus Threatens Her New Life.
New York Times - May 15, 2020
Coronavirus Threat isn’t stopping sex trafficking in Jacksonville
News4, Jacksonville - April 8, 2020
Sex trafficking poses the risk of spreading COVID-19 to thousands of people
Dallas Morning News - March 28, 2020
Human Trafficking and COVID 19 Resources
New York State Anti-Trafficking Coalition Meeting
Date: Thursday, May 21, 2020
Time: 4 pm
Location: Virtual
Speakers:
Yasmin Vafa, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Rights4Girls
Alvin Bragg, Professor and Co-Director, Racial Justice Project, New York Law School
Moderated by Bill Silverman, Global Partner for Pro Bono Initiatives, Proskauer Rose.
Click here for more information and registration
For comprehensive information about Human Trafficking, including links to videos, refer to the Human Trafficking Awareness Manual of the Sisters of Charity of New York.
The June RRCAHT Newsletter is now available.
You can read it here and you can join the mailing list for future editions by clicking here.
Thank you to the Vignelli Center for Design Studies at RIT for your sponsorship and contributions to our branding and Yes, Here. marketing campaign.