Between 2014 and 2016, state prosecutors in Colorado filed 97 cases using the new human trafficking statutes. But of those cases, only one constituted labor trafficking. Recognizing the state’s lagging efforts to address labor trafficking, the Colorado Human Trafficking Council (CHTC) dedicated two of its monthly meetings in 2017 to
Guest Posts
What to know about the “Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act” of 2017
There has been much frustration recently surrounding the inability of the U.S. judicial system to charge those who use the internet as a platform to facilitate human trafficking. Following a number of cases where websites such as Backpage knowingly allowed ads for trafficking victims to be posted, judicial actors and
The 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report: A Global Report Card
This week marked the release of the 17th annual Trafficking in Persons Report at the U.S. Department of State. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson unveiled this year’s report with support from White House Advisor Ivanka Trump. At the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking, we believe that it is important to
International Women’s Day and the Anti-Trafficking Movement
Happy International Women’s Day! Today we celebrate the achievements of women in history who pushed for greater equality, while marking the important issues that still demand our attention today. At the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking, we’re proud to mark this special day in 2017 amidst a national atmosphere of
Responsible Public Awareness Campaigns for Human Trafficking
Following last month’s National Human Trafficking Awareness campaign, it’s helpful to take a closer look at how anti-trafficking advocates can responsibly promote public awareness on this issue. By learning from the flaws of the past and important lessons from parallel movements, public awareness campaigns for human trafficking have a real
Human Trafficking: A Human Rights Violation
Human Trafficking: A Human Rights Violation “Slavery was, in a very real sense, the first international human rights issue to come to the fore. It led to the adoption of the first human rights laws and to the creation of the first human rights non-governmental organization. And yet despite the
At Greater Risk: Human Trafficking and the Child Welfare System
At Greater Risk: Human Trafficking and the Child Welfare System “As child welfare agencies have increasing involvement with victims of trafficking, it becomes imperative that child welfare workers receive the training and resources necessary to help them identify children and youth who have been or are being trafficked- and that workers have
CoNEHT: Colorado’s Human Trafficking Hotline
The Colorado Network to End Human Trafficking (CoNEHT) is a 24/7 statewide hotline dedicated to providing resources and referrals to best serve the unique needs of trafficking survivors in our state. The hotline is operated and supervised by the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking (LCHT), in partnership with Colorado Legal
Human Trafficking: A Public Health Issue
Human trafficking is an emerging public health issue that disproportionately impacts individuals from communities of color, and those who are experiencing hunger, homelessness, and domestic violence. However, the health-service needs of victims and survivors of human trafficking have received woefully limited attention, particularly when compared with law-enforcement and immigration responses
Ending the Global Crime of Human Trafficking
A Major Transnational Crime Many of us have followed the tragedy of Syria and the attendant heartbreak of streams of Syrian refugees pouring into Europe. The Syrian civil war has produced nearly five million refugees and even more internally displaced (IDPs). The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates another
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