The Philippines, a highly collective country, heavily relies on relationships and family ties not only for social support but also to promote overall psychological well-being. For Filipino survivors of sexual trafficking and abuse, comprehensive and holistic aftercare service means considering the role their families have in healing and restoration. My Refuge House (MRH), a nonprofit organization that delivers residential and community-based services to survivors of commercial sexual exploitation, online sexual exploitation of children, and sexual abuse, has long held the belief that families should serve as both partners and recipients of care. Born out of this understanding is the creation of an integral sub-program, the Family and Community Development Services (FCDS), which focuses on critical aspects of family work, namely restoration, reunification, reconciliation, and reintegration. Through intentional relationship-building efforts and the implementation of trauma-informed service plans, MRH walks hand in hand with the families of survivors as they prepare for the successful return of their daughters, sisters, nieces, grandchildren, etc. This presentation will highlight the challenges that come with helping families navigate the complexities of trauma from trafficking and abuse. It will also shed light on the necessity of facilitating reconciliation between the survivor and their perpetrating family members to meet legal and court conclusions that best serve the interests of the survivors (e.g., plea bargains designed to avoid re-traumatization). Lastly, the session aims to delve into the vulnerabilities Filipino families are susceptible to and what initiatives MRH has introduced to promote strength and sustainability.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Provide a brief overview of the prevalence of commercial and online sexual exploitation of children in the Philippines and the role families play in the abuse experienced by survivors

•  Discuss the importance of partnering with families in the healing and restoration of survivor-participants

•  Describe MRH’s family and community engagement and the several initiatives introduced that are designed for the survivor’s successful reintegration

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The Philippines, a highly collective country, heavily relies on relationships and family ties not only for social support but also to promote overall psychological well-being. For Filipino survivors of sexual trafficking and abuse, comprehensive and holistic aftercare service means considering the role their families have in healing and restoration. My Refuge House (MRH), a nonprofit organization that delivers residential and community-based services to survivors of commercial sexual exploitation, online sexual exploitation of children, and sexual abuse, has long held the belief that families should serve as both partners and recipients of care. Born out of this understanding is the creation of an integral sub-program, the Family and Community Development Services (FCDS), which focuses on critical aspects of family work, namely restoration, reunification, reconciliation, and reintegration. Through intentional relationship-building efforts and the implementation of trauma-informed service plans, MRH walks hand in hand with the families of survivors as they prepare for the successful return of their daughters, sisters, nieces, grandchildren, etc. This presentation will highlight the challenges that come with helping families navigate the complexities of trauma from trafficking and abuse. It will also shed light on the necessity of facilitating reconciliation between the survivor and their perpetrating family members to meet legal and court conclusions that best serve the interests of the survivors (e.g., plea bargains designed to avoid re-traumatization). Lastly, the session aims to delve into the vulnerabilities Filipino families are susceptible to and what initiatives MRH has introduced to promote strength and sustainability.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Provide a brief overview of the prevalence of commercial and online sexual exploitation of children in the Philippines and the role families play in the abuse experienced by survivors

•  Discuss the importance of partnering with families in the healing and restoration of survivor-participants

•  Describe MRH’s family and community engagement and the several initiatives introduced that are designed for the survivor’s successful reintegration

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The Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking (LCHT) is expanding its Root Cause Community Conversations to examine structural inequities that increase trafficking risk in Colorado. Using a community-led, data-driven approach, this project will identify systemic barriers in community safety, policing, labor protections, and economic conditions that heighten vulnerability. Accurately measuring human trafficking remains a challenge due to imperfect data, systemic turnover, funding fluctuations, and societal biases. The Colorado Project’s 10-year community-based participatory research (CBPR) offers a deeper understanding beyond prosecution and system counts. By using public health frameworks, it highlights who is counted, who is overrepresented, and who is missing in trafficking data. CBPR empowers survivors, underserved communities, and advocates with data-driven insights to shape local responses. It recognizes lived experience as vital expertise and ensures marginalized voices—including Indigenous, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and housing-insecure populations—are central in policy development. Building on The Colorado Project 2023, LCHT conducts focus groups, community dialogues, and stakeholder engagement to generate data that informs policy and advocacy strategies. Findings are synthesized into actionable recommendations for policymakers, service providers, and advocacy organizations, addressing the root causes of exploitation and fostering systemic change. Drawing from project findings, the presenters underscore how marginalized groups in Colorado continue to be more vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking. They will share how they collected these data and the subsequent process for preparing Action Plan recommendations focused on inclusion, training, partnership actions, and housing needed to sustain survivor-centered and trauma-informed anti-trafficking responses. They will highlight regional differences across urban, rural, and frontier communities.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Provide a brief overview of the CBPR key questions and methodologies of the longitudinal Colorado Project to Comprehensively Combat Human Trafficking to better understand its application to prevent trafficking

•  Present research findings for participants to gain insights on the nature of the intersections of root causes of human trafficking including homeless response system, immigration systems, homophobia/transphobia, and systemic oppression

•  Describe tangible actions based on outputs and outcomes from LCHT’s Root Cause CBPR including toolkits, trainings, and funding opportunities

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The U.S. has been increasingly criticized by survivors and advocates for arresting trafficking victims rather than providing them assistance. Prosecuting survivors not only hinders their recovery but adds another layer of institutional trauma to their experiences while excluding them from many recovery programs. The presenters explore the alarming trend of the federal government charging sex trafficking victims with sex trafficking, criminalizing individuals who have already endured exploitation. This project conducts an analysis of case, outcome, and demographic information from federal sex trafficking cases between 2001 - 2024, pulling from Department of Justice records as well as media reporting on cases. By examining trends in these cases over time, particularly ways that sex trafficking victims face charges alongside or instead of their traffickers, this research illustrates the devastating consequences of this practice.  The researchers challenge the notion that such prosecutions enhance public safety, arguing that they actually deter victims from seeking help and cooperating with law enforcement in investigations against traffickers. The roles of race and gender and concepts of ‘ideal victims’ inform the analysis of institutional mechanisms that not only allow such cases to be prosecuted but reward agencies who participate in this process. This research is relevant to advocates, academics, and policymakers focused on human trafficking, criminal justice, and victim advocacy, and has practical application to anti-trafficking legislation and programs. The presenters call for urgent reforms to protect and support sex trafficking survivors, rather than further criminalizing them, and in this project explore stronger and more supportive institutional processes.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Share a descriptive overview of the prevalence of sex trafficking victims being charged in federal cases, along with other trends in cases over time, by compiling datasets on federal cases and reviewing specific case information

•  Contextualize notable changes in the institutional practice of charging victims with sex trafficking within the broader set of federal anti-trafficking policies, arguing that the U.S. focus on prosecutions ultimately harms survivors

•  Provide policy recommendations for federal initiatives and explore the implications of findings for projects aiming to address institutional harm

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This presentation explores the systemic, social, and economic factors contributing to domestic urban pimping and prostitution, emphasizing the importance of addressing root causes rather than symptoms. Through lived experience, research, and real-world solutions, the discussion will challenge misconceptions and highlight the pathways that lead individuals—particularly youth—into exploitative situations. The training will examine the intersections of poverty, housing instability, trauma, lack of opportunities, and the normalization of exploitation in marginalized communities. Additionally, it will address the role of systemic failures, including child welfare, education, and the justice system, in perpetuating cycles of vulnerability. Participants will gain insight into the recruitment tactics used by exploiters, the psychological manipulation involved, and the barriers that prevent individuals from exiting these lifestyles. The presentation will also introduce community-based interventions, mentoring models, and restorative justice approaches that have been effective in breaking cycles of exploitation. By centering lived experience and practical solutions, this training will equip service providers, educators, and community leaders with strategies to engage at-risk individuals and create pathways to empowerment.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Examine the root causes that contribute to domestic urban pimping and prostitution, including economic instability, systemic failures, and social conditioning

•  Analyze recruitment tactics and psychological control methods used in urban exploitation

•  Discuss intervention strategies, including mentoring, restorative justice, and community-based solutions

•  Provide actionable recommendations for service providers, educators, and community members to prevent exploitation and support survivors

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The literature illustrates that helping professionals’ decisions to intervene (e.g., improve well-being) are often influenced by characteristics such as their beliefs, attitudes, culture, education, and emotions. Studies exist that provide a glimpse into the role of attitudes and beliefs in reporting decisions. Yet, how and what types of attitudes and beliefs influence decision-making when intervening at different stages of the helping process with minor sexual exploitation/trafficking (MSE/T) cases are still understudied. This study sought to understand: 1) what attitudes and beliefs influence helping professionals to choose one of several intervention options? and 2) what is the role of client and case-specific factors in the decision-making? Using Pragmatic Qualitative Inquiry, 43 interviews were conducted via Zoom, involving 16 helping professionals, using a three-series interview structure. The participants represented all four U.S. regions, were predominantly female (87.5%), white (75%), and social workers (56.25%) by training. All helping professionals had experience intervening in MSE/T cases. Findings suggest that helping professionals held attitudes and beliefs that contributed to engagement in equal intervention options despite individual or case-specific factors, individualized intervention options to meet the unique needs of the clients, or inequitable intervention decisions resulting from individual or case-specific biases/stereotypes. The attitudes and beliefs are influenced by a lack of knowledge and resources, agency mission and values, and personal biases. Practice, policy, and research implications will be discussed, including increased education (e.g., in higher education and employment) across all professions, the need for deconstructing biases and assumptions, and supervision opportunities.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Understand what factors influence helping professionals’ attitudes and beliefs

•  Learn how helping professionals’ decision-making differs based on attitudes and beliefs to intervene in MSE/T cases

•  Recommend changes that strengthen helping professionals’ ability to engage in equitable decision-making

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The increasing prevalence of sexual extortion ("sextortion") has drawn significant media and law enforcement attention, yet research on its impact on adolescents and university students remains limited. The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has further complicated this issue, enabling perpetrators to manipulate and exploit victims through AI-generated content. This study replicates and expands upon the work of Patchin and Hinduja (2018) by investigating sextortion among U.S. middle school, high school, and university students, focusing on AI's role in escalating digital threats. This research examines key factors influencing sextortion experiences, including school type (public vs. private) and university settings, to assess the impact of digital safety policies and support systems. Additionally, adolescents may be particularly vulnerable to sextortion because of their developmental stage. It evaluates educational efforts, analyzing the effectiveness of school- and university-based prevention programs. The study also explores frequency and context, identifying how often sextortion occurs, its recency, and whether incidents involve romantic relationships, friendships, or strangers. Additionally, it assesses AI's role, focusing on deepfakes and AI-driven tools in sextortion cases. Finally, it measures awareness and prevention, evaluating students' ability to recognize, report, and seek help. Using a quantitative survey of a nationally representative sample, this study employs ANOVA and chi-square tests to analyze sextortion patterns, educational interventions, and AI-related risks. Findings will provide insights into digital safety gaps, inform institutional policies, and enhance intervention strategies to protect students from sextortion threats better.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Assess differences in digital safety policies, resources, and response mechanisms between public vs. private schools and universities

•  Discuss the impact of school- and university-based programs in raising awareness and reducing sextortion victimization

•  Discuss how often sextortion occurs, recent trends, and whether incidents involve romantic partners, friends, or strangers

•  Explore how AI-driven tools, such as deepfakes and image manipulation, contribute to sextortion incidents and student awareness of these risks.

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The U.S. has been increasingly criticized by survivors and advocates for arresting trafficking victims rather than providing them assistance. Prosecuting survivors not only hinders their recovery but adds another layer of institutional trauma to their experiences while excluding them from many recovery programs. The presenters explore the alarming trend of the federal government charging sex trafficking victims with sex trafficking, criminalizing individuals who have already endured exploitation. This project conducts an analysis of case, outcome, and demographic information from federal sex trafficking cases between 2001 - 2024, pulling from Department of Justice records as well as media reporting on cases. By examining trends in these cases over time, particularly ways that sex trafficking victims face charges alongside or instead of their traffickers, this research illustrates the devastating consequences of this practice.  The researchers challenge the notion that such prosecutions enhance public safety, arguing that they actually deter victims from seeking help and cooperating with law enforcement in investigations against traffickers. The roles of race and gender and concepts of ‘ideal victims’ inform the analysis of institutional mechanisms that not only allow such cases to be prosecuted but reward agencies who participate in this process. This research is relevant to advocates, academics, and policymakers focused on human trafficking, criminal justice, and victim advocacy, and has practical application to anti-trafficking legislation and programs. The presenters call for urgent reforms to protect and support sex trafficking survivors, rather than further criminalizing them, and in this project explore stronger and more supportive institutional processes.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Share a descriptive overview of the prevalence of sex trafficking victims being charged in federal cases, along with other trends in cases over time, by compiling datasets on federal cases and reviewing specific case information

•  Contextualize notable changes in the institutional practice of charging victims with sex trafficking within the broader set of federal anti-trafficking policies, arguing that the U.S. focus on prosecutions ultimately harms survivors

•  Provide policy recommendations for federal initiatives and explore the implications of findings for projects aiming to address institutional harm

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This presentation outlines the intersection of human trafficking and armed or ethnic conflicts, highlighting unique patterns of victimization and trafficking structures in such regions. Vulnerabilities, including state collapse, forced displacement, socioeconomic stress, and family breakdown, increase risks for individuals in conflict zones, particularly for women and children. Armed groups exploit these vulnerabilities to conduct trafficking for forced labor, sexual exploitation, forced marriage, and child conscription. The research employs qualitative analysis, drawing from case studies, UN reports, and international literature to identify alarming trends. Findings reveal that trafficking in conflict zones is marked by heightened violence and systematic exploitation. Examples from various regions are included. For instance, trafficking is weaponized as a tool of terror, as seen in the operations of ISIL in the Middle East, the Lord’s Resistance Army in Central Africa, and the Revolutionary United Front in Sierra Leone. Groups like these use trafficking to fund operations, gain political control, and exert social dominance. This presentation underscores the urgency of tailored, multidisciplinary approaches to combat trafficking in conflict zones, advocating for survivor-centered policies, better resource allocation, and international cooperation to prevent and address this global challenge effectively.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Explain the intersection between human trafficking and conflict zones, emphasizing the unique vulnerabilities and patterns of exploitation specific to these areas

•  Analyze case studies from conflict-affected regions to illustrate unique patterns of trafficking, including forced labor, sexual exploitation, forced marriage, and child conscription

•  Describe limitations of current data and international frameworks and propose actionable recommendations to improve prevention, data collection, and survivor-centered policy approaches

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For over 15 years, 3Strands Global Foundation (3SGF) has been at the forefront of combating human trafficking through prevention education, survivor services, and advocacy. This session highlights two groundbreaking initiatives: the Survivor Advisory Board (SAB) and The Table Empowerment Center (The Table), located in Sacramento, California. The SAB is a leadership-driven platform where survivors of labor trafficking and sex trafficking inform policies, shape programs, and advocate for systemic change. Members play an active role in developing effective curricula, advising on best practices, and leading community engagement efforts. Complementing these efforts, The Table provides a safe, welcoming space for survivors and individuals at risk of exploitation. As one of the first drop-in centers of its kind in the U.S., The Table offers essential resources—including case management, counseling, job readiness training, childcare, and access to food, clothing, and hygiene products. Beyond immediate services, The Table prioritizes long-term empowerment by measuring the pre- and post-impact of individuals receiving case management, tracking progress in areas such as housing stability, employment, mental health, and overall well-being. These data-driven insights not only inform service enhancements but also strengthen the case for increased funding and policy support at local, state, and federal levels, ensuring that survivor-centered solutions remain sustainable and scalable. Attendees will explore the design, implementation, and impact of these initiatives while gaining practical strategies for launching survivor-led programs in their communities. Through real-world examples and interactive discussions, this session will emphasize the critical role of collaboration in advancing sustainable, survivor-centered solutions to trafficking.

Presentation Objectives:

•  Examine the role and impact of the SAB in shaping anti-trafficking initiatives

•  Explore the comprehensive services offered by The Table and their significance in survivor empowerment

•  Discuss strategies for implementing survivor-led programs and empowerment centers in various communities

•  Highlight the importance of collaboration between survivors, organizations, and community stakeholders in combating human trafficking

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Presenting a study on sex work and human trafficking, this workshop examines how the centering of lived perspectives and personal narratives can both humanize data and promote justice in sex worker communities. In particular, this presentation will focus on trans-specific criminalization, policing, and how laws may disproportionately affect these workers and survivors. By presenting how Community-Based Participatory Research theory was operationalized, the presenters offer professionals insight for justice-driven practice. They will begin by providing an outline of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR). This approach emphasizes the leadership and ongoing participation of community members of the researched population to offer breadth of understanding and co-created knowledge. Next, they will provide a brief overview of our project. Interviews with 67 participants, including 14 trans individuals, explored how laws and criminalization may impact trans sex workers and survivors. This project was designed, led, and carried out by individuals with lived experience and seeks to center the narratives that are most affected by discrimination and systemic barriers. The presenters will then demonstrate how similar CBPR projects can provide insights that inform policies, encourage advocacy, and promote efforts focused on justice and self-determination. Finally, they will facilitate discussions with attendees to design and implement projects that center lived experiences and evoke action.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Explain how community-based research reduces harm while amplifying the voices of marginalized individuals and communities

•  Demonstrate the importance of centering people with lived experience, especially in the areas of prostitution and trafficking in the sex industry

•  Describe how CBPR co-creates knowledge that can be used to inform policy

•  Provide specific practices that attendees (including researchers and practitioners in the field of social justice and human trafficking) can use in their own work

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Sex trafficking/sexual exploitation are growing concerns in Canada. Working with survivors and those vulnerable to trafficking, BridgeNorth witnesses the prevalence of trafficking/exploitation in youth populations firsthand. With the inescapable presence of social media, youth are more accessible and vulnerable than ever to traffickers and exploiters. Yet there remains a dearth of comprehensive prevention programming for youth. As service providers, it is increasingly vital to step in early, equipping youth with the knowledge and skills they need to keep themselves safe, experience positive/ healthy relationships, build their self-esteem, and thrive. Initially funded by Women and Gender Equality (WAGE) Canada to develop a promising prevention practice, BridgeNorth’s SAVVY Project piloted prevention programming for vulnerable youth. Co-designed with survivors of sex trafficking, it includes presentations, psychoeducational groups and one-on-one support to vulnerable youth, and education and training to parents, educators, and service providers. Through an independent, external evaluation, the SAVVY Project is demonstrating positive results and contributing to the development of promising practices in anti-trafficking prevention for youth. This presentation explores promising practices in anti-trafficking prevention for vulnerable youth by examining BridgeNorth’s SAVVY Project. It will outline the project, its activities, successes, challenges and adaptations, and the development of promising and best practices for anti-trafficking prevention. Survivor-led program design, peer mentorship, adaptability, and reduction of barriers for participants will be identified as key to successful prevention programs. Attendees will walk away with a deeper understanding of the risk factors associated with trafficking/exploitation, and emerging best practices to contribute to its prevention.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Provide an overview of the SAVVY Project’s development, contents, and implementation

•  Review the SAVVY program’s evaluation results

•  Discuss the impact and importance of prevention programming in anti-human trafficking sectors

•  Discuss promising and best practices in anti-trafficking prevention with youth

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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 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 for effective change

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This presentation explores the human trafficking experiences of young adults in situations of homelessness in Arizona. This research study aims to help develop knowledge about unsheltered young adults in Arizona with a focus-on risks for human trafficking. The study aimed to explore what are their life experiences of trauma including being abused, trafficked, or kicked out by their family and what challenges do unsheltered young adults face regarding substance abuse and mental health challenges. The 2024 study included 227 surveys collected from unsheltered youth participants ages 18-25. The participants were 49.5 percent female, 41.9 percent male, and 5.9 percent transgender. They were 75.8 percent persons of color. Sex trafficking was reported by 30.8 percent of the participants and labor trafficking reported by 14.5 percent. Experiences of childhood maltreatment (sexual, emotional, and physical abuse) were more likely to be reported by the participants reporting a history of sex trafficking. Other issues impacting those reporting sex and labor trafficking included being kicked out, drug use, mental health challenges, and limited education and work experiences. Young adults were found to be at high risk for exploitation. Recommendations include developing unique interventions to connect with unsheltered young adults including drop-in centers, digital outreach/case management, mentoring programs, and treatment for substance use and mental health.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Provide an overview of the 2024 YES study including the research questions, methodology, and findings

•  Describe the ethical considerations of studying unsheltered young adults

•  Describe the implications and recommendations based on the research

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This presentation will explore the preliminary findings of a randomized control trial assessing The Survivor’s Journey, a 12-journey trauma healing process implemented in a women's prison. This study uniquely trains incarcerated women serving life sentences to facilitate weekly Survivor’s Journey groups, fostering peer-led trauma recovery. The presentation will detail the study’s design, the facilitation model, and early insights from preliminary data. Attendees will gain an understanding of the intervention’s impact on participants' emotional healing, self-perception, and group dynamics.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Examine the structure and implementation of The Survivor’s Journey as a peer-led healing intervention in a prison setting

•  Present preliminary findings, including pre-test results and observational insights, to assess early program impact

•  Discuss the implications of training incarcerated women as facilitators and its potential for long-term rehabilitative outcomes

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The nature of child trafficking crimes is rapidly evolving in the modern era, related to the growth of the internet and advances in technology. This presentation presents recent data reported by the U.S. Department of Justice, Europol, Interpol, Internet Watch Foundation, WeProtect Global Alliance, and others, that indicates: 1) exponential increases in distribution of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM) on the internet, recorded, live-stream and on-demand; 2) increasingly brutal, sadistic, and torture-level CSAM; 3) a trend toward victimization of younger children, including toddlers and infants; 4) increased coercion of children to harm other children in online abuse; 5) familial sex trafficking and production of CSAM is prevalent and under-reported; 6) organized crime networks are producing CSAM and trafficking children; 7) child abuse by ritualistic abuse networks has been further substantiated; 8) online sexual extortion of children apart from any physical contact; 9) use of artificial intelligence to generate CSAM and extort victims; 10) increased networking amongst offenders on dark web forums to further their crimes; 11) offenders have a technological advantage in concealing their crimes, exceeding the investigative capacities of law enforcement and, 12) an abundance of CSAM is produced on U.S. soil. Young children are in greater danger than ever before. We have an obligation to understand these trends, to recognize victims as they present in psychotherapy and to law enforcement, to educate others, to advocate for inclusion of this content within our agencies and professional organizations, and to advocate for greater funding of law enforcement and legislative change.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Present current forensic and psychological research on the nature and prevalence of modern-day sexual abuse and sex trafficking of children aged 12 and under

•  Dispel myths about the nature of child sexual abuse, child sex trafficking, and production of CSAM

•  Present current forensic and psychological research on the increased brutality and younger age of victims in modern-day child sexual abuse, child sex trafficking, and production of CSAM

•  Present current forensic and psychological research on child sex trafficking perpetrated by family and organized crime networks

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Teen dating violence (TDV) disproportionately affects marginalized youth, leading to long-term trauma, mental health issues, and cycles of abuse. This session explores prevention strategies tailored to communities of color. The presentation highlights the Our Voices Matter program, which educates and empowers youth through mentorship, peer advocacy, and community engagement to prevent TDV. The presenter will discuss risk factors contributing to TDV among marginalized youth, the role of systemic barriers in preventing intervention, and effective approaches, including culturally responsive education and community-based support networks. Attendees will gain actionable insights to implement or support TDV prevention efforts in their communities. The session emphasizes collaboration among educators, advocates, and service providers to create safer environments for youth.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Discuss risk factors of teen dating violence among marginalized youth

•  Describe the Our Voices Matter program and its impact

•  Explain prevention strategies and community intervention methods

•  Provide recommendations for fostering supportive environments for at-risk youth

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This presentation examines the gendered dimensions of human trafficking amid conflict and humanitarian crises in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It focuses on how armed conflicts in Syria, Yemen, and Sudan dismantle protective structures, creating environments traffickers exploit—placing women and girls at heightened risk of sexual exploitation, forced marriage, survival sex, and trafficking for domestic labor. To support this analysis, a qualitative research study was conducted, combining 15 in-depth interviews with displaced women and six case study reviews (two from each country) from refugee camps and conflict-affected communities in Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. A survivor-centered and human-centered approach informed the study design. Data analysis was carried out using MAXQDA software, applying Urquhart’s (2013) coding method within a Grounded Theory framework, resulting in 4,231 codes. Three core themes emerged: gendered types of coercion, profiles of traffickers, and gender-sensitive remedies for survivors. Findings demonstrate that displaced women, particularly unaccompanied minors and female-headed households, face coercion into survival sex, trafficking for domestic labor, and multiple forms of exploitation. These findings correspond with international reports, including the 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report and the latest UNODC Global Report, which emphasize that conflict and displacement sharply increase trafficking risks for women and girls. This presentation advocates for embedding gender-sensitive, survivor-centered strategies into anti-trafficking interventions within humanitarian responses, emphasizing the urgency of addressing trafficking as a critical human rights issue.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Analyze gender-specific vulnerabilities to human trafficking in conflict and displacement contexts in the MENA region

•  Present case examples from Syria, Yemen, and Sudan to illustrate crisis-related trafficking risks

•  Review findings from international trafficking reports and gender-focused research

•  Recommend gender-sensitive interventions within humanitarian and protection responses

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How can we stop human trafficking where it starts? By addressing demand. Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) Addressing Demand program and Man-to-Man Campaign focus on resources and strategies for uniting key stakeholders (including task forces, buyer diversion programs, community groups, corporate businesses, and youth-serving organizations) to equip them with the information and resources to combat human trafficking at its root cause. This presentation will focus on demand for sex trafficking and the importance of reducing or ending it, including take-away materials with resources and action steps to affect cultural change to reduce exploitation. The sale of people for commercial sex, whether for sex acts, pornography, live sex cams, or any other commercial sexual exploitation venture is predicated on the business model of supply and demand. Sex-buying behavior fuels the illicit sex trade, which includes sex trafficking of minors, and the sex trafficking of adults by force, fraud, or coercion. At the end of the day, if no one purchased commercial sex, the crime of sex trafficking would not exist. Therefore, it’s imperative to address the issue of demand. TAT created its Man-to-Man Campaign to address and reduce demand for those willing to join in stopping this problem where it starts. No buyer=no victim=no sex trafficking. Attendees will learn about the role demand plays in human trafficking, who is affected by the demand for commercial sex and forced labor, and how everyone can play a role in combating human trafficking.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Discuss TAT’s efforts to engage in demand reduction

•  Discuss how communities and businesses can engage with TAT’s free resources to join the movement to address the demand for human trafficking

•  Provide resources offered by TAT and other organizations that aid in addressing demand

•  Provide examples of what attendees can do to address the demand for commercial sex and labor trafficking as individual and collectively as a community

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Iain Bryson unknowingly married into an intergenerational occultic family that practices ritual abuse and trauma-based mind control. When his daughter was three years old, her mother started warning Iain that his daughter would be taken away from him. She told him that her family was a “cult,” but Iain had never heard of these types of families, so he had no framework for understanding the signs that were directly in front of him. Following the international abduction of his daughter, Iain tried to get help, but to no avail. The U.S. Secretary of State informed him that it could take two years to get the case into a court, but Iain was not willing or able to wait two years. When nobody in the entire world would help, he drove from Amsterdam to Poland and assaulted his daughter’s abductor and primary abuser in the street, thinking that this would lead to a child abuse investigation. But it did not, and fourteen years later, he is still fighting for his daughter. He published an evidence-based documentary style memoir in May 2024, and is working to educate the public and advocate for victims and survivors. In this session, Iain will discuss how familial human trafficking happens, along with how an occultic family can get away with it. He will examine the signs of ritual/organized abuse that were in his family and why he missed them. He will also review how international laws work against child protection rather than for it and will present possible solutions.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Describe how life experiences, belief systems, and ignorance of human trafficking in families led to an international child abduction

•  Describe the world's response to his international parental abduction and introduce a "child centric" approach

•  Explain how a cult is able to traffic a child

•  Discuss the importance of education and awareness of familial human trafficking

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